Binbrook Brew 9th September 2026

Cycling UK Louth's Wednesday Wander to the Binbrook Brew Tea Room, 9th September 2026...

Most of the club members were either on holiday, getting ready to go on holiday or working today so it was Tim Newbery who turned up at the Leisure Centre anyway, for a ‘Billy No Mates’ ride. 

Weatherwise a fine if breezy day, the comparatively chilly Northwesterly set to gust to 30 mph, so a decision was made to pedal into the wind to Binbrook for coffee and cake at the guardroom (and purchase a few raffle tickets).

Kicking off at 10 am a ride along the lanes through Brackenborough (verge side apple trees laden with fruit) and then the stiff climb through the Dales to North Elkington. Levelling off at Boswell, a pleasant ride to the War Memorial at former RAF Kelstern where last Wednesday, Ty visited to watch the Tour of Britain race by.

Arrived at the Guardroom a little before 11.30 am to be greeted warmly by members of His Church Charity at the Lincolnshire Brew Tea Room, who had asked if I had brought the usual crowd with me. Nice of them to remember. Advising just a solo rider, I was ushered to a table which I shared with a couple who visit every week, the gentleman having previously worked at the station as a medic. They now reside in Utterby and frequent ‘Chums’ so we chatted about the club’s recent visits. For once, no raffle prizes were won, which was perhaps just as well as there wasn’t much room in the small pannier.

The return was initially as planned with a ride through Swinhope, Wold Newton (members will be back here on Sunday) and then a steep descent to North Ormsby and Utterby. Perfect with the wind now assisting.

At Ings Lane, Utterby, a decision was made to deviate from the route for a ride down the permissive bridleway and walkway along the disused East Lincolnshire Railway. The track bed is owned and managed by Lincolnshire Wolds Railway but is frequently used by walkers and cyclists (forming part of a Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape circular trail). Because it’s owned by the heritage group which holds orders to reinstate the railway line, the current ‘permissive access’ status is subject to future development work. Today it was being well used by dog walkers and cyclists, although it must be said that it’s very overgrown in places with tree roots, ruts, overhanging branches, brambles and stinging nettles all to be safely navigated.

The old railway that ran between Grimsby and Louth crosses Peppin Lane near Fotherby and it’s here that in 1853, a basic controlled crossing point and small station were opened as ‘Fotherby Gate House’, trains stopping twice a week on market days. Such were the limited number of passengers using this halt, the station soon closed in 1872. It reopened in 1905 as ‘Fotherby Halt’ by the Great Northern Railway for a new railmotor service but closed altogether to passenger traffic in 1961 during the rationalisation before the wider Beeching cuts.

Continuing along the former East Lincolnshire Railway to the outskirts of Louth, ‘Betties’ Café beckoned for refreshments and lunch was thoroughly enjoyed. Arrived 1.30 pm having covered 31 miles.

Tim's 'Relive' video: https://www.relive.com/view/vrqo7rJ9PKq