Cycling UK Louth Christmas Day Ride 2025

We awoke to a dry and bright day with the promise of increasing amounts of sunshine. Perfect then for a short spin around the lanes before the indulgence of a Christmas Lunch.

Meeting up with Tim Newbery was Ty Harness who was keen to make a start on his target of 200 miles over the festivities. Apologies had been sent from most of the other members of the group and of course we wish everyone a Very Happy Christmas.

Setting off at 10 am, Tim sporting a bicycle bristling with multicoloured lights, the duo headed off along Stewton Lane. Very quiet on the roads, encountering only a few couples on a Christmas Day Morning walk in the sunshine. Not a bicycle to be seen, no youngsters trying out their Christmas Day present of a new bike. Traditions have changed.

Furze Lane soon took us to Legbourne where we noted the Village Store was open, vegetables stacked up in boxes by the front windows. Locals still had time to procure all that was needed for a feast.

Onwards through Legbourne, taking Mill Lane to the ruins of Legbourne Priory. Founded by Robert Fitz Gilbert around 1150, the Priory was originally for the nuns of Keddington. 
 
Cycling alongside the fast flowing Long Eau we reached the ‘Splash’ where Ty expertly navigated his way trough the ford without getting wet shoes. We had plenty of time to view the ‘Watering Stone’, a large Greywacke boulder, transported to the village from Scotland by a glacier some 20,000 years ago. For many years it rested in the Seven Springs situated below St Helen’s church, where countless generations of villagers stood on it to draw their water as it bubbled out of the ground.
 
A return to Louth via Planting Side soon had us back at Tim’s to enjoy a mince pie (or two). We raised our glasses (mugs of of coffee!) to all those who couldn’t be with us today.
Wishing everyone a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Gallery

By timnewbery

Updated on Friday 26 December 2025

Parent group: Cycling UK Louth