June 2017 | 97 copse to the Sailing Centre at Whitwell . Navigate your way through the boat park , passing the café to the left �which sells the finest bacon butty in the �idlands , probably ) and then follow the access road from the car park gently uphill . You will pass the main Rutland Cycles store on the left . Re-join the main road and turn left . This is a busy section , but it is straight and clear , and thus relatively safe . However , it can be avoided by continuing along the cycle path through Barnsdale Wood . This is a very pretty diversion , particularly at bluebell time , but it is not surfaced and road cyclists may not wish to use it .
Assuming you stay on the road , on reaching the junction by Barnsdale Lodge Hotel , it makes sense to take to the cycle �ath again for the final stretch of the ride . This is a newly surfaced section , which leads almost all the way back into Oakham . It will be busy with walkers and
‘ recreational ’ cyclists but it is , in all other aspects , totally straightforward