| 1. An undulating roll through ancient South Lincolnshire villages such as Londonthorpe, Dembleby and Pickworth. After around a mile of main road the route swings right into Belton, which is dominated by the stately home of the same name. A right turn takes you through grazing pasture behind the house, before a left takes you up a short steepish climb into Londonthorpe and then onto Ermine Street, the major Roman street running from London to Lincoln. After following the road North for a few hundred yards turn left to Welby. Like man of the villages on the route, Welby boasts a parish church and a good looking pub, but no post office or shop. Next on the route is a cluster of hamlets within a mile of another. Take a brief detour into pretty Aisby, with its village green, and large houses, and then ride up towards Culverthorpe. Before reaching Swarby take a right and head south towards Dembleby. After the pretty village of Dembleby turn right onto the A52, and then almost immediately left and head for Newton. Turn left in this village and head towards Walcot, where a right turn takes you down a shorthill, and through a Ford. The water is generally less than a foot deep, but there is a small pedestrian bridge you can take if you don't fancy getting your pedals wet. At Pickworth turn left and ride uphill towards Lenton, and then the larger village of Ingoldsby, which has its own school. The north western route out of the village is steadily uphill, but nothing too serious. At Boothby Pagnell join the B1176 and head to Grantham. Eventually the road recrosses Ermine Street, which is called High Dyke at this point. Cross the roundabout onto the A52 and descend into Grantham.
|