2cycle route14 miles | 22 km

start - Goxhill railway station

descriptionA circular cycle ride from the lowlandsof the Humber marshes up to the gentlelower slopes of the northern Wolds,passing through mainly opencountryside and pleasant villages.

attractionsThornton Abbey

traffic LevelsLow, except around Wootton andUlceby.

B ride steady

Busy road. Take care

when crossing

ThorntonRoad Howe

Lane

Main StreetBurnham

Lane

Pocket Park &picnic

site

ThorntonAbbey &picnic

site

WarMemorial

Old AirfieldChapelfield

RoadHall

SoffLane

Goxhill

WestEnd

ThorntonCurtis

Wootton

Ulceby

!

Abbey & Airfields

College Road

ButtersWood

Station

to East Halton

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The grades for cycle rides - ride easy, ride steady, ride well and ride strong have been developed by BritishCycling to help cyclists to decide whether a particular route is appropriate for their ability and experience.

The routes shown on the N Lincs map have been designed and approved by North Lincolnshire Counciland the colour grading system serves only as a guide as to the terrain, duration and nature of the ride.

2cycle route14 miles | 22 km

Our starting point, Goxhill, was once a majorcentre for market gardening. During the MiddleAges a small port existed at Goxhill Haven. On theedge of the village the route runs north- easterlylong Howe Lane, skirting the site of GoxhillAirfield. Built for bomber operations during theSecond World War, it was soon found to be tooclose to Hull, a target for much of the Luftwaffe’sattention in 1941/1942. Hull’s extensive defencesincluded balloons moored on barges in theHumber, effectively blocking the flight path intoGoxhill. As a result the airfield became a trainingbase for the American Air Force.

Cross the now abandoned Goxhill toImmingham light railway, passing through SouthEnd to turn south along Soff Lane. The unusuallynamed Butters Wood on the corner is one ofmany local coverts planted in the last century forfox hunting.

With its unusually long platform, Thornton AbbeyStation, was once a busy halt for the many daytrippers who came to see the impressive remainsof this Augustinian monastery.

Founded in 1139, Thornton Abbey was one of thewealthiest houses of its order. Henry VIII stayedhere with Katherine Howard shortly after itsdissolution, but now the ruined Chapter Houseand great church are a stark reminder of thecenturies of destruction following the closure in1539. The Abbey is the focus of many tales ofsupernatural happenings such as the ghostlycanon, buried alive at a table with a book, penand ink.

English Heritage opens the 14th centurygatehouse, looming over the landscape, oncertain Sundays. The Abbey ruins and farm walksare always open, with no admission charge.

Leaving the Abbey, cycle southwards to turn offwest, crossing the railway line to follow theshallow valley of the Skitter Beck.

To the east lies North Killingholme Airfield, a major wartime bomber base. On the far side of the oilrefineries is Killingholme Creek, where some ofthe Pilgrim Fathers left for the New World in 1608.

Secluded back lanes, through mainly arablecountryside bring you to the village of Ulcebywith its fine-spired church and handsomefarmhouses. Turn west along the High Street.

Here as the gentle slope of the chalk Woldsmerges into the low marsh, is an intensivefarming landscape with only a few scatteredsmall woodlands to break the pattern of low-hedged fields. Much of the surrounding land ispart of the Brocklesby Estate of the Earl ofYarborough, the largest in Lincolnshire.

Approximately 1.5km beyond Ulceby turn northalong a slightly busier road toward Wootton.

It is worth taking a short detour into the attractivevillage of Wootton with its traditional villagepond. In years gone by it was a popular local ice-skating venue!

A perfect place to rest is Wootton’s imaginative“pocket park” created on the site of an old chalkquarry, with woodland planting, meadow and apicnic area. Turn east towards Thornton Curtis,past roadside verges rich with wild flowers.

Thornton Curtis has a fine old church set backfrom the main street with a unique Norman font,one of the finest in the country.

Immediately out of the village turn east toGoxhill, descending back onto the flat marsh. Atthe first road junction cross College Road,continuing straight ahead to Goxhill.

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