Spa Trail 16th May 2026
LINCOLNSHIRE WOLDS OUTDOOR FESTIVAL - SPA TRAIL
Saturday 16th May 2026
Cycling UK Louth had been asked and had agreed to organise an event for the opening ‘Activity Day’ of the Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival, this year based at Horncastle. As the theme of the activity day was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Viking Way (a 237 km long-distance path which runs from the Humber Bridge to Oakham) a ride along the ‘Spa Trail’ linking Horncastle with Woodhall Spa which forms part of the Viking Way, was thought appropriate.
Our start and finish would be the Horncastle Pool & Fitness Suite at Cagthorpe which also has a Viking connection. Situated by the confluence of River Waring and River Bain the name is of Viking origin; “Thorpe” old Norse for farmstead and “Cag” or “Kag" a Scandinavian dialect word for a low, boggy piece of land near a river.
Meeting up with today’s ride leaders Tim Newbery and Ty Harness would be guest riders Jane Barlow and Karen Pearson along with John and Tracey Parish and Harvey Wright. It was a delight to have everyone on board for a 15 mile linear route to Woodhall Spa and back. Following unseasonably cold and unsettled weather during the week, we were blessed with fine conditions with largely blue skies and temperatures warming up to 14 Degrees Celsius.
We would start our journey along the multi user path that utilises the track-bed of the former branch line between Horncastle and Kirkstead Junction. The railway which first opened in 1855, would go on to run passenger services until 1954, although a goods service was retained until 1971. At the time of opening, Woodhall Spa was being developed as a location where people went to enjoy the curative properties of the spring water which contained iodine and bromine. It was also hoped that this part of the Great Northern loop line would bring financial wealth to Horncastle.
During the Second World War, members of the general public were discouraged to catch the train to make way for the essential movement of military personnel, equipment and materials for the war effort. This line was indeed busy transporting soldiers, airmen and equipment to the camps and RAF stations around Woodhall Spa and also the troops stationed in Woodhall Spa prior to the Arhnem landings.
More like an episode of the BBC’s ‘Dad’s Army’, the Kirkstead Home Guard used the line to outwit the Woodhall section during a wartime training exercise. Their task was to capture Woodhall HQ – they caught the train and passed right through the defensive positions undetected to secure their target!
Today the Spa Trail is a fine traffic free route for walkers and cyclists and along the way there are a series of interpretation boards and sculptures made from wood, stone and metal reflecting local wildlife and links with the past. We enjoyed a photo opportunity along side the sculpture of a Viking Longboat created by Anwick Forge, whilst listening to the call of a myriad of birds including the distinctive two note song of the Cuckoo.
After a leisurely pedal, we exited the woods at Martin Moor to take Sandy Lane towards Woodhall Spa. After observing a closeup view of a Green Woodpecker, there was also a perfect view of Woodhall Spa’s famous Wellington Monument secluded in Waterloo Wood. An inscription at the base of the bust of the Duke of Wellington commemorates the Waterloo Campaign of 1815. The inscription reads “Waterloo Wood, raised from acorns sown immediately after the Battle of Waterloo”.
We arrived at Jubilee Park on schedule at 12.30 pm to take refreshment at the café which served very reasonably priced hot drinks and cakes. A pleasant half hour or so was spent chatting in the sunshine and having discovered that today was the anniversary of ‘Operation Chastise' (the Dambusters Raid), a decision was made to visit the Petwood Hotel across the road. This hotel served as the home of the officers of 617 Squadron following the dam raids, when the squadron was relocated to RAF Woodhall Spa from RAF Coningsby.
With warm sunshine still shining down, another pleasant cycle ride was enjoyed retracing our steps, along the Spa Trail. Arrived back at Horncastle Pool & Fitness Suite at 2.30 pm.
Many thanks especially to Jane and Karen, we thoroughly enjoyed your company. A special mention also to Tracey who hasn’t cycled very much in the last year but mastered both trail and road.
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