SPEEDTRIPLE Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 Hi all, we just got back from a fabulous week in Lincolnshire. We stayed in a recently built small family owned place called "Greetham Retreat", which is about 2 miles to the east of "Horncastle". The place was realy smart, being about 5 years old, and the couple who own and run it "Rob and Jenanette", were really friendly and welcoming, and very helpful too. The round trip (there and back without incidental milage) was 480 miles, but all in, i drove a recorded 874 miles. I have to say a big thank you to my wife Karen, as even though we drove over to her Aunt in Nottingham on Wednesday, and did a couple of National Trust houses, the rest of the week was spent driving round old WW2 air bases, such as East Kirkby, Metheringham, Bardney, Woodhall Spa, and we also visited the BBMF visitors centre at Connongsby, but she never once complained. I wanted to book a visit to the Dambusters museum at Scampton, but deided to go to Skegmess and Louth on the final day (yesterday).For me, the hilight of the trip was to see the Lancaster Just Jane doing a taxi run at East Kirkby on the bank holiday Monday. Despite the appalling rain, we both ventured out to take plenty of pictures. We were both disappointed on the day, because they were raffling the 1.30 taxi run, and the ticket number was so close to ours, but no luck. I`l post up some pictures later when i`ve downloaded them. Lincolnshire is a county of two halves. If you stay in the south, it`s flatter than Broadland, with some very bleak out of the way places, but if you venture North, the hills and valleys are a pleasure to drive round. We enjoyed it so much, we`ve just booked a return at the beginning of May next year, and would recommend the area to anyone, especially if you like war time history, as Lincolnshire had at one time 49 air bases, mostly bomber command. Lincolnshire also has a surprising number of navigable rivers and drains, but we only saw a few boats, and all of them were moored up. What i also did`nt realise while there, untill i looked at an OS map of the region, was that Horncastle once had a working canal. All that is left is a diverted stream. Anyway, it`s good to go on holiday, but it`s good to be back home. Regards to all ............................... Neil. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soundings Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 Yes, nice county indeed. The LIncolnshire wolds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockham Admiral Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 Sounds like you had a very enjoyable week, Neil.Only three weeks and we'll be at the WRC! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheQ Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Last time I stayed in Horncastle, it was so wet someone was pictured in a topper dinghy circumnavigating a cow, just outside the town.It's an interesting area which I quite liked, luckily for me I was being paid to work at scampton and coningsby so I got to see the red arrows and BBMF from somewhat closer than the public. Also on a few occasions I stayed in the Petwood hotel in woodhall spa which 633 Squadron used. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwanR Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 We were driving through Lincolnshire yesterday and are thinking about spending some time there at some point. Always good to have a recommendation so will bookmark Greetham Retreat for further investigation. http://www.greethamretreat.co.uk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDTRIPLE Posted September 6, 2015 Author Share Posted September 6, 2015 We were driving through Lincolnshire yesterday and are thinking about spending some time there at some point. Always good to have a recommendation so will bookmark Greetham Retreat for further investigation. http://www.greethamretreat.co.ukHi Swan R, They have 5 units, 3 that sleep 2 in one bedroom, 1 that sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms, and 1 that sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms. All bedrooms are en-suite, and all bedrooms have a tv, so everyone can watch different programmes. They`ve also got 5 caravan pitches with all amenaties, including an on site toilet / shower, with 240v hook up. What i liked was the contrast between the North and South of the place. The rolling hills of the North or "The Wolds", and the sheer expanse of the flat South. One of the most memorable places was Metheringham Airfield visitor centre. It`s based in some of the old R.A.F buildings, one of which has a quarter scale model of a Lancaster hung from the ceiling. It also has a small scale model of a Lancaster for every member of the squadron killed in action hung from a ceiling platform. And they were all made by a chap well into his retirement years. That i found very moving indeed. After we went to the visitor centre, we went for a drive around part of the old perimiter track, and down one of the old runways. They`ve been incorperated into the local road network, but there was a gate that was a bit overgrown, and apparently, it leads to the old dipersal areas, but we did`nt get access to these, which was a shame, beacause it`s the unused overgrown areas which are often quite earie to be around, even spiritual, and moving. We enjoyed the fact Lincolnshire was NOT what you would call a very "touristy" place, so everywhere we went, there were`nt the regular kiss me quick hats and crowds. I`d recommend it to ANYONE wishing to do something, or go somewhere a little bit different. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soundings Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 It really is a county of two parts, as you say Speedtriple. The Wolds I love; that other bit is really not to my liking though ;-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwanR Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 My husband is also ex-RAF so I think he would find it fascinating to drive around to some of the same kind of places. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBill Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 You should have visited Stamford!The first conservation town in the country. Collyweston slate roofs and stone buildings.........and we live there..........Oh! and just to please you Neil, the BBMF passes over our house on a regular basis. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 Visited Stamford on many occasions BillI recall in the early 1990's it was also the filming location for the BBC Series "Middlemarch"We lived in Surfleet , Nr Spalding from 1987 until 2000 and like you we had a grand view of the Battle of Britain Flight many times when they set out for a display.All the bestArthur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soundings Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 You should have visited Stamford!The first conservation town in the country. Collyweston slate roofs and stone buildings.........and we live there..........Oh! and just to please you Neil, the BBMF passes over our house on a regular basis.Great place Stamford. We lived close (ish) in a village called Glapthorn, just outside of Oundle - in a Collyweston tiled cottage. We then moved to Norfolk but I do miss that area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadScot Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 Watched this half hour prog last night, and found it very interesting. