North Coates 13th July 2025
Cycling UK Louth Sunday Ride to North Coates Flying Club 13th July 2025:
A break in the heatwave with today’s top temperature predicted to be about 22 Degrees Celsius. Largely cloudy skies too and a refreshing Nor’easter. Today our route would take us to the Fly-In at North Coates Flying Club for brunch and then onto Wold Newton for legendary tea and cake.
Meeting up with Ride Leader Tim Newbery at Louth’s Leisure Centre were Rob Cook, John Rickett, Steve Croton, Paul Linder, Martin Wood, Ty Harness and Alan Hockham. Chris Owen, Sven Livesey and Paul Reynolds had indicated that they’d meet up with us at North Coates taking the tally to eleven, out largest group for a few years.
The lead out was a little more unusual, following the Louth Navigation to Alvinhgam and Covenham and then straight into the wind through the marshy ‘Ings’ of Wragholme and Marshchapel. A number of other cyclists were also enjoying a ride in the countryside and pleasantries were exchanged. We’d also meet up with Chris who’d taken time out of his busy swimming training to join us (the date of The River Humber Bridge Charity Swim edging closer).
It wouldn’t be long before our lead up to the former RAF station along ‘Kenneth Campbell Road’, named after the Scottish airman who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for an attack whilst he was based at RAF North Coates that damaged the German battlecruiser Gneisenau. John would recount the intriguing and poignant story behind the attribution (see below).
North Coates military airfield itself has a wealth of history as originally it was an active air station during the First World War before it was the home of a Coastal Command Strike Wing in WWII and latterly Bloodhound missiles when Tim’s father was stationed here in the early 1960’s.
Both Sven and Paul Reynolds had already arrived but we’d have plenty of time to sit and chat a while over hot drinks and for some, sausage sandwiches. Others were holding themselves back for the anticipated refreshments at Wold Newton.
On departure, we’d bid farewell to Chris whilst the remaining entourage would continue west through the picturesque Grainsby Estate. Grainsby Hall, owned by the Nettleship-family was sadly demolished in 1972 and little remains today.
With a few stops for water breaks and for technical issues (mirrors flying off on their own accord) we were to ascend Hawerby Hill which Ty knows well. 370 ft AMSL but actually not today’s highest altitude. That would please Paul no end.
Arriving at Wold Newton well before 1 pm we were delighted to find that it wasn’t too busy and found several empty tables outside,these having just been vacated (I think we frightened off the clientele). Cheese scones, fruit scones with jam and cream and a large variety of cake all on offer and a selection was much enjoyed.
Click’em Road was followed almost all the way to the Click’em Inn where Paul Reynolds and Sven would leave the group to return to Binbrook. Good to have had your company today guys. Just eight now for the final leg through the undulations of Swinhope Brats and Lambcroft (now we’d reach our highest altitude of 425 ft AMSL) before the sharp descent to North Ormsby and Utterby.
Having originally thought that a 2 pm arrival at the Meridian Leisure Centre was a little ambitious, the last to arrive back was Tim at ten past two. 42 miles for the Louth contingent whilst Paul would clock close to 70 miles. Top temperature 22 Degrees. Many thanks to all.
Tim’s ‘Relive’ video: https://www.relive.com/view/v7O9ZPG3pL6
Gallery
