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Cycling the rural Grantham Canal
Route facts
Waterways:
Grantham Canal »
Distance: 14.91 miles / 24 km
Duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: Energetic
Circular route from: Hickling Basin
Get out of the house this weekend and enjoy a 15-mile bike ride around the quiet Grantham Canal. The cycle route follows the towpath and quiet country roads through the Vale of Belvoir and the village of Colston Bassett - famous for its Stilton cheese. Within easy reach of Leicester, Derby, and Nottingham, this ride makes for a great day out.
This circular route starts at Hickling Basin, and follows the canal towpath and quiet country lanes around the rural Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire countryside. The Grantham Canal is currently under restoration, and has an excellent cycleway along many sections. For more details, visit Grantham Canal pages or see the excellent website at www.granthamcanal.com.
Getting there
Parking: On-road parking is available at Hickling Basin.
Public transport: Hickling is a short way off the A606 Melton Mowbray-Nottingham road, just east of its junction with the A46 (Fosse Way). The nearest railway stations are Nottingham and Melton Mowbray, but only energetic cyclists should attempt to cycle from these towns.
Waypoints
Start point, cycling route: Cycling the rural Grantham Canal
Easting: 458386, Northing: 329192
From Hickling Basin, go through the two small hand gates onto the towpath heading eastwards. Care must be taken when cycling on the towpath, for although it is wide enough to cycle along in safety, please slow down when walkers are met and do not cycle too near the canal edge. Continue along the towpath until the brick built Clark's Bridge is reached. Please dismount to go under the bridge as the towpath narrows quite considerably. Go on until Long Clawson Bridge and up the access track to the road.
Easting: 469200, Northing: 329400
Turn left onto the road and follow this quiet country lane for about 3km to the T junction onto Harby Lane. The Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire County boundary goes along this road for a short section. Look out for roadside nature reserve markers on both sides of the road indicating a special mowing regime of the grass verges to encourage native wild flowers. Some of the more recognisable species include Meadow Sweet, Yellow Rattle, Lady's Bedstraw and Rest Harrow. Turn left at the T junction and follow the road into Colston Bassett, passing the Stilton Dairy on the left hand side of the road at the start of the village.
Easting: 472200, Northing: 329800
Continue along the main road through the village passing the village church, the Martin's Arms pub and finally, Colston Bassett Hall. Turn left at the next junction (signposted Owthorpe and Kinoulton) and after 1km, the road crosses over the canal at Spencer's Bridge. Just after the bridge is Oddhouse Farm with its date built into the brickwork. Turn left at the crossroads and go down the road that heads south to Mackley's Bridge - another canal crossing.
Easting: 470300, Northing: 333333
From the bridge, continue along the road to Kinoulton. Look out for the line of poplar trees that lead up to the canal at Irish Jack's Bridge. Carry straight on at the Kinoulton crossroads passing the Nevile Arms on the right hand side. The route continues along the Hickling road leading back to Hickling Basin at the start of the ride.
Easting: 467800, Northing: 332450
