Get Lost Mountaineering

Skellingthorpe Long Leys Burton Road Scampton Aisthorpe Brattleby Thorpe le Fallows Bransby Saxilby

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

33 km/21 miles     About 2 – 3 hours

Introduction

This is a pleasant cycle which mainly 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. There are good views from Burton Road which runs along the Lincoln Edge. The famous Dambusters Inn at Scampton is passed followed by the pleasnat villages of Aisthorpe and Brattleby before passing through the hamlet of Thorpe le Fallows. The return passes Bransby Horses Home and Saxilby.

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, passing the turnings for South Carlton then North Carlton to reach the busy Tillbridge Lane. Turn right then immediate left for Scampton. There is a viewpoint on the corner. Enjoy the downhill ride into Scampton village. Pass the Dambusters Inn and long village green then follow the main road round to the right. Continue and soon pass through the small village of Aisthorpe then reach Brattleby. The route goes down the left turn for Thorpe le Fallows which is just before the village centre. It is worth taking a short detour up Back Lane which joins School Lane before returning to the main road. Take the turning for Thorpe le Fallows which soon passes the church. Once clear of the village, it is a long straight narrow road with hardly a building in sight. Pass Thorpe Farm then the road coming from Aisthorpe (on the left) and reach the hamlet of Thorpe le Fallows where there is a small duck pond. Continue ahead, soon crossing the River Till, until a junction is reached. Continue ahead, not right, and soon reach Tillbridge Lane.

(3) Turn left and soon reach the right turn for Bransby and follow the road into the small village of Bransby passing the Bransby Home for Horses. Continue, after the village, and reach the road between Saxilby and Sturton, taking the road for Torksey. then reach the strung out hamlet of Ingleby which starts with Ingleby Chase and finishes with Ingleby Grange with about a mile in between. Continue and soon reach the edge of Saxilby then pass the road from Broxholme. Continue then take the right turn signed for Saxilby village. Pass the church, short detour on the right, and continue past the Co-Op into the village. The station can be visited by a short detour on the right after passing the village hall. The road eventually runs alongside the Foss Dyke before leaving the shops behind and bends round to reach Mill Lane. Turn right to reach the busy A57. Turn right and go up onto the bridge then take the left turn on the top of the bridge for Skellingthorpe.

(4) Follow the back road towards Skellingthorpe, initially alongside the Foss Dyke then over a level crossing. Continue past a small industrial estate then around a left handed bend to pass the road, on the right, into the Old Wood. Stay on the road and continue towards Skellingthorpe. Reach the village, pass the Stones Arms then the Plough Inn and Co-Op to reach a triangular junction. Turn left and follow the road back to the community centre.

Notes

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