| 1. The route starts in the city and the traffic continues to be fairly heavy until Burton Joyce, but the cycle path's good between Netherfield and there.
Again it's main roads from Burton Joyce until Thurgarton although traffic tails off after Lowdham.
Between Thurgarton and Averham it's pleasant leafy villages. It becomes a little bland briefly between Kelham and Newark but Newark's attractive and would be worth a visit but we pressed on through Coddington (a bit of a hill) and over the A17.
First there's the splendid woods before Stapleford and then, after you've cycled through there, the 'big sky' country seems to begin over the top of hedgegrows and corn fields. All great for us because the day was hot and sunny throughout. This carries on through the valley until Boothby Graffoe (a steeper climb here).
I had worried that the trip would be a long straight dull road through brassica fields. There was an element of this from Boothby to Metheringham (where we had a break at 'The Star and 'something?' pub) but the sky and clouds become the interesting landmark, best go when there's something going on above.
Metheringham to Woodhall Spa much the same, a peculiar number of dead rabbits on the road, maybe their diet was tedious.
At Woodhall go straight over the roundabout and take the right towards Kirkby on Bain.
From Kirkby to Spilsby the countryside is beautiful and you're very much on easy road, often on single lane 'tractor tracks'. However this is where the Wolds begin and becomes more undulating.
After Spilsby follow the B1195 down the hill until a turning marked for Candlesby and Gunby; you don't go to these villages but turn left here and take the next right then keep going straight only following signs for first Bratoft and then Burgh le Marsh (pronounced 'Burra' we were told) when they finally appear.
At Burgh cycle through the village and look for Ingoldmells Road and cycle along that to get to Winthorpe. The locals may tell you it can't be done, but it can! The road appears to come to a dead end and a sand bank but there's a foot path that takes you over it to the busy A158 that you cross and the road to Winthorpe is straight on all be it broken a little to your left.
Through the Industrial Estate, bear right and soon you should see the huge electricity windmills and the giant rollercoaster on the horizon. Keep going straight all the way until Winthorpe.
At the busy junction turn right and wait for signs for the town centre. Left at the The Ship pub which always appears packed despite being a fair walk from the esplanade and straight on until you're confronted with the happiness of Sun Castle. Then right for the final celebratory straight through the throng of holiday makers and whatever else you happen to pass.
An important point is that, at the time of writing this at least, you can't reserve places for your bike on the train back to Nottingham; there are on spaces for two bikes and disabled chairs take priority. As the station master at Skegness told us, this makes it lucky if you can get a place. We got my partner to bring us back by car. |