Ulceby Cross 22-02-2026

Cycling UK Louth's Sunday Ride to Ulceby Cross 22nd February 2026

Upon the recommendation of Steve Croton, the club were to cycle today to the relatively newly opened café at the Spar Filling Station at Ulceby Cross. Tom’s Kitchen has built up a fine reputation for breakfasts. 

Ty Harness had devised a hilly route and was to have led the ride but had gone down with a virus. Maybe it was the thought of over 2300 ft of climbing. Get well soon Ty.

We at least had the weather gods on our side today. Last Sunday a high of just 2 Degrees Celsius, strong winds and sleet and snow. Today, largely clear blue skies and a whoppingly mild 14 Degrees Celsius. Has Spring Sprung?

Turning up at Louth’s Leisure Centre were John Rickett, Steve Croton, Paul Linder, Tim Newbery and with the welcome return of Sven Livesey. Maybe we’d see Alan Hockham en-route.

A backwind aided a brisk pace along Stewton Lane and we were soon clear of the A157 to tackle the increasingly potholed back lanes through Authorpe and up the hill to Belleau. Distractions were plentiful and banks of snowdrops proliferated, increasingly interspersed with clusters of radiantly colourful daffodil.

At Belleau Bridge which crosses over the Great Eau, John alerted members that the ‘For Sale’ sign outside the former Trout Farm has been removed. With an estimated value of close to £1.5 million we wonder how it might be developed. 

After meeting up with Alan, onwards through Rigby Wood with an undulating climb up to Miles Cross Hill Crossroads, famed of course for the location of Alford’s ‘plague stone’. No need to leave money or goods today, instead a farewell to Paul who was soon to enjoy fine dining at Woodthorpe whilst for the rest of the group, a short ride up to the Spar facilities at Ulceby Cross.

A large selection of hot and cold food and drink were available from Tom’s Kitchen and we were delighted to see that the breakfast menu was still being offered. Incredibly good value it was too. We dined in the large seating area, admiring the murals on the wall. Steve disclosed that they had been painted by one of the managers, Lois. She’s a talented artist.

Time now for Steve to depart and it wasn’t long before Alan too would head for home. That left John, Sven and Tim to tackle the delights of Fordington Hill, Langton Hill, Gibbet Hill and Harrington Hill. Notice a theme here? The steepest climb perhaps at Sutterby which John ascended with ease, Sat Nav devices stating a 13 percent incline. For some a brief stop and a chance to admire the tiny church of Saint John the Baptist. This isolated chapel lies in a Deserted Medieval Village and was once destined to be demolished but was saved and now restored by the local community.

Luckily the sun was still shining brightly by the time we arrived in Brinkhill and we checked to see if the sundial accurately marked the current time of about 1 pm. If only we knew how to read the dial. The pottery in Brinkhill has sadly long since closed and once boasted a fine tea room but we did note that the Saint Philip’s Church had a sign advertising coffee and cake every Wednesday from 10 am till 2 pm. Worth investigating. It certainly hosts fine strawberry and cream teas in the Summer.

Only a few more miles before Tim would need to take a break and the Walkers and Cyclists’ Hut at Sheep Dip Paddock, South Ormsby provided the perfect opportunity. A full jug of hot water enabled us to take advantage of the complimentary hot drinks whilst John handed out Hot Cross Buns obtained at the Spar shop. Thanks John. It was here that we were luckily enough for our second sighting of a Red Kite, close up and personal. A magnificent bird of prey and whilst they have similar body mass to Buzzards, Red Kites possess a significantly wider wingspan and a much longer, deeply forked tail. 

Whilst enjoying the pleasant vista from the benches, John had estimated temperatures to have climbed to 14 Celsius and indeed Tim’s Garden thermometer was registering 14.2, the highest since last November. How does John do it?

Fortified, a hilly ride to Swaby with yet more climbing along Long Hedge Lane to Meagram Top, before a familiar Top Road routing through Muckton and Little Cawthorpe. Arrived back at the Leisure on schedule at 2.45 pm. 38 Miles for the Louth Contingent. 

Thanks to Sven for the photos.

Tim’s Relive Video: https://www.relive.com/view/vRO7NKPJEKv