Wednesday 18th June 2025

Short Ride

Report by John

A warm early summer morning produced a good turnout, with 4 rides leaving Holt Drive. John offered a ride to the Cafe at Beacon Hill Country Park (Lower Car Park) off Breakback Road at Woodhouse Eaves. He was joined by David, Nim, Andrew Myles, Chris, Elaine and Helen.

The riders departed Loughborough via the University and Garendon Park, wending their way around Shepshed to arrive on Tickow Lane and find notices saying the road was closed. However the riders pressed on, and the work men cutting back some trees let the group through. They then faced a delay at the Ashby Road junction where a four way traffic light system was in operation.

Helen on Deans Lane

The group then ascended Charley Road to Beacon Road, descending past Black Hill Farm to Shepshed Road, which again had a road closed sign. This meant that the riders enjoyed and almost traffic free descent to the bottom of Deans Lane, which they then climbed before enjoying a fast freewheel down to Breakback Lane where they turned right to ascent to the Beacon Park Cafe.

David, Nim, Andrew, Myles, Chris, Elaine and Helen at the Cafe at Beacon Hill 

After refreshments, which included some iced tea and coffee, the riders returned to Loughborough via Woodhouse and Quorn, arriving back at noon.

Long Ride report for Swarkestone via the Cloud Trail

Report by David

This promised to be one of those hot days with no chance of rain, and possibly intense sun; so, we were all advised to take plenty of water. Sun cream seemed also a wise precaution.

David offered a 36-mile ride and was joined by Keith, Arnold and Mick Gould.

We set off behind another ride going in the same direction. They went right at the Ashleigh Drive barrier by the university. We went left, although the leader nearly went downwards tailgating a car in front. Also, 2 other riders were dive-bombed by a bird near the start of the ride – rough justice.

Our trek through the university, along University Road and Oakwood Drive led to Ashby Road. We crossed the M1 to Shepshed, until Iveshead Road. The four of us took this roller coaster road, which generally climbed as far as Oaks Road, and climbed further along Oaks Road, until the downward sweep into Whitwick. This wound through City of 3 Waters before a steep exit over Talbot Road to Brooks Lane. Brooks Lane joined Church Lane which, with one right turn, led to Swannington. A right turn took us along Main Street, up St Georges’s Hill, across the A512, then on a high route through Peggs Green and Griffydam. Crossing the B5324, we rode Top Brand until the downward chase on Bull Hill into Worthington. Once through Worthington, we went right onto Breedon Lane to join the Cloud Trail. The entry to the trail now has loose gravel, so it was a good idea to dismount.

The Cloud Trail did not have the usual procession of dogs; but mowing was in progress. We rode into clouds of grass dust and possibly a few insects shaken from their domain by the big machine (I don’t believe that the trail is named after this phenomenon). The cloud particulates tended to stick to suncream on the skin.

We continued on the Cloud Trail past Melbourne and over the River Trent, then dipped left to join the Trent and Mersey canal for Swarkestone. A large swan on the tow path near Swarkestone, busy preening itself, and allowed us to pass. We emerged from the towpath near the junction of Swarkestone Road with Swarkestone Road (yes, all 3 directions from the junction have the same name). Here we negotiated the busy A514 and the less busy A5132 to get to Swarkestone Nursery.

At Swarkestone Nursery, we were welcomed in and pushed the bikes around to the back of the café. The café was busy, but Mick found us a table. We helped ourselves to fruit scones. For future reference, anyone wanting cake needs to provide a table number. That will allow the forklift driver to deliver the cake to the specified location. After a suitable time for cooling off, we retrieved our bikes. Mike asked a postman for directions. We then rode in the opposite direction to that he told us along Lowes Lane. A short time later, just before we turned off onto the canal towpath, the postman came past in his van. After a grassy ride, we emerged from the same exit as we had earlier, and took the turning that wasn’t A514 towards Weston on Trent.

Coming into Weston on Trent, fields of barley were stirred by a gentle west wind – a sight that could have inspired Sting to write a song. In Weston, we were held up at some road works and later stopped for a photo by the village green.

The road continued to Ashton on Trent, where we took a right turn before the church to cross fields to Shardlow. The Shardlow Road took us over the A42, to London Road. A right turn took us through the remainder of the village, past the marina and over the Trent at the Cavendish Bridge.

At the Sawley Junction roundabout, I had in mind to aim for the interchange with the M1, but Garmin was telling me differently. On this occasion, I followed those directions along the cycle path beside Tamworth Road, and crossed into Warren Lane, just after passing under the M1. It was mostly peaceful and warm as the lane led into Ratcliffe Lane and Long Lane, then over the A453 to Kegworth.

On this occasion, I departed from the Garmin route, and took us along Station Road, which crossed the River Soar, then went right to Sutton Bonington. We took College Road, then came down Marle Pit Hill, now clear of roadworks, and along Park Lane to the A6006. We went through Zouch to shortly before the A6. Here, we took the narrow footpath, through the gate, past the playground and on an outer route round Hathern. This went past the church and Dovecote Street.

To get to the A6, there was a choice of Wide Lane, Narrow Lane or Wide Street. We took the latter while trying to imagine the state of inspiration that overcame the Council when they named these roads – at least they didn’t quite give them all the same name.

From here we continued on the A6 to Loughborough, took the alley and bridge under the A6 following Black Brook, then the Epinal Way. My thanks to the other riders for bearing with diversions from the planned route resulting in a 40-mile ride. This ride we took with an average moving speed of 11.0 mph and gained altitude of 2,667 feet. But we weren’t home before 2:30 pm.