Flyway Sandilands 21st October 2026

Cycling UK Louth’s Wednesday Wander to Flyway NT Sandilands 21st October 2026

Steve Croton had missed out on our last couple of visits to the new ‘Flyway’ café at National Trust’s nature reserve at Sandilands, so by popular request, another visit today. Weather forecasts had however changed several times over the last few days, settling down eventually to suggest a fine sunny morning but increasingly wet in the afternoon. ETA back into Louth about 2 pm.

Meeting up at Louth’s Leisure Centre were John Rickett and Tim Newbery whilst Steve would be waiting for us at Woodthorpe. 

Under largely clear blue skies and with temperatures barely above 8 Degrees Celsius, Tim and John set off on the now familiar route along Stewton Lane leading to Legbourne Furze. A very pleasant ride through the Carltons and then over the Great Eau to Withern. A headwind but manageable and we had hoped Steve hadn’t had to wait too long before meeting up at the entrance to Woodthorpe Garden Centre. 

Heading east, we’d follow the marsh lanes (these too becoming increasingly subsided) to Sutton in the Marsh, or at least that is what the village was once known as before the advent of the railway. The owners of the railway christened it Sutton-on-Sea in 1884 in the hope of attracting more passengers. However, Sutton-on-Sea did not become its official legal name until 1956 when it was decided by County Council after villagers and the local district council could not come to an agreement on the name.

Arriving at the new Flyways café at about 11.30 am, we’d once again missed breakfast but Tim was delighted with a butcher’s sausage roll and John his freshly warmed scone. A popular destination with indoor tables fully occupied but sitting at the outdoor tables allowed uninterrupted views of the nature reserve. 

Skies were at last clouding over and with a chill in the air, we moved on for our return as the clocks struck 12 noon. At Bilsby we bade farewell to Steve (we hope to see him again in a couple of weeks) and with skies darkening, Tim and John decided on passing up a refreshment stop at Alford. Instead, we looked forward to a coffee back at the Leisure Centre.

A brief shower was encountered near Ailby but the more persistent and heavier rain held off until Little Cawthorpe and then only a short distance to Louth. Arrived back about 1.30 pm having covered 40 miles. Thanks to John for a rather fine cup of coffee.

Tim’s ‘Relive’ video: https://www.relive.com/view/v7O9zZVd2Q6