Woodhall Spa 07-12-2022

Wednesday Wander to Woodhall Spa -7th December 2022.

With the weather turning increasingly wintry, it was great to have Tim Newbery, Paul Linder and Stephen Croton arriving at Horncastle’s Pool and Fitness Suite, ready for a 10 am departure. Temperatures were around 1 Degree Celsius, a little colder than forecast but following a cloudy night, roads were largely ice free.

Our route today would be mostly on road but with short sections utilising multi-user paths along the ‘Water Rail Way’ and the ‘Spa Trail’. Steve had brought a bike with wide tyres just in case.

From Horncastle there was initially a bit of a push up the hill to Langton before a pleasant potter along the narrow country lanes to Old Woodhall and Reeds Beck. By now, skies were becoming increasingly blue and winter sunshine was beaming down. Perfect then to view Woodhall Spa’s famous Wellington Monument secluded in Waterloo Wood. An inscription at the base of the bust of the Duke of Wellington commemorates the Waterloo Campaign of 1815. The inscription reads “Waterloo Wood, raised from acorns sown immediately after the Battle of Waterloo”.

Northbound now to Poolham Ings before looping back to Stixwould, where we would pick up ‘Station Road’. Not surprisingly this lane proved to be a direct link to Stixwould Station on the Water Rail Way, formerly the Great Northern Railway’s Lincoln to Boston track alongside the River Witham. The last train departed the platform on 5th October 1970. The signal box is now incorporated into the stationmaster’s house whilst the cast iron sign stands proudly on the platform.

Cycling along the Water Rail Way was a pleasure; traffic free and the sun no longer glaring into our eyes. Great too to view the art trail, notably the Lincoln Longwool sheep sculpture by Sally Matthews, which appears to be crossing the path.

Departing the multi user path at Martin Dales, we passed by the newly opened ‘Ragged Apron’ café which Tim has tried and tested and rates highly. Today however, Paul had recommended the Melrose Café, located adjacent to the former Horncastle to Woodhall Spa railway line. Plenty of space inside and the owners were very welcoming. Paul enjoyed a vegetarian breakfast and a pudding with custard. That surely would slow him down today.

Our return route would take us through Roughton Moor Wood and Ostler’s Plantation and onto the River Bain. A short section of main road to negotiate before once more enjoying almost deserted lanes connecting hamlets across the edge of the Wolds. ‘The Wilderness’ a little ahead being very descriptive. First however through Wood Enderby and a glimpse of some interesting topiary in the form of more sheep!

For once the gates of the road through Claxby Pluckacre were wide open, the track as potholed and mucky as ever (apologies to Steve for splattering his yellow jacket). The low angle sunshine perfectly picked out the medieval ridge and furrow in the adjacent fields and the raised platform of the former St Andrews church, which fell down in 1748, was easily visible by Hall Farm.

Time to dig in and tackle a headwind and an ascent up Hameringham Hill and Mareham Hill. Our rewards were fine views of the Bain Valley before our descent to Thornton Lock.

The ‘Spa Trail’ (the former Horncastle to Woodhall Spa Railway) would take us past several locks of the Horncastle Canal. Sir Joseph Banks, whose family owned estates at Reevesby, was the driving force behind the building of the canal which opened to much acclaim in 1802.

We would return to the Fitness Suite at about 1.40 pm having covered 29 miles. A chilly but very pleasant ride in the sunshine along lanes which we haven’t used for a while, in fact the last time was back in late November 2021. Many thanks to all for the company. Today's top temperature, 4 Degrees Celsius.