Cycle paths around Lincoln

[middleagecyclist]

Trying to work out a cycling route from Manchester to Skegness. I want to stick to quiet roads wherever possible. I'm using RWGPS and it has given me the possibility of following some cycle paths around Lincoln. I'm a bit wary of using them on the whole but they do offer quite a large car free chunk of direct route. So if anyone with any personal experience of the NCN 647 and 64 from High Marnham into Lincoln and/or the numberless path from Lincoln to Woodhall Spa can to comment on the path condition I'd be very grateful. I plan to be using an audax bike with 700 x 28 sensible tyres.

Cheers.

 

[P.H]

I've only used the section from Lincoln to Bardney, then turned off heading to Horncastle. It's Tarmac path, no problem on any bike.
Coming in from the other side, I just use the A57, which is a fine bit of road, at least on a weekend when I'm riding it.
EDIT - You might like to look at the Afreton to Skeggy Audax route, might be useful.
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-115/

 

[middleagecyclist]

That's really useful. I'm off to the AUK website right now. Thanks PH.

 

[Tigerbiten]

Another one who's only done the bit Lincoln to Bardney alongside the canal.
Good tarmac surface so I had no trouble at all on my recumbent trike & trailer.
If that fits down a track, then another bike will go with ease.

I came on to Lincoln from the north so cannot help with the westerly part of the route.

 

[Richard Fairhurst]

The railway section of NCN 647 is a good quality surface, slightly gravelly in places but you should be fine. You'll almost certainly want to avoid the byway immediately west of the railway path, which is unmade and muddy. (There's an easy diversion on local roads.)

geograph.org.uk is a really good tool for checking out photos of places where Google Street View doesn't go, and it'll give you some idea of the surface along here. Check the date on the photos, though - several were taken before the cycle path surface was laid!

 

[GlenBen]

The marnham to lincoln path can be muddy and rough bit its generally rideable. See a few roadbikes going down there, just slowly. Its only about 5 miles like that though then its nice smooth tarmac all the way into lincoln.

 

[jugglingphil]

I've done Woodhall Spa to Bardney. It's an old train line, good quality surface. Passed several people on road bikes.

EDIT - You might like to look at the Afreton to Skeggy Audax route, might be useful.
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-115/

Thanks for that link, I've been looking for a route from Nottm to Skeggy to do with my son in the summer.

 

[GlenBen]

I thought Id use your thread as an excuse to get on the bike.
32 miles later and Ive taken a picture of the surface for you.

But I dont know how to post it...greeeat. Let me see and ill post it in a minute

 

[GlenBen]

I really have no idea, I assumed Id just click upload file and press picture but it says its too large?

 

[screenman]

Looking from my back window now I can see the Bardney to Woodhall Spa track just as it leaves Bardney, I would say at this moment the first mile is totally unrideable for almost any bike, MTB included, the path has been mashed up in the past couple of weeks due to large farm machinery using it in bad weather.

From Lincoln to Bardney great piece of track, slightly bumpy for a couple of miles in the middle at 20mph but nothing to worry about, it is made up of tarmac. From Bardney to Southrey use the road, From Southrey to Kirkstead Bridge again nice smooth tarmac. Ride on the road up through Woodhall for 3 miles and you are at the start of the track to Horncastle, fine on a road bike in summer a tad muddy and lots of wet leaves this time of year in sections.

At the Bardney end of the track from Lincoln there is a very nice cafe stop frequented by many cyclist both local and from afar, this Cafe is called Bardney Heritage Centre (I have no connection with this place) as you guess it has some things on show about the history of my village.

Southrey has nice pub by the river and right on the track, called The Riverside, very cyclist friendly, nice garden.

Woodhall Spa full of cafe's and tea rooms, Horncastle the same.

Let me know when you are coming through if you fancy having a guide for a bit.

 

[middleagecyclist]

Another one who's only done the bit Lincoln to Bardney alongside the canal.
Good tarmac surface so I had no trouble at all on my recumbent trike & trailer.
If that fits down a track, then another bike will go with ease.

Good to know. Thanks.

The railway section of NCN 647 is a good quality surface, slightly gravelly in places but you should be fine. You'll almost certainly want to avoid the byway immediately west of the railway path, which is unmade and muddy...

Nice local knowledge. Thanks.

The marnham to lincoln path can be muddy and rough bit its generally rideable. See a few roadbikes going down there, just slowly. Its only about 5 miles like that though then its nice smooth tarmac all the way into lincoln....

...I thought Id use your thread as an excuse to get on the bike.
32 miles later and Ive taken a picture of the surface for you.

But I dont know how to post it...greeeat. Let me see and ill post it in a minute

Looking forward to the pics. Thanks.

I've done Woodhall Spa to Bardney. It's an old train line, good quality surface. Passed several people on road bikes.

.Cheers.

This is first draft of the route so far. Any comments please feel free...

 

[middleagecyclist]

I really have no idea, I assumed Id just click upload file and press picture but it says its too large?

I normally upload to a dedicated photo site elsewhere and then link to it using the 'insert/edit image' tab at the top of posts.

 

[middleagecyclist]

Looking from my back window now I can see the Bardney to Woodhall Spa track just as it leaves Bardney, I would say at this moment the first mile is totally unrideable for almost any bike, MTB included, the path has been mashed up in the past couple of weeks due to large farm machinery using it in bad weather.

From Lincoln to Bardney great piece of track, slightly bumpy for a couple of miles in the middle at 20mph but nothing to worry about, it is made up of tarmac. From Bardney to Southrey use the road, From Southrey to Kirkstead Bridge again nice smooth tarmac. Ride on the road up through Woodhall for 3 miles and you are at the start of the track to Horncastle, fine on a road bike in summer a tad muddy and lots of wet leaves this time of year in sections.

At the Bardney end of the track from Lincoln there is a very nice cafe stop frequented by many cyclist both local and from afar, this Cafe is called Bardney Heritage Centre (I have no connection with this place) as you guess it has some things on show about the history of my village.

Southrey has nice pub by the river and right on the track, called The Riverside, very cyclist friendly, nice garden.

Woodhall Spa full of cafe's and tea rooms, Horncastle the same.

Let me know when you are coming through if you fancy having a guide for a bit.

Great info. Going to really have to look at some of these places and see if my route goes thru them or can be diverted to them easily.

Planning either 3rd or 4th April and returning the following day (weather gods being kind 'n all!).

 

[screenman]

The reason behind the very poor surface of the track at Bardney is due to British Sugar not allowing access to the track for the general public. one day maybe we will have a direct route.

For those that have not done the ride, once you turn left off the old railway line at Bardney carry on up the road for about 500 yards (wave as you go past) then turn right signposted for the summer route( very muddy at times impassable as I said earlier in winter) Anyone wanting to know its current condition just ask. For the Winter route carry on into the village and follow the road around to the right, keeping the Post office on your left, follow this road for approx. 1 mile and take the right turn for Southrey the cycle track begins again at the very end of this road.

From Southrey back to Bardney there is a 2 mile smooth tarmac section until you reach the muddy section again, to give you an idea how bad this section is at the moment it would take me 20++ minutes to cover what in summer would take 5 at most, some of this would certainly be pushing the MTB through ankle deep mud.

 

[screenman]

Off the track a bit, well 4 miles give or take there is a fantastic B&B Kingthorpe Manor Farm, I will be suprised if you can cycle for an hour or 2 after eating one of Patricks breakfasts, we use it for people coming to me for training and have never had a poor report, in fact every single one has been extremely positive. Very cycling friendly as they ride themselves occasionally.