Get Lost Mountaineering

Skellingthorpe Long Leys Burton Road S Carlton Odder

Start/Finish

Skellingthorpe community centre where there is usually ample free parking. This is most easily reached from the Skellingthorpe roundabout on the A46 Lincoln bypass. Take the road into Skellingthorpe and the car park is roughly where the cycle track from Lincoln crosses the road.

Distance/Time

21 km/13 miles    About 1 – 2 hours

Introduction

This is a pleasant cycle which uses cycle tracks and quiet roads. Some of the route is alongside the Foss Dyke which is a bit rough as a cycle track but passable. At the top of Long Leys Road is a short but steep road climb to join Yarborough Road after which it is still uphill but not as steep. The bridleway from South Carlton to Odder Farm has a long, slightly rough stretch and could be boggy after wet weather.

Route

(1) From the community centre car park, cross the road and follow the sustrans track towards Lincoln. Reach a junction almost below the A46 Lincoln bypass and continue ahead on a narrower track, in the trees and below the bypass. This leads up to the side of the bypass and crosses by a self contained but narrow bridge so you are safe from the traffic. Cross the Foss Dyke and railway then descend the other side which has a tight hairpin bend early in the descent. Go round the second hairpin bend and come out on the access road for the Pyewipe Inn. Turn left (the Pyewipe Inn is right) and follow the minor road to reach the A57. Turn right, towards Lincoln. Just before an obvious bridge is reached, fork left onto the old road. Reach the old Bishop Bridge with the new version close by on the new A57. Follow the old road round to rejoin the A57. Soon after turn left onto Long Leys Road. The Burton Road flyover, soon to be crossed can be seen from here. Follow the full length of Long Leys Road, passing under the A46 Lincoln bypass then Passing St. Georges Hospital and the West Common before a short but quite steep section takes you onto Yarborough Road at traffic lights. Turn left and follow Yarborough Road less steeply uphill to reach the roundabout at the top where there is a petrol station.

(2) Turn left and follow Burton Road out of the city. Cross the A46 flyover and continue. Pass the top end of Burton village at traffic lights. Continue to reach the left turn into South Carlton village where the descent is reasoanbly steep. Follow the road down to a T junction then turn right towards the church. Reach another T junction where there is a red telephone box to the right with the church a little further. The route goes left here and the road soon becomes a bridleway which is quite grassy to begin with but soon becomes a slightly rough bridleway. After a couple of bends it becomes a very long straight. A gate is easily bypassed before the track crosses a bridge over Catchwater Drain then goes right (other options look very rough) before turning left. Continue to reach a bridge over Main Drain then turn left onto a tarmac road which runs alongside Main Drain towards Lincoln. The tarmac road soon turns right and leaves Main Drain to continue past an old Grain Dryer (large building). The track splits soon after so continue ahead (not left) and reach Odder Farm where the track roughens and turns left but it is only about 200 m of roughness. Reach the old A57 road and turn left onto it.

(3) Follow the old road past the car sales garage and stay on it. Further on, there is a barrier across the old road but it is easy to bypass. Follow the old road to its end at a low bank just before the new A57. There is a short, about 5 metres, but rough path from here to the new A57. If this does not appeal then join the new A57 at the car sales garage. Turn left, towards Lincoln, on the new A57 and follow the road to a roundabout. Turn right at the roundabout into Burton Waters and continue ahead at the next roundabout. Follow the road which bends left until a sign allows access onto the cycle track alongside the Foss Dyke. Follow the track to just before it goes under the A46 Lincoln bypass; turn left and follow the track up to and across the Foss Dyke then retrace back to Skellingthorpe.

Notes

(a) This cycle ride took place in April, 2020.