New Leicestershire Cycle Maps

Leicestershire County Council has recently published new cycling maps, with 6 in the series they cover the whole of the county centralising on the Leicester, Loughborough, Melton Mowbary, Market Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth and Coalville areas.
The Melton Mowbary edition shows NCN 15 at Woolsthorpe by Belvoir with NCN 15/64 going south to Melton Mowbary and overlaps nicely with the Grantham edition of the Lincolnshire County Council maps.

I don't have stock off these maps but you can obtain them by contacting the Customer Service Centre on 0116 305 0001 or email the Travel Choice and Access team at TravelChoiceandAccess@leics.gov.uk

All the maps can also be viewed and downloaded at http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/environment/countryside/cycle_trails.htm

Belvoir Tiger Moth's

If your out cycling or walking near Belvoir Castle next weekend then do cast your eyes over the estate as there will be a number of Tiger Moths flying around taking part in the International Rally of the de Havilland Moth. A special grass runway strip has been specially sown on the estate for the occasion.
You can find out more about the event at: http://www.dhmothclub.co.uk/

Monsal trail since tunnels reopened

This entry covers the reopened trail/tunnels linking Buxton and Bakewell (nearly). I drove to Bakewell and parked on the showground/cattle market area. Cost £5.00 for 4 hours and over but is well used and therefore fairly secure. Access to the trail is from the carpark along a quiet road for about a mile then up a very steep slope to the trackbed. I would suggest parking at Hassop Station if you want easier access, but expect the car park to be busy at weekends. Once on the trackbed the trail is fairly level, theres a slight uphill gradient heading in the Buxton direction, and you will probably also be against a headwind too. Surface is good all the way with a mix of compacted limestone and tarmac, suitable for road tyres and small diameter wheels. On approaching the first tunnel you will see signs warning not to ride near the sides, this is because the path is not full width. There is a strip of ballast remaining at each side for drainage. The tunnels are lit and lights on bikes are not really required once your eyes have adjusted. Although I did turn on my front LED just to help warn of my approach to avoid a 'head on' with walkers.
Once through the first tunnel you emerge into a different landscape, the Monsal viaduct never fails to impress, but the biggest bonus of the newly opened tunnels are the views into the 'hidden valleys' which await.
There are four tunnels in all, and the splendid double viaduct near Millersdale Station. For a good photo opportunity take the short detour onto the branch which becomes the Penine Bridleway, the trackbed climbs above the Monsal trail and give a view over the trees so you can take in the limestone gorge and cliffs. The trails ends at the Wyedale car park, where you will find a small teashop at the bottom of a steep slope. After a suitable refreshment turn around and ride it in reverse benefitting from the slight downhill gradient, tailwind, and carbs from the cakes you have just eaten.
So all in all a very good ride, takes around 3 hours or longer if you stop to look at the lime kilns etc on route.
Things to consider: if you want to avoid steep access ramps park at Hassop or Millersdale stations. A mountain bike is probably best choice although a hybrid or folder will be fine, this route is also suitable for wheelchairs/pushchairs.
As this is a multiuser path expect to encounter wobbly kids, groups of hardcore hikers with sticks who don't use their mirrors, dogs not tethered to their owners. Plan where you will eat/take your own and also consider the WC locations. I look forward to when the Haddon Tunnels are opened up as well, that will really make a cracking route from Darley dale to Wyedale.

regards
Rich-M

Camp Conkers, 7- 13 Sept 2011

All Sustrans rangers and volunteers are invited to join the local rangers for a new event in the National Forest in September.
Camp Conkers is a mini Festivol, organised by volunteers in the area. There will be both led rides and free rides to places of interest and events in the local area.
The good news is that it is free, but you have to make your own arrangements for travel, food and accommodation, although we will give you all the information that you need to do this.
You can come along for the whole week, a few days, or just single days if you live nearby.
The National Forest is fine expanding area for cycling and walking and there are lots of interesting places of interest within cycling distance.
The main base is the Conkers Visitor Centre which boasts a Caravan and Camping Site and a brand new YHA Hostel. There are some B&Bs in the district as well.
A new Cycling Centre, Hicks Lodge, just a few miles away, was opened recently and this offers family level mountain biking in the forest and it has a café and bike hire facilities together with a shop.
The local ranger groups have got together to produce a programme of activities and have produced ride leaflets so that you can use these to get around.
Some of the rides will be led and there will be some social gatherings at local pubs.
No need to book formally with us, but we would like to hear from you if you are interested so that we have a rough idea of numbers, email Les Sims at sustransranger@yahoo.co.uk to register your interest.

Take a look at the Camp Conkers Blog for details of accommodation and the programme of events.

Biking DIY BBQ

Just shy of half a dozen attended today's BBQ at Harlaxton Wharf. A good social meet up and I am sure this is something that could easily be repeated again next year.

August, September & Early October Workdays

Having had a month's break from the group workdays now is a good time I feel to re-start them up. Listed below are 5 dates for August, September and early October. I do hope you can join in and I look forward to meeting up with you on them.

Thursday 18th August, 14:00- 16:00

Meet at Running Furrows Gate entrance, North Parade, Grantham. Map here.
Milepost painting and checking route for low hanging/overgrown vegetation.
Please bring any available tools for vegetation cutting. Paint and brushes will be supplied.

Saturday 27th August, 11:00- 13:00

Meet at Woolsthorpe Top Lock, NCR 15, Woolsthorpe-byBelvoir. Map here.
Cutting back off low hanging/overgrown vegetation.
Please bring any available tools for vegetation cutting.

Sunday 4th September, 11:00- 13:00

Meet at NCN milepost/seating area on NCR 15 (old rail line). Map here.
Tidying up off area around milepost and seating area.
Please bring any available tools for vegetation cutting and path clearance.

Saturday 17th September, 11:00- 13:00

Meet at Woolsthorpe Lane end (Muston) of NCR 15 (old rail line). Map here.
General route maintenance along NCR 15 up to Woolsthorpe Top Lock.
Please bring any available tools for vegetation cutting and path clearance.

Sunday 2nd October, 11:00- 13:00

Meet at NCN milepost/seating area on NCR 15 (old rail line). Map here.
Tidying up off area around milepost and seating area.
Please bring any available tools for vegetation cutting and path clearance.

Peak Cycle Links

I am sure most of you know and probably have cycled or walked along the Tissington and Monsal Trails, two very fine traffic free multi users cycle paths. Well in the last year or so £2.25m is being spent on linking up these trails to form a 60 mile loop called the White Peak Trail through the Pedal Peak District Initiative, the majority of the money was awarded through Cycling England before it was axed by the current Government. 

Peak Cycle Links can now be found at www.peakcyclelinks.org.uk, a Derbyshire charity set up in 2010 to promote, deliver and manage popular cycling and walking routes in the Peak District, in particular they are responsible for connecting the Tissington and Monsal Trails up to produce the White Peak Loop.

It also gives news a trail blazing ride of the White Peak Loop on 20th-21st August giving riders the opportunity to ride the whole 60 mile loop, the ride is being organized by David Gray's Chain Events company, to which some off you may remember from earlier Sustrans years.

P.S. Les Sims Sustrans Group Co-ordinator for Derby recently visited some of the new sections including the recently reopened tunnels, you can see some of his photos and a little write at http://rangersderby.blogspot.com/2011/06/monsal-trail.html

Vilnius Mayor A.Zuokas Fights Illegally Parked Cars with Tank

Hmm.. So does Lithuanian Mayor A.Zuokas have the answer for illegally parked cars in Grantham's cycle lanes!!!

A little harsh maybe.