Market Rasen 25-01-2026

Cycling UK Louth Sunday Ride to Market Rasen 25th January 2026.

Following on from an almost early Springlike day on the Saturday, rain fell most of the night and into early Sunday morning. Apologies had been sent in by Ty Harness and Alan Hockham. Meeting up with Tim Newbery at Louth’s Leisure Centre were Steve Croton and John Rickett who had both ridden in from home. Steve was on his Cube, Tim on the E-crossfire whilst stalwart John was as on his non assisted Eddy Merckx. Kudos to John who didn’t seem to mind, or notice, the 2,700 ft of climbing on today’s route to The Wolds Edge Café near Market Rasen. ETA Wolds Edge 11.45 am and back into Louth by 3 pm.

Miraculously, the rain petered out a little after 10 am and it remained dry for the rest of the day. We’d even been promised of a little brightness in the afternoon. With the wind behind us a steady ride through Brackenborough and Little Grimsby before the sharp ascent at the Dales up to North Elkington. Luckily the low cloud was still a few hundred feet above our heads with good enough visibility to afford sightings of a Sparrowhawk with its distinctive long tail. As this was the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch weekend, we wondered what else could be seen but in truth, sightings were a little low in number, a highlight perhaps a close-up view of a Buzzard.

Binbrook soon loomed into sight with the anticipation of the climb out of Kirmond le Mire to Bully Hill. John had been pointing out a number of clumps of snowdrop and aconite, no more resplendent than at the Church of Saint Martin at Kirmond le Mire. The village has an interesting history to its name, with Kirmond meaning goat hill while Le Mire means marshy ground.

With John having mastered the hills so far, we all enjoyed a downhill swoop through Tealby and onto Risby Moor and our refreshment stop. Arrived about 11.50 am with the friendly staff looking after us well. Interesting to talk with one of the waitresses who is a keen cyclist herself on her trusty Peugeot. In the end we only required a small table as Mike Housley had already enjoyed his scone and had departed shortly before we arrived. We hope to see him on another occasion.

12.30 pm and time to leave the comfort of the café for our return via Little London and Sixhills. There's still no sign of the ‘Lincolnshire Wolds Park’ at the Hainton Estate near South Willingham, although a few metres of tarmac were laid in 2025. Phase one would be for access, parking and passing places, phase two for trails with the visitor centre to come later.

It was near South Willingham that we noted a brightening of the skies although it would have been a stretch of the imagination to have claimed that we’d seen the seen the sun. Crossing the River Bain, a decision to continue directly to Louth passing through Welsdale Bottom and another fine display of snowdrops. A group of cyclists near the Bluestone Heath Road warned us of thick gloopy mud near Hallington Top which will no doubt mean a full washdown of the cycles later on. 

A straight forward ride into Louth at about a quarter past two where Steve continued back to Bilsby whilst Tim and John enjoyed one last cup of coffee at the Leisure Centre (along with a few fingers of KitKat). Thanks John. 

For Tim his longest ride since August at 43 miles. Nearer to 50 miles for John and 70 miles for Steve. Many thanks to all.

Tim’s ‘fly through’ video: https://www.relive.com/view/vYvExg3DZwq

Next Wednesday, it’s a third attempt at Farmer Brown’s and the weather looks promising!