Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival 2022

Cycling UK Louth - Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival

Cycling UK Louth was approached to be an activity provider for the inaugural Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival and so it was that a bike ride was organised aiming to showcase the delights of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Today’s Ride Leader’s Tim Newbery (Cycling UK Louth) and Andy Townhill (Cycling UK Lincoln) were delighted to be joined by Nanette Gough, Alison Fletcher and Judith Gorman who had pedalled into Louth from Cleethorpes.

Leaving the Cattle Market at 10.00 am our route headed initially along the boundary of the Wolds through Muckton to Belleau Bridge and the delightful clear chalk waters of the Great Eau. We would discover that the source of this river, which runs to the coast at Saltfleet, lies along our route at Calceby Beck.

We would finally enter the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB at South Thoresby, passing by the former Vine Inn. There’s been an inn here since 1508. It’s interesting to think that the chalk ridge of the Wolds formed some 90 million years ago when this whole area was a warm sea. Uplifted and tilted under the influence of the Alps about 25-20 million years ago, a glacial ice sheet moved over the Wolds some 250,000 years ago. This left behind thick glacial clays and tills as the ice retreated. Chalk water springs now occur at the junction of the porous chalk and sandstone and the impervious clay.

At Calceby (‘Calcebi’ Old Scandinavian: ‘ Kalfr’s village'), we took time to view the remains of the 11th Century St Andrew’s Church. There used to be a thriving village here in medieval times but the great famine of 1315, the Black Death and the enclosures act and sheep farming saw a steady decline in population. Indeed, the last vicar was instituted at the church in 1724 before the building fell into disuse and was demolished in 1756.

The weather was behaving well at this stage with a tail wind aiding our journey and we enjoyed pleasant conversation with Nanette, Alison and Judith recounting tales of golf, horse riding and the reasons for getting involved in cycling during the lockdowns of the pandemic. It wouldn’t be too long before we arrived at the South Ormsby Walkers Hut for our refreshments.

Paula was there to greet us and provided cups of tea and coffee and delicious home-made flapjacks. It was here that Paula admired the ladies’ bikes, in particular Nanette’s hybrid in glorious orange. Andy commented that it was now difficult to get hold of a new bike with some orders not able to be fulfilled until 2023.

The South Ormsby Estate has a history of several thousand years. Once a roman settlement from the 1st to the 5th centuries, it was eventually purchased by Drayner Massingberd in the 17th Century. With the family line now ended, it’s being developed into a thriving business by the estate’s new custodians. Great to see the herd of ‘Lincolnshire Red’ although some prefer the locally made gin!

No visit of the adjoining St Leonards Church today although the Norman round arched doorway was rescued from the church at Calceby and fragments of the stained-glass windows are said to come from Notre Dame following the French Revolution. Perhaps a visit next time.

Time to get back on the bikes for the gradual ascent of the ancient drover’s ’Bluestone Heath Road’, most likely named after the grey/blue glacial erratic boulders that were deposited and left behind once the glaciers retreated. Once an important focal point for ancient communities, one fine example of such a boulder lies outside Louth Museum.

The Bluestone Heath Road would afford us stunning views of the Wolds, the gaudy vibrant yellow hue of the oil seed rape having been toned down so that now we were rewarded with a vista of rich and varied greens. Tim had commented to Nanette that there were usually sightings of Buzzard and right on cue, one swooped low above our heads.

With Andy, Alison, Judith and Nanette all enjoying the ride they made it look effortless as we passed turn offs to Tetford, Belchford and Oxcombe (and its famed pottery), and it wasn’t long before we heard the roar of the motorbikes using Cawkwell Racing Circuit. Turning off at today’s highest point of 150 m altitude at Welsdale Top, a descent now all the way to Hallington.

Arriving in Louth almost on schedule at a little after 1 pm Tim and Andy wished the women a safe onward journey back to Cleethorpes. Many thanks to all for their company.