Torksey Lock

Torksey Lock

Sunday 29-08-2021

The Bank Holiday Weekend had started promisingly on the Saturday with clear blue skies and warm sunshine. Tim had also ‘reccied’ today’s route just a few days ago in sunny conditions (some of the photos are from Tim’s ride), so it was a little disappointing to find that Sunday dawned cool, dull and grey with even a little drizzly rain. Never the less several of the group gathered at the Giant Store Café at Doddington Hall in anticipation of the ride to Torksey and Fledborough that Alan Hockham had devised nearly 2 years ago. We also greeted Ian Prince, a fellow Cycling UK/CTC member from Nottinghamshire who would ride with us today. Apologies had been sent by John Rickett, Neil Parnham, Rob Cook and John Ambler.

After admiring the Elizabethan Manor House and perhaps more importantly enjoying hot drinks at the Giant Store café; Tim Newbery, Alan Hockham, Chris Owen, Reg Bagshaw and Ian departed about 10.30 am along Lincoln Road and Jerusalem Road to Skellinghthorpe. Another time we might try NCN to Skellingthorpe to avoid some of the traffic.

Heading north to Saxibly, a brisk headwind resulted in a steady ride but it wasn’t long before we approached the Fossdyke Navigation, crossing the A57 and stopping to admire the view along Bridge Street. Appropriately named as there are indeed a number of Saxilby bridges that cross the canal here. As far back as Roman times, the Fossdyke provided a vital link between the River Trent and the cathedral city of Lincoln. A bridge has spanned the canal at Saxilby since at least 1648. We stopped alongside where a swing bridge once stood (built in 1823) but fell into disuse by 1937 when the bypass opened.

Ignoring Tim’s pleas of an ice cream at the Waters Edge Ice Cream Parlour, we continued along an increasingly rural ‘Syke’ Lane’ to Firs Farm where we would turn west along Sand Lane towards the mighty River Trent. Not so much sandy on this occasion but more a series of potholes joined by small sections of tarmac. Having mastered this obstacle course, it was a more straightforward journey to Torksey Lock.

Cycling UK Louth have been here a few times now but sad to see the tea rooms closed and looking in neglect. Today, all quiet apart from some members of the public launching model boats. The locks at Torksey separate the freshwater Fossdyke from the tidal waters of the Trent. Surprisingly or perhaps unsurprisingly, Torksey was once an important settlement and in 1066 surpassed Nottingham.

Our next trick would be to navigate the ‘kissing’ gates and steps leading up to and down from Torksey Viaduct. Although a Sustrans route, it hasn’t to date been upgraded to be accessible by cyclists. With a team effort we safely arrived onto Ferry Lane affording fine views of the viaduct which once carried the mainline of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln railway over the River Trent. We were also pleased to view the little known Torksey Castle. It's actually the ruins of an Elizabethan Manor built in 1560, although some believe it to have been built on a Norman motte and bailey. The manor was slighted in the Civil War and the owners, the Jermyn family, had no funds to rebuild.

With some of us looking forward to food and drink, time to continue along the rough track, past the decommissioned power station at Cottam and along to Eyre Arms in Rampton village. Tim and Ian had pre-booked a meal and we all sat outside enjoying friendly chat whilst consuming either a full ‘Sunday Roast’ (Tim chose the turkey option and Ian the pork) whilst for others simply a beer or a cup of tea. The meals were excellent and good value too.

Our return route would initially be on metalled roads through Laneham and Ragnall, the village signs reminding us that, having crossed the Trent, we were enjoying the delights of Nottinghamshire. A two counties ride.

Not too far to Crabtree Lane where would pick up NCN 647 and the Dukeries Trail which would take us to Fledborough Viaduct along the former railway track. The viaduct was built in 1896 for the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway’s Chesterfield to Lincoln line. The viaduct taking us back into Lincolnshire across the Trent, is two thirds of a mile in length and used nine million bricks.

NCN 647 transforms into NCN 64 near Harby, the route bounded by verdant shrubs and brambles. Chris was pleasantly surprised to meet up with Gary, a member of the Market Rasen cycling group that he also rides with. Gary was successfully foraging for blackberries which would be destined for the production of blackberry and apple pie and crumble.

Today we were blessed with a relatively quiet and peaceful route back to Doddington Hall, the final section along Georgie Twigg Track. Georgie Twigg Chris would inform us is an international field hockey player and an Olympic gold medallist.

A splendid day out and good to have had Reg with us who was clearly enjoying the gravel bike, ideal for today’s route. Great too to have had the company of Ian. Arrived at the Giant Store Café a little before 2.30 pm having covered 28 miles.