Southwell 17-19 June 2025

A ride suggested by Rob Cook a number of months ago, he had devised a route of about 60 miles each way to Southwell in the district of Newark and Sherwood in Nottinghamshire famed for its Minster. The weather would be very summery with long spells of sunshine and temperatures climbing to around 26 Degrees Celsius. 

 

Joining Rob at Louth’s Meridian Leisure Centre on the Tuesday morning were Martin Wood, John Rickett and Tim Newbery. Ty Harness would be joining us as far as Bardney. 

 

Departing a little before 9 am we’d head initially to Raithby, passing by the picturesque church of Saint Peter’s. A steady climb up to the Bluestone Heath Road and then a welcome decent past Red Hill Nature reserve to Goulceby.

 

Stopping occasionally for a drink, identifying the birdlife and admiring the Lincolnshire Wolds in its beauty at this time of year we’d soon arrive at the ‘Open Door’ community café in Bardney, largely run by a group of volunteers. Packed too with cyclists (a group from Yorkshire) all having the same idea. Luckily room inside and we were served with fine fayre by Frances Kelly. Great to see her.

 

Ty would need to return home whilst Rob would lead the remaining group along the traffic free ‘Water Rail Way’, (formerly the Lincoln to Boston branch line of the Great Northern Railway which opened in 1858) which follows the River Witham and the Delphs all the way to Lincoln. Peaceful too with swans mingling with the occasional boater and workforce from the environment agency. 

 

With the removal of Scott’s Bridge over Melville Street, a ride past the railway station to the Brayford Pool and Fossdyke Navigation where refreshments were taken at the various hostelries. Historic Brayford has been central to the economy of the city throughout the past 2,000 years. The name however dates to the 10th Century, ‘Breit-Ford’. 

 

NCN 64 and 647, would now transport us through Skellingthorpe and Harby to Fledborough, having crossed over the Trent into Nottinghamshire. This proved to be another fine traffic free Sustrans route using the former Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway’s Chesterfield to Lincoln line, affording open views of the moorland and floodplains. Tim remembers when the club used to visit the Manor Cottage Bakery and Tea Rooms at Fledborugh, a mecca for cyclists for miles around.

 

Heading south running parallel to the Trent, we noted the rather fine coloured and decorated Nottinghamshire village signs with the one welcoming us to Caunton warning of horses and ducks! Roads were largely rural (potholed!) and we encountered our only shower of the day from water jets watering the potato crops. Passing through Hockerton, the National Byway network would eventually take us over the River Greet to Southwell arriving at 4.55 pm, 5 minutes earlier than Rob had predicted.

 

Our accommodation for the night was the Saracens Head which has a long and illustrious history. Parts are said to date to the 12th Century and probably served as a hostelry to the Minster which itself is largely of Norman origin. The Saracens Head (originally The Kings Arms Inn) is perhaps most notable for its connection to King Charles I. On the 5th May 1646 at 7.00 a.m. towards the end of the Civil War, the King arrived at the King’s Arms from Stamford, disguised as a clergyman. Here he spent the last hours of his freedom before being taken to Kelham to the Scottish Army Commander General Leslie (the army once sympathetic to the Royalist cause) who in turn handed him over to the English Parliamentary Army. Other notable residents of the Saracens Head include Lord Byron who took part in amateur theatricals here.

 

Southwell itself is worthy of more than a day’s visit, let alone just a few hours. There are some Roman ruins but the jewel in the crown is the Minster with a particularly fine Chapter House. Following the demise of Charles I in 1646, the church was seriously damaged and the adjoining palace completely destroyed by the Scottish troops but much has been restored over the following centuries and now merits a suggested £5 entrance fee. Later in July we also noted the advertisement of an outdoor performance of Shakespeare’s Much ado About Nothing by the ‘Handlebards’. Most intriguing. Shakespeare on bike! The mind boggles.

 

Having enjoyed a gastronomic and almost never ending breakfast in the King Charles Restaurant (special thanks to Maya), we were ready to head back on the Wednesday morning. Fairly cloudy to start with but a forecast of a very warm 27 Degrees Celsius later in the afternoon. We’d follow Rob’s route back alongside the River Trent, northbound to Fledborough. The road surfaces hadn’t improved and we concluded that they are in a state no better than in Lincolnshire. 

 

The old railway line cycle route back to Lincoln was never the less a joy to ride along and after the crossing of the Trent, rested for a while at the platform of Clifton on Trent. The last passenger train stopped here back in 1955 with the last freight train passing though in 1980 after which a derailment resulted in immediate closure.

 

At the Georgie Twig Track, John, Martin and Tim would take a short diversion to Doddington Hall and the Giant Cycle Shop whilst we bade farewell to Rob who had onward train journeys at Lincoln to attend to. With a backwind, we were soon bowling along the Water Rail Way back to Bardney where we investigated the possibility of final refreshments at the Open Door Café. We had arrived just in time before a school part was due, Tim thoroughly enjoying a freshly baked scone supplied with jam and clotted cream ... the excuse being a ride over the Wolds to follow. 

 

The village sign in the small parish of Gautby (pronounced Got-bee) is rather fine highlighting the local Lincolnshire Limewoods and Sir Thomas Vyner, former Mayor of London who owned Gautby Manor. Signs too for ‘Minting Park’, a medieval Royal hunting park.

 

With the heat building, a change in route was decided to take us to Donnington on Bain for cold drinks and ice creams at the post office before finally getting back to Louth by 4.30 – 5 pm.

 

Thanks to all. 60 miles outbound and about 65 miles homebound.

Tim’s ‘Relive’ video: https://www.relive.com/view/v1vjPrr1jY6