Revesby 29th September 2024
Cycling UK Louth Ride to Revesby
Sunday 29th October 2024
A route suggested by Rob Cook and a ride through Scrivelsby Park to Revesby; last visited by the group back in June 2019 so high time for a return.
Meeting up with Tim Newbery at Louth’s Leisure Centre were Rob Cook, Alan Hockham any Ty Harness. Chris Owen had planned to meet up at Red Hill and we had hoped to meet up with John Weeks in Horncastle. ETA back to Louth about 3.30 pm.
With the promise of a wet and windy evening with a very unsettled period of weather on Monday and Tuesday we were glad to have the forecast of a fine spell of weather for the duration of the ride.
Departing a little after 09.30 am we’d head to the Bluestone Heath Road this time via Hubbard’s Hills and Halfpeny Lane.
A headwind but not too challenging and we were soon swooping past Red Hill Nature Reserve to Manor Farm where Chris was lying in wait. Ready for action like a coiled spring on his trusty folding cycle.
An undulating route would take us through the Lincolnshire Wolds Atea of Outstanding Natural Beauty to Sheep Cote Hill and Sharman’s Wath. Following the unexpected closure (until further notice) of Wolds Wildlife Park we anticipated the road to Horncastle being relatively traffic free and arrived just about on schedule a little after 11 am.
We were pleased to meet up with John Weeks and all of us enjoyed some fine refreshments at ‘Just One More Bike’ in the Market Square.
11.30 am and time to make a move. We wished John a pleasant ride home whilst Chris joined us for the ride alongside the River Bain to Thornton Lock using the ‘Spa Trail’ multi user path before he too made his own way back to home port.
Ther remainder made their way to the entrance to Scrivelsby Park. The deer in Scrivelsby Park are black fallow deer. The park at Scrivelsby dates back to the medieval period, helping to establish a small wild population of deer in the area.
The Manor of Scriveslby shortly after conquest was given to Robert Marmion on condition, he accept the office of 'King's Champion'. The Marmion’s had historically been Champions to the Dukes of Normandy and Henry I. The duty of the Champion was to ride armed into the coronation banquet at Westminster Hall and challenge anyone who doubted the monarch's right to the throne. The Champion would throw down his gauntlet to prove he would fight to the death anyone who dared to challenge. The traditional custom of the lord of the manor of Scrivelsby acting as King's Champion continued until the coronation of King George IV in 1821, after which it was discontinued.
Nor far now to the Hamlet of Wilksby and its charming church of All Saints and onwards to The Red Lion at Revesby. Rob remembers this public house from its days when hosting live music events. Time for a short rest and another cup of coffee.
The buildings and extensive estate of Revesby are impressive. Initially the lands were owned by the Cistercian monks of the Rievalux Abbey but became a private Estate when King Henry VIII dissolved the Monastery. In 1714 the Estate was purchased by Sir Joseph Banks, since which time the Estate has passed from one generation to another.
Tim, careful not to promise a back wind from here, was never the less pleased that the winds had indeed backed southerly and assisted our passage north to Miningsby and Hareby. Weather permitting, we may return to nearby Old Bolingbroke Castle next Sunday for our ‘Autumn Picnic’.
For today, we discussed the possibility of stopping off at the Walkers’ and Cyclists’ Hut at Sheep Dip Paddock, South Ormsby. On arrival we noted a number of parked cars but we had the picnic tables to ourselves and availed ourselves of the complimentary coffee and biscuits kindly provided by the estate.
Suitably refreshed, the last leg proved uneventful and we arrived back into Louth a little ahead of schedule at 3.15 pm having covered close to 50 miles.
Thanks to all for the company and the photos (some taken on Tim’s test ride under clear blue skies on the Saturday).
Tim’s ‘Relive’ video:
Gallery
