Louth to Grimoldby - Louth Cycle Route 1

(S/E) Start from Navigation Warehouse (TF 337 879) and head left onto Riverhead Road. Turn left onto Eastfield Road and cycle out of town. You'll pass the site of Louth Abbey on your right.

(2) Follow the road past Rushmoor Country Park to the next right hand bend, continue around this bend and through South Cockerington. Continue on towards Grimoldby.

(3) Take the first left onto Northgate Lane. Continue on Northgate Lane and onto Pick Hill Lane. Continue on the lane and round a tight left hand bend, you'll pass over one of the marshes drains that prevent this low lying area from flooding.

(4) Turn left at the junction and then immediately right, continue to the next bend. Continue round the bend and then take an immediate right towards North Cockerington. As you continue along this lane you'll get a good view of the Conisholme wind farm.

(5) Follow the lane to the left and stop at the junction with Chapel Lane.

(6) At the junction, continue ahead on Chapel Lane and around the village. Turn right at the next junction and follow the road to Alvingham.

(7) Cycle over the River Lud and then onto Alvingham Lock. Continue on to Alvingham and stop at the next bend with Church Lane on your right.

(8) To visit Alvingham, turn right and follow Church Lane, past the village stocks and down to the farmyard. Leave your bicycle in the two churches car park, walk past Alvingham Watermill, through the farmyard and to the churchyard. After your visit return to the junction.
Or, turn left and follow the road signposted Louth, it runs parallel to Louth Canal.

(9) Turn left at the junction signposted Louth Park, crossing Louth Canal at Ticklepenny Lock.

(1) Turn right at the junction, following Eastfield Road back into Louth. Turn right onto Riverhead Road and to Navigation Warehouse, the end of the route.(DA)

Cycling is a great way to keep fit and appreciate the countryside. These easy to read leaflets provide useful information on mileage, approximate timing and gradient.
A simple map and points of interest are included – for those times when you need to catch your breath, admire the countryside or explore the area.

Good cycling code :
• Always follow the Highway Code and Countryside Code
• Be safe and be seen – wear a helmet and high visibility clothing and use lights
• Keep your bike roadworthy and carry a puncture repair kit
• Be courteous to other road users
• Take plenty of water and have a drink regularly
Route starts from the Navigation Warehouse, Riverhead Road, Louth (TF 337 879 Postcode: LN11 0DA). Please check for parking restrictions.

The Lincolnshire Wolds is a National Landscape, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1973. Covering an area of 558 square kilometres or 216 square miles, the rolling chalk hills of the AONB have been inhabited since prehistoric times whilst the appearance of the countryside today has been greatly influenced by past and present agricultural practices.

The Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service helps to protect and enhance the landscape through partnership projects with local landowners, farmers, parish councils, businesses and residents of the Wolds.

Places of interest/refreshments:

Rushmoor Country Park, Louth Road, North Cockerington
Tel: 01507 327184 www.rushmoorpark.co.uk

The Woolpack Inn, Riverhead Road, Louth Tel: 01507 606568

J Shaw & Son, Yarburgh Road, Alvingham - Fresh fruit, vegetables and local shop.
Tel: 01507 327395 www.shawsfruitandveg.co.uk

Alvingham Farm Shop, Yarburgh Road, Alvingham - Farm butchery and delicatessen Tel: 01507 327205

Tourist Information: Tel: 01507 601111
Email: tourism@e-lindsey.gov.uk
www.lovelincolnshirewolds.com
FB@LoveLincsWolds X@LoveLincsWolds IG LoveLincsWolds

Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service, Navigation Warehouse, Riverhead Road, Louth,
Lincolnshire, LN11 0DA 01522 555780 www.lincswolds.org.uk
aonb@lincswolds.org.uk X@LincsWoldsNL FB@LincsWoldsNL

Louth Park Abbey
Situated on the eastern edge of the town Louth Abbey was founded by Cistercian monks in 1139, becoming famous for wool production. The Abbey was closed by Henry VIII in 1536 during the dissolution of the monasteries and subsequently fell into ruin. Much of the stone and other materials from the ruins were reclaimed for construction of buildings in Louth. All that remains of the site are some lumps and bumps in the fields, outlining the position of the buildings.

Louth Canal
This 12 mile route allowed sea-going vessels to navigate between Louth, the North Sea and beyond, with construction beginning in 1765 at Tetney Lock, reaching Louth in 1770 at a total cost of £28,000. Louth became a boom town, with main imports of coal and timber, whilst corn and wool was exported. With the advent of the steam engine and railways, the canal fell into decline towards the end of the 19th century. The Louth flood in 1920 caused much damage to the locks, bridges and roads which served the canal. Commerce on the canal never recovered from this event and it was closed in 1924, In 1986 a small group of enthusiasts formed the Louth Navigation Trust to help create a sustainable future for the Navigation Warehouse and the canal.

Mar Dykes and Drains
Much of the low lying land to the east of Louth has been drained with an extensive network of man made mar (marsh) dykes and drains. Some of these dykes date back several centuries, when settlers at the time needed to cultivate the fertile soil. The land itself is barely above sea level and without the continual maintenance of the drainage system much of the land would be transformed to wetland, unsuitable for habitation or agriculture.

Conisholme Wind Farm
Dominating the view for part of the route, Conisholme Wind Farm was completed in April 2008, the 20 wind turbines standing at a height of 89 metres to the blade centre. The blades themselves are 24 metres long or about 3 double decker buses parked nose to tail! At their most efficient, the turbines have the capacity to produce 43 million units of electricity per year - that's enough to power over 13,000 local homes.

Alvingham churchyard
Whilst there are two churches in one churchyard at Alvingham, the smaller of the two, St Mary's sits a mile from its parish of North Cockerington. No longer used for active worship, St Mary's is managed by the Churches Conservation Trust. The larger church is St Adelwold's, the only church in the country dedicated to the saint who later became Bishop of Lindisfarne.

Alvingham and Ticklepenny Locks
Of the eight locks along Louth Canal, no two locks are of the same dimensions and six of the eight locks are of a barrel-sided construction. These had four bays on each side with wooden ties where they met, designed to strengthen them against the pressure of the surrounding land. The gates on the locks of the canal have long been removed. Alvingham Lock has a wharf adjacent to it which is in good condition as can be seen from the modern bridge over it. Ticklepenny Lock was named after Alfred Ticklepenny. a lock keeper and toll collector in the early 19th century.