The loos at the Engine Room

The Engine Room is just over the road from Belvoir Castle in Lincolnshire, where we visited on our short break back in the summer. The castle is fabulous, the gardens more impressive than you might imagine as they’re set on a steep slope - you don’t get many castles that aren’t at the top of the hill do you, so that’s to be expected.

The Engine Room is a new development and mixes retail, entertainment and from what we saw is looking to build community. There’s a mix of food, garden and restaurants, and plenty going on. And some loos, of course - and more than your standard loos at that. That much was clear as soon as I saw the tiles.

Apart from the colours, it would have been easy to believe you were in Portugal - the weather the day we visited though, was far from warm and sunny!

I know a loo is a loo, these were pleasantly stylish - and I’m sure that was on purpose and reflected the ethos of the whole development. As well as the retail options during the day, there were also social spaces with entertainment planned. It looks like it would be a really good place to meet friends throughout the year - I’m sure we’ll be back there at some point.

But yes, those tiles. More muted than the blues and yellows I’ve seen in Portugal, but definitely no less beautiful/

The longest cycling day of our trip

The second day of our cycling trip was always going to be our longest day of cycling, but in truth we didn't know exactly how many miles we expected to cover. We were starting part-way along our planned route which would also take us into Newark on Trent rather than to our Farm Stay, which we knew was on the outskirts. We guestimated that this could be anywhere between thirty and anything more miles!

We had supplies though - remember that pie we bought in Melton Mowbray - and I'd commissioned MOH to make a flask of tea using the in-room tea and coffee making facilities. That it seemed gave him some trouble, when he dropped the spoon into the flask so cue lots of comedy moments and not much help from me!

OUR ROUTE FOR DAY 2

We paused for a last look at Scalford Hall as we cycled down the sweeping gravel drive, this time with fresh legs and it was no easier to be honest. It's a lovely looking place and the staff here couldn't do enough for us, and they all seemed to know we'd arrived by bike!

The hotel is set in eight acres of landscaped gardens and they bill themselves as providing "a refreshing change from contemporary venues" and it certainly had more character (in a good way) than some of the modern and purpose-built hotels we've stayed in.

It was built around 1900 as a weekend hunting lodge by Major Mann Thompson, a close friend of Edward VIII and it's rumoured that the King would regularly visit with Mrs Simpson and it's where they conducted a large part of their scandalous courtship. The soon to abdicate King gave Major Thompson and ornate fireplace as a gift which still remains at Scalford Hall.

Later in 1944, Colonel Colman who sounds like a character straight of the Cluedo board, but is in fact a member of the family behind the famous mustard of the same name, bought the hall and lived here until his death in the late 1960s.

So quite a place.

We cycle back along the way we'd come yesterday and much to our delight we cycled back past the sheep, who were once again pleased to see us. This time we stopped and took some photos, this one is still making me smile as it's as if they're posing but in all probability they're just wondering where the food is.

How can those faces not make you smile?

On the other side of us the horse wandered over, again no doubt to check out the food situation - and all of them were disappointed - there was no way I was sharing my pork pie, or treacle tart with these guys. The little pony was braver and got closer to us and proceeded to show us his best side, or so we thought...

Just as I was putting the camera away I looked up and spotted this smile!

And while we could have spent much more time here being amused by these animals, we also had quite a distance to cover so we literally got on our bikes and headed off. There were the pretty villages again and soon we found ourselves back at the lock and the towpath. 

Our challenge was to find the disused railway line which would take us onwards to Newark on Trent Thankfully a jogger jogged past above us and we were able to spot where we should be. It was a misty and chilly day and our plan was to find a bench and tuck into our lunch and have a well deserved cup of tea.

The pie was just as good as we hoped it would be, and the restorative tea did it's job too and we were back on our way. 

The route was easy to follow - we were on National Cycle Route 64 - until the path was closed. Very closed. No pictures for some reason, I was clearly more concerned about navigating our way past the closed path. We headed off and along our favoured detour only to find ourselves on the edge of some major roadworks. With advice from the banksman we retraced our tracks and onto his suggested route - we realised we weren't far from the town when his directions included a large supermarket, so that was pleasing.

