Alford 11th March 2026

Cycling UK Louth’s Wednesday Wander 11th March 2026

A fine, mild and largely sunny day was in prospect although a brisk sou’wester was forecast to gust to 30 mph (tomorrow perhaps 50 mph!). Meeting up with Tim Newbery at Louth’s Leisure Centre were Steve Croton, Paul Linder and John Parish. Indeed, with John Rickett away celebrating a ‘notable’ birthday, we had swapped one John with another.

Departing Louth at 10 am with an estimated return time of 1.30 pm, we were soon pedalling up onto the ‘Top Road’ past Little Cawthorpe and through to Muckton, Meagram Hill and Belleau.

With Steve and Tim temporarily at the front, unaware that Paul and John were briefly on a different route to Alford (oops, sorry), we were luckily soon to re-group and enjoyed the back lanes to Haugh and Rigsby.

Rather than a direct route into town we would head to Well first but soon to arrive at The Willow Restaurant & Tea Rooms, which Steve had requested as he’d never visited before. 

Having only very recently been taken over by Dell and Rob Abbot, there are plans for more refurbishments. The interior is still largely an old fashioned tea room style and we were well looked after. We made a toast to John Rickett on his Celebrations and wished him Good Health.

Having already battled into the wind riding to Louth, Paul and Steve would continue directly home which left John and Tim to return to Louth on a longer but flatter route through Ailby, Authorpe and the Carltons. The twists and turns afforded some relief from the breeze, arriving back at the Leisure Centre at 1.40 pm. 35 miles covered by the Louth contingent.

Good to have seen John again. Until next time.

Tim’s ‘Relive’ Video: https://www.relive.com/view/v8qkKYE7QKq