22nd March 2026 - Ride to Byard’s Leap Cafe - Ian Cain

Our ride on the 22nd was to Byard's Leap Cafe, where the old Roman road Ermine Street meets the A17 in Lincolnshire. It's a popular destination for motorcycle and pedal cycle riders but had been closed for some time, and this was our first visit since it's been under new ownership.

Eight of us met at our meeting place in the Sainsbury's car park in King's Lynn, and after a bit of chat, we split into two groups of four for our ride. Whenever we go north from King's Lynn, we have to spend some time on the A17, the monotony only being relieved by overtaking slower traffic. Fortunately, we weren't too long on this road before we cut across towards Spalding and then Bourne, where the far nicer roads start. I'm not sure what this part of Lincolnshire is called, but it's completely different from the Fenland we had just ridden across. The A151 climbs and dives and has more than enough bends to be entertaining.

My proposed route meant to leave the A151 just outside Corby Glen and cut across country, and the riders led by Dave R went that way. But I missed the turn and took my group further along the wonderful A151 to Colsterworth, where we joined the A1 for a few hundred metres before riding along another great minor road to join the planned route at the Spitalgate roundabout. Nobody mentioned my error, so I think I got away with it. Then it was the old Roman road, predictably straight, to Byard's Leap.

The cafe seemed to be full of mainly motorcyclists, and the food and drink were at least as good as we all remembered. It was nice to see it doing well and back on the list for future rideouts. After refreshments and some serious yarn-telling, we set off for home. As is usual, various people made their own ways home. I led a group back across various roads to join the A52, which took us all the way to the A17 for the last bit of our journey.

Thanks to all who joined us, good company as usual, and a really grand day out.

Ian Cain