Sandringham Summer Camp

Cycling UK Louth Summer Camp - Sandringham 21st-24th July 2021.

This would be Cycling UK Louth’s third camping trip of the year. Previously Wing in May: https://www.cyclinguk.org/.../wing-camping-weekend-21st...

and Burton Constable in June: https://www.cyclinguk.org/.../burton-constable-camp-10-12...

A return to Sunny Sandringham which we last visited back in 2018. Booked well before any knowledge of the heatwave it was pure co-incidence that the trip in 2018 was also during a heatwave!

Numbers on our camping trips are now quite low for a number of reasons and this time it would be Rob Cook who would accompany Tim Newbery.

DAY 1.

Departing Louth on Wednesday 21st, it would initially be a car assist to Castle Rising for a bike ride to Castle Acre. Castle to Castle. It was Tim’s choice to start with a cup of coffee at Castle Rising Tea Rooms and very fine it was too, set in a beautiful garden bordered by huge hollyhocks. A fellow guest informed us that the village the tea rooms were formerly a bakery and then a post office. The village is almost ‘feudal’, land and properties owned by Baron Howard of Rising. Lord Howard also owns and manages the castle.

Already getting very warm and with almost clear blue skies a route now to Roydon where we noted the connection with the railways. Continuing a little further we passed by the village cricket grounds of Grimston and it was a delight to see the thatched clubhouse. Quintessential of an English summer.

Tim was hoping to re-visit the Saxon round tower of Gayton Thorpe’s church and Rob bore this request with great fortitude. Built in 900 AD it served as a lookout and refuge in case of a Viking invasion!

Although the sausage rolls at West Acre Gardens came highly recommended, when we arrived at the garden centre (Tim had thought it would be a walled garden) it was very busy and we decided to give it a miss on this occasion. The Apple Tea Rooms did however look very inviting. Perhaps another time.

With the sun now blazing down and temperatures rising above 26 degrees Celsius on our arrival in Castle Acre, we found some delightful shade opposite the castle to have our drinks and sandwiches. Tim had purchased a Welsh ‘double shot' iced coffee…strong stuff!

Our return would utilise a route through Great Massingham and as we had time in hand, a very pleasant cup of tea was enjoyed in the Cartshed Tea Rooms. It was then equally pleasing to find that we would now travel downhill almost all the way to Grimston where we would pick up the route back to Castle Rising. 31 miles completed, the heat and humidity preventing any lengthy detours. Never the less a great day’s ride with largely quiet roads, fine scenery and abundant wildlife.

Time to pitch the tents at Sandringham Campsite and for Rob to demonstrate his camping skills. Alfresco meals for both Tim and Rob.

DAY 2. Thursday 22nd July 2021

The campsite had proved to be relatively quiet as in the noise from the happy campers, but being located amongst the trees, the cacophony of the pigeons more than made up for the shortfall. Today, a planned route along Sustrans NCN Route 1 to Burnham Market for lunch. We had hoped that temperatures would be a shade lower than Wednesday’s 27 degrees but it would turn out to be very hot and humid once again. Out of the camp gates and along to Sandringham Estate. We stopped to view the Memorial to ‘The Sandringham Men’ where a couple were also in attendance having knowledge of the tragic fate of the 5th Territorial Battalion the Royal Norfolk Regiment in WW1. Named on the memorial were many of the estate workers who lost their lives in Gallipoli.

Continuing north along the undulating, narrow and at times gravelly lanes to Ringstead, it was hoped that we would be able stop for a brew. A technical malfunction meant that we would in the end continue along Ringstead Road to Burnham Market for our refreshments. A pleasant ride none the less and we passed by typical Norfolk countryside, the lanes bordered by abundant wildflowers. Rob chose No.29 Bar and Restaurant for lunch. An inspired choice. Great coffee and after initial disappointment of the bakery having run out of donuts, one of the bar staff came by with a tray of freshly baked jam and cream scones. Too much of a temptation to resist.

Refreshed and having cooled down we would now follow a route cross country to Fring and Bircham where we would stop once again to view the 4 sailed windmill. Few working mills remain and this is the only one open to the public.

Onwards through the delightful Shernborne (part of the Sandringham Estate) we would return to camp for a well-earned rest. 36 miles covered.

DAY 3. Friday 23rd July 2021.

With a forecast of a cloudy day and a high of only 18 degrees (we had been sceptical of the prediction the day before) the morning did indeed dawn almost chilly! A ride today to Kings Lynn to discover something of the history of this city, a prominent port for over 1000 years. Fascinating to wander the streets. Well worth spending a day or more. There are many highlights and we particularly liked the area around Purfleet. Interesting to see a statue of Captain George Vancouver. Born in Lynn in 1757 he would go on to chart much of coast between San Diego and Anchorage giving his name to Vancouver, Canada. He was of Dutch lineage (Van Couver – Coevorden located in the Drenthe Province of the Netherlands).

The Minster, townhall and several priories all have their stories to tell and the former Greenland Fishery pub gives a clue to the once lucrative whaling industry. Indeed, we passed by ‘Blubber Creek’ as we cycled a few miles along the Fen Rivers Cycle Way. Only another 50 miles to Cambridge! Another highlight, not always known about, are the extensive ‘Walks’ and parklands. Cycle racing once took place in St John’s Walk but the sport didn’t always please the locals and notices were put up in 1897 to forbid cycling in the parks! Luckily today, NCN 1 travels peacefully right through the area.

A meal at Wetherspoons set us up for the ride back to Sandringham which concluded another rather fine day. 23 miles covered.

Thanks to Rob for his company and forbearance. Perhaps next time it won’t be a heatwave.