In the end we skirted around the closure and found our way back onto the cycle route and then by chance we were at Barmby Gate where we knew we needed to turn left. Quite vague directions but they worked and we cycled up over the A1, across a level crossing and onto our Farm Stay, where we were able to let ourselves in and have that all important first cup of tea!

Our route in the end was just shy of 35 miles (or 56 km) which is definitely my longest cycle ever (so far!) 

Next time: A look around our Farm Stay

Cycling towards the home of the pork pie

Well, what other motivation could a girl need?

We headed into Grantham and parked in the station car park, once the bikes were offloaded and set up and MOH had almost recovered from the cost of four days parking (£44 if you're interested) we were ready for the off. 

25 MILES FROM GRANTHAM TO MELTON MOWBRAY

Our route today used the National Cycle Routes 15 and 64 and it was nice to cycle alongside the busy road as we left Grantham and headed towards the towpath. 

We hadn't been on the towpath for long before we spotted these swans building a nest, they were quite mesmerising to watch as they intently pulled the reeds as they wanted them.

Although the towpath was quite bumpy to cycle along in places it was easy to see it's beauty even on the overcast day.  Where had the sun that was beating down on our backs in the car park gone?  

I'd spotted these markers soon after we joined the towpath but it took me a few to read them fully as we cycled past. Then once I had, and with the backdrop of the pretty hedgerow I knew that it was time for a photo stop. We were heading towards the Trent, but not today, first we were taking a trip to Melton Mowbray and the home of the pork pie.

We knew that at some point we'd need to cross the canal and head left towards our destination, and we knew we weren't far off that. But first there was time to stop and admire the lock. MOH said he'd not seen a lock working before, which I was shocked by - not that I've massive waterways experience but I do remember going on a boat trip on the Thames with my nan many years ago and marvelling as we went through the lock at Teddington. 

But anyway, this one at Woolsthorpe was quite photogenic.

As we crossed and headed away from the canal we got our first glimpse of Belvoir Castle, high above the Vale of Belvoir. 

Beautiful isn't it?

You know what a vale means don't you? Yes, hills. Because what goes down, must also go up... or something like that anyway!

This section of our route was through rolling hills and on more than one occasion I wondered why I'd chosen this route, and then I remembered the pies so carried on.  Hills still aren't my favourite and I managed most of them - albeit slowly - unless I mucked up my gear change and changed up instead of down, not a smart move.

At the top of one hill I looked right and spotted a pub. Result, especially as it was lunchtime. We were in Branston and it didn't take much to convince MOH that we should stop for lunch and a pint. So we did.

While he was inside ordering food and buying some local beer, I had a wander around with the camera. It really was a pretty spot and I was quite taken with the brick outbuilding as you'll see from my photos.  

The food here was good - we shared a hot pork and apple sandwich and chips. I'd say forget the chips and have a sandwich each, it was stunning, oh and the crackling, so so tasty.  And then on a second wander I spotted these barrels and along with the tiled roof I thought they'd make a fab shot.

Back on the bikes we set off along quiet country lanes again, still going up and down hills with picturesque views. At one point our route took us around the edge of a field where the five sheep - two black, three white - ran towards us (do sheep run?) and then escorted us around the boundaries of their enclosure. They were probably after food, but it gave us plenty of giggles and later I wished I'd taken a picture.

It was all downhill into Melton Mowbray and that was welcome. Somehow I'd imagined a small-ish pretty village, so the bustling market town was quite a surprise. It wasn't long before we navigated our way through the daily market and found ourselves outside here, where I did the only thing I could think of and bought a pie for tomorrow's lunch.

Having had a quick look around the town we set off to find our hotel. We knew it was on the outskirts of town as the theme for the day had been up follows down neither of us were surprised to find ourselves cycling up towards Scalford and its Manor Hotel. It had one of those long sweeping gravel drives, which look and feel impressive by car. Let me tell you, it's less impressive on a bike they're hard work to cycle on!

With our bikes secured and our panniers unhooked it was time to relax and prepare for tomorrow's cycle which was set to be our longest cycle of this trip.  We'd had a good day though, we'd cycled twenty five miles through some scenic countryside, eaten a fantastic lunch and tasted some fine local ale, spotted Belvoir castle and bought a pie to eat the next day. 

Next time: Cycling on to Newark-on-Trent and finding our Farm Stay