Normanby Hall - A Ride of Two Halves

Heading west to the Trent bank we follow it north all the way to Flixborough, where we encounter the first climb, but it's not too challenging and we always wait to regroup at the top. From there it's a short ride to our refreshment stop at the courtyard cafe in Normanby Park. Everyone on the ride will have free entry to the park.
Suitably refreshed, much of the second half of the ride will take us back to Messingham using traffic free tracks where possible - the NCN 169 from Atkinsons Warren, down the Ridgeway through Scunthorpe, over the impressive bridges crossing West Common Lane and Bridges Rd down to Manor Park. Then cutting through Riddings estate, tackling the Col de Grasby Rd, and down through Yaddlethorpe to Bottesford Beck where it crosses the A159. We then follow the beck to the Kirton Road, tackling the ascent of Pink Pig hill, and then back to the start.
The route is all tarmac, except for the track alongside the beck, which is nevertheless in excellent condition even after heavy rain and easily doable with road bikes. None of the three climbs are too challenging and we always wait to regroup at the top. (Usually waiting for me!) We go at the speed of the slowest and never leave anyone behind, the aim would be to average 11 - 13mph on the outward leg, but because of the shared use tracks and the need to slow down for pedestrians and dogs, on and off the lead, the return leg will inevitably be a bit slower.