Horncastle Hilly - 2nd April 2023

‘Horncastle Hilly’

Cycling UK Louth’s Sunday Ride 2nd April 2023:

With a hilly ride advertised, the start of the Easter holiday and a well below average temperature, Tim wondered who might venture out. In the end, meeting up at the Leisure Centre were John Rickett, John Ambler and John Weeks. No problems in getting names wrong! Apologies had been sent by Reg Bagshaw, Paul Linder, Rob Cook and Alan Hockham.

Luckily the sun was out and with routes checked and double checked we headed off on our way with an approximate return time of 3 pm to catch the café before it closed.

The route would take us through Hallington and up to Flint Hill with its renowned Ordnance Survey triangulation station, OSBM S2071. With the wind behind us, a pleasant ride from here to the Bluestone Heath Road, followed by a rapid descent to Welsdale Bottom. Not so rapid would be the ascent to the byway bridleway. A tough one. Downhill again and time for a rewarding hot drink at Jenny’s Village Shop in Donnington on Bain (with thanks to John Rickett). We would also meet up with Chris Owen and had plenty of time for a good chat whilst sitting in the sunshine.

John Weeks had forewarned us of roadworks on the Horncastle Road near Goulceby but had assured us of a relatively straightforward passage.

Chris departed at Witchole Plantation to leave the rest to progress to Hemingby and a crossing of the River Bain. A bit of a climb up to Baumber but by now we had ‘toned’ calf muscles and were soon weaving our way along the county lanes passing through Wispington and Thimbleby. Caution as ever was required on the few hundred metres of the A157 to Horncastle Garden Centre but we arrived unscathed and on schedule at midday.

Horncastle has been in the news in the last few days as it’s been named one of the top 10 market towns in the UK to visit this Spring. It came in at number 5 with Coleford in Gloucestershire topping the list. Its proximity to the Wolds and historical importance were cited as contributory factors and indeed there has recently been a large investment from English Heritage in conserving and preserving the remains of the town’s late 3rd Century to mid-4th Century Roman wall. The Saxons named the town ‘Hyrnecastre’, meaning a Roman fortification on a bend of a river, referencing its earlier origin.

Having said farewell to John Weeks, our return route was a familiar one with a steady plod along the Viking Way at Low Toynton and a climb to Furlongs Lane at Fulletby. Great views across the River Lymn valley and as the information board pointed out, ‘in the footsteps of Roman Legions’.

One last big push at Belchford all the way back up the hill to the Bluestone Heath Road. Tim and John Rickett in lowest gears and John Ambler in power setting number 3! A right hander along Oslear’s Lane (the origin of the name lost to history) took us to Maidenwell before heading to the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB boundary at Little Cawthorpe.

Arriving back at the Leisure Centre at 2.45 pm we were ahead of schedule but this allowed a final cup of coffee to be purchased from the friendly café staff. 40 miles covered for the Louth contingent. Many thanks to all and it was good briefly meeting up with Keith Roberts en-route.