Horncastle 30-03-2025

Today a ride to Horncastle on a less familiar route, this time via Swaby and Tetford. A few apologies had been sent in, partly due to this being Mothering Sunday. However, joining today’s Ride Leader Tim Newbery at Louth’s Meridian Leisure Centre were Paul Reynolds who’d cycled in from Brookenby, John Weeks who’d pedalled in from Wood Enderby, Ty Harness, Alan Hockham and Martin Wood. 

 

A delayed start due to some forgetting the clock change to Summer Time, but we were soon on the road through Little Cawthorpe, Muckton and Swaby. Already a few climbs but the stiffest still to come up to Fulletby.

 

Arriving at the Walkers' and Cyclists' Hut at the Sheep Dip Paddock, South Ormsby, we discovered that for once, complimentary hot drinks weren’t available so instead a 10-minute break sitting in the sunshine would suffice. It was certainly very windy with a steady 20 mph breeze gusting 30-35 mph.

 

Alan was ready early so a push onto to our next leg through the River Lyn Valley and Tetford, an area Alfred Lord Tennyson much admired. 

We’d soon see Nab Hill in the distance, an ascent we’d need to overcome to reach the Roach Stone High Road at Fulletby. This used to be the location for the Rotary Club of Louth’s hill climb for pre-1940 vintage cars & motorcycles. The hill is approximately 1 mile in length and with an average gradient of around 8 %.

 

A descent now all the way into Horncastle where we’d arrive at ‘Just One More Bike’ a little before 11.45 am and on schedule to meet up with Mike Housley who’s cycled in from Nettleham. Our numbers by now having swollen to seven.

 

We’d arrived just in time to secure their largest table and a pleasant chat was enjoyed over hot drinks and a mix of bacon and sausage baps, beans on toast and scrambled egg. Always a pleasure to visit this establishment and glad that the café and bistro continue whilst we wish business owner Paul a successful recovery. 

 

Mike, John, Ty and Paul would depart their separate ways from Horncastle to Leave Tim, Alan and Martin to retrace the route to Fulletby. Luckily the sun was shining brightly from near blue skies and even the wind was behaving with a helpful push up to the Wolds Village, famous for it’s Roman occupation and to Saxon and Viking settlement.

 

A straightforward ride now passing by the roach stone promontories then a turn along Narrow Lane to Belchford. The fun would begin with a stiff climb to the Bluestone Heath Road. So much fun that Tim would climb this hill twice.

 

The ride through Maidenwell is a delight in fine weather and we were rewarded with the wind and sun on our backs rolling along this lane bordered by thick clumps of daffodil acting as guide to our tun off to Haugham. Some pronounce this hamlet as ‘Huff-am’ whilst others prefer ‘Heagh-am’ deriving form it’s meaning of "high or chief homestead", from the Old English ‘heah' and 'ham'. 

 

With time set aside to deal with a number of ‘mechanical’ issues, Tim and Alan arrived back at the Leisure Centre at Louth at 2.45 pm having covered close to 40 miles and 2,400 ft of ascent. Paul had covered 51 miles with Mike clocking up 53 miles, his longest ride for a couple of years. Temperatures by now up to a very mild 17 Degrees Celsius.  

 

Thanks to all for the company. 

Tim’s ‘Relive’ video: https://www.relive.com/view/vRO7ZVVNXKv