The wonderful thing about living on the border between Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire is the selection of roads to ride.
If you want to get somewhere in a hurry, there is a choice of major roads running in all directions, but Lincolnshire is a delight for motorcyclists with its never-ending selection of B roads that crisscross the county.
Finding 100 miles of motorcycle-friendly roads in Lincolnshire is easy, but finding the best 100 miles sometimes takes a little luck.
The Route
Starting and finishing at the petrol station where the A1, A17 and A46 converge, it is only two miles before you turn off the A17 and start to enjoy the Lincolnshire back roads.
The whole route is tarmac, and other than getting a little narrow in a few places, it has something to delight everyone.
On the way out, the route cuts under Lincoln, through Aubourn and Harmston, before turning north on the A15 to pick up Lincoln’s Eastern Bypass with its open cross views and succession of roundabouts. An excellent opportunity to demonstrate why motorcycles are an efficient mode of transport.
After the third – it might be the fourth – roundabout, take the exit onto the A158 for a few miles and then turn onto the B1399 at Bullington. Here, you will find five double Z bends and a couple of spare 90-degree bends packed into the 10-mile stretch to Market Rasen.
The A46 from Market Rasen to Caistor is a fast-flowing road where it is easy to maintain your forward progress. You are heading to Caistor Market Square, where you have a choice of cafes.
Hel’s Kitchen in the Market Square is perhaps the most well-known. We can vouch for the hot sausage rolls, even if we had to eat them in the market square, using the top box as a table.
If you’re looking for a more upmarket café experience, the Café at 28 Plough Hill—about a five–minute walk—is well worth a visit.
Refuelled, take the Brigg Road towards the M180 but turn to take the road through Brigg, across the A15 and turn south on the B1398. The road runs south parallel to the A15 and is considerably more enjoyable.
Join the A15 south of Scampton to intersect with the A46 Lincoln bypass, this time on the West side.
After a few more roundabouts—we think the Lincoln town planners got a discount on a job lot of roundabouts, there are that many—you turn off the A46 to take the scenic route through Haddington, Thurlby, and Norton Disney.
The ride through Stapleford Woods calms the soul, but it is over too fast, leaving only the last two miles back to the petrol station.
Discovery
We want to tell you a story of hard work and detailed planning, but it wouldn’t be true.
Lincolnshire may not have the appeal of Wales or the terrain of Yorkshire or Scotland, yet if you want to lose yourself for a day, there is an almost limitless supply of roads in Lincolnshire that feed the need to ride motorcycles.
This route comes from one such day. A tank full of petrol and the desire to ride anywhere we could avoid the traffic, drink tea and talk about motorcycles.
Enjoy.
100 Miles Around Lincoln