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b078ct7y/the-hairy-bikers-pubs-that-built-britain-5-lincolnshire 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 I used to stay at the Petswood 30 years ago. We used to go to hand over three Austin Rover cars as ground support for the BBMF at Conningsby for their show season. Very happy memories of the dinners and speakers. Does it still have that piece of pine tree over the bar that returned stuck in the fusilage of a Polish aircrews plane? They went in that low! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 Forgot to say Lincolnshire is a wonderful county and Lincoln a very interesting city. Hell of a climb to the castle and Cathedral for me now though. Parking can be a bit of a problem but The Hilton at Lincoln is super! Great rooftop restaurant overlooking Brayford Pool and it's Marina. Great city break location. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadScot Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 27 minutes ago, ChrisB said: Forgot to say Lincolnshire is a wonderful county and Lincoln a very interesting city. Hell of a climb to the castle and Cathedral for me now though. Parking can be a bit of a problem but The Hilton at Lincoln is super! Great rooftop restaurant overlooking Brayford Pool and it's Marina. Great city break location. I have done the hill, both ways, when my old legs went left right etc. We were only there for the day on a coach trip, the coach park was at the top! We were going to go into the Cathedral, but, I do not believe you should charge to enter a house of worship, so just admired the Rose Window from outside! What I found interesting in the prog was the old pennies jammed into the oak beams, by the bomber crews. Also the 6ft4" bomb aimer fitting into a 5ft space! Iain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockham Admiral Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 12 hours ago, ChrisB said: Forgot to say Lincolnshire is a wonderful county and Lincoln a very interesting city. Hell of a climb to the castle and Cathedral for me now though. Parking can be a bit of a problem but The Hilton at Lincoln is super! Great rooftop restaurant overlooking Brayford Pool and it's Marina. Great city break location. Chris, Hi. We're interested in a couple of nights in Lincoln later in the year and I looked at the Double Tree. The reviews weren't too promising about the food quality; how did you find it, please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisB Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 We liked it, great city centre location and the rooms were first class. I would not call the food "fine cuisine" but it was very good. However we do tend to have only a main course as we are not huge portion people. Check car parking with them for you dates it can be a bit of a problem if there are conferences. Not too much if you get back say late afternoon but a problem if you eat elsewhere and get back after eight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockham Admiral Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Thanks, Chris. We'll certainly put it on or list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDTRIPLE Posted April 25, 2016 Author Share Posted April 25, 2016 Well, A few days after we got back last year, Karen and i decided we`d like to return THIS year, but this time we`re taking her mum and dad with us, and we booked it last September,, and we`re going THIS Saturday. So if any forumites are in the area of Horncastle next weak, please give us a wave. We`re staying at Greetham retreat again, but this time we have the bigger 3 bedroom cottage. There`s only 4 of us, as one dropped out, but we`ve still got the 3 bedroomed place, and will be setting off on Saturday at about 6am as usual. I like to be around the M25 and on the A1(M) by 08.00 ish. Really looking forward to it, and will be visiting Lincoln this time. Also, i`m hoping to get to Scampton to visit the Red Arrows visitor centre, and hopefully to East Kirkby for the model airshow, and watch Just Jane doing one of her regular taxi runs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffbroadslover Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 If you have the time may I suggest a trip up to see the Humber Bridge. A marvellous bit of engineering and don't forget when it was built it was the longest single span bridge in the WORLD. Jeff 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadScot Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 32 minutes ago, jeffbroadslover said: If you have the time may I suggest a trip up to see the Humber Bridge. A marvellous bit of engineering and don't forget when it was built it was the longest single span bridge in the WORLD. Jeff Also the dearest to cross ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffbroadslover Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Toll charge has now been reduced to £1.50 for a car Jeff 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadScot Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 2 hours ago, jeffbroadslover said: Toll charge has now been reduced to £1.50 for a car Jeff Coaches were £10.00, our driver said he had to save his tips to cross there ! Delighted to see its cheaper, thankfully all the bridges up here now are free. Iain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbo Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Don't forget to pop over to visit Gainsborough and the Old Hall when you visit Lincolnshire, I'll pop the kettle on! Even though we only live twenty minutes from Lincoln I occasionally plan a stay in the city itself. Self catering you would call it...but my better half loves The Crooked House, pictured below, and I like to book a short break in the house before Christmas, do the shopping, dinner out, visit the panto...and no driving! A word of warning to visitors heading out to watch the Red Arrows practise...avoid the viewing area as most visitors to the viewing area...let's just say it's not the planes they have come to view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockham Admiral Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 We On 05/09/2015 at 9:46 PM, SPEEDTRIPLE said: Lincolnshire is a county of two halves. If you stay in the south, it`s flatter than Broadland, with some very bleak out of the way places, but if you venture North, the hills and valleys are a pleasure to drive round. We enjoyed it so much, we`ve just booked a return at the beginning of May next year, and would recommend the area to anyone, especially if you like war time history, as Lincolnshire had at one time 49 air bases, mostly bomber command. Regards to all ............................... Neil. Well it's the beginning of May on Sunday, Neil and we're on our way to Osgodby tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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