Louth to North Ormsby - Louth Cycle Route 6

(S/E) Start from Navigation Warehouse (TF 337 879) and head towards the town, with the Woolpack Inn on your right.

(1) Immediate right turn up Victoria Road and continue on, over busy crossroads.

(2) You will pass Brackenborough Hall on your left and then Brackenborough Wood.

(3) Turn left at the next unsigned junction then continue on, ignore the next left turn.

(4) Turn left at the Covenham fork, signposted Utterby.

(5) Turn right on to the busy A16 and into Utterby.

(6) Turn left down Church Lane, signposted North Ormsby and then stop at the Church. Leave Utterby Church and continue out of the village towards North Ormsby.

(7) Turn left at North Ormsby junction and head uphill, stopping at the Jubilee bench. Look across the fields to see the site of the medieval North Ormsby. Continue on the long climb uphill.

(8) Turn left at the top junction; the disused Kelstern Airfield is on your right and continue along. Ignore the first turn on your left,

(9) Take the next left turn by the post box to North Elkington. Continue on through the farmyard towards the telecommunication mast. In the fields to the northwest of the mast is the site of medieval North Elkington. Continue downhill, enjoy the great coastal views ahead of you - weather permitting!

(10) Stop at the A16 Fotherby bypass, walk your bike across the road and up the walkway on the other side. Remount and continue down the lane.

(11) At the end of the lane turn left then immediately right onto Little Grimsby Lane. Continue over the disused railway line and into Little Grimsby.

(12) Continue out of Little Grimsby.

(13) Turn right at Grange farm junction, signposted Louth. Turn right at the next junction and continue past Brackenborough Wood once again. Carry on into Louth, straight ahead at the busy crossroads. At the bottom of Victoria Road, turn left towards Navigation Warehouse, the end of the route.(S/E)

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:

Brackenborough Hall, Louth - Open access by foot over the deserted medieval village.
Tel: 01507 603193 www.brackenboroughall.co.uk

Lincolnshire Wolds Railway Station Road, Ludborough - Enjoy the steam railway experience in style.
www.lincolnshirewoldsrailway.co.uk

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

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

Brackenborough Hall
On the route you will pass the entrance to Brackenborough Hall, parts of which date back to the 13th century. If you look carefully at the parkland leading to the hall you will see a series of undulations in the land, these bumps are all that remain of the medieval village of Brackenborough. The settlement was first recorded in the doomesday book of 1086 and survived for several centuries before being abandoned.

St Andrew's Church
This charming 14th century church is constructed of local ironstone and chalk. There are unusual carvings around the inner doorway, including a Green Man, a popular figure in folklore. The remains of a medieval cross in the churchyard are thought to pre-date the church itself. Further down the hill, adjacent to the new bridge, you will see a packhorse bridge. This route was once used to transport salt from the east coast to Lincoln.

North Ormsby
From the Jubilee bench, the extensive remains of medieval North Ormsby can be clearly seen on the opposite hillside. The Wolds have the highest concentration of these abandoned medieval villages in the country. The villagers deserted their homes for many reason, but primarily due to a combination of plague, famine and agricultural change. On the southwest corner of the ridge are the remains of an ancient priory.

Kelstern Airfield
The Wolds were home to many military bases during the first and second World Wars. RAF Kelstern was the base for 626 Squadron between 1943-1945 when the sky would have resounded to the roar of Lancaster bombers. Kelstern airfield is arable once again, with only the war memorial and some remaining runway to remind us of the bravery of those once stationed here.

East Lincolnshire Railway Line
The disused railway line that you cross twice on this route (once over, once under!) originally ran from Grimsby to Boston. The line was opened in 1848 and carried passenger trains until 1970 when the stations on the route were closed. Goods trains continued to use the line between Keddington Road, Louth and Grimsby until 1980. Shortly after its closure, a group of enthusiasts formed a preservation society to keep at least some of the line open. The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway is based at Ludborough station and well worth a visit. Check before you travel for opening times and the chance to ride on one of the lovingly restored trains.

Louth Canal and Riverhead
Before the East Lincolnshire Railway transformed local commerce in 1846, Louth canal was the main provider of prosperity to the town. By 1770 the canal was in business, running for almost 12 miles northeast to Tetney. This gave Louth valuable access to the maritime world of the Humber estuary and beyond - at one time more fish were landed at the Navigation Warehouse than Grimsby fish docks! As road and rail became the primary carrier of goods the viability of the canal suffered, leading to the commercial abandonment of the canal 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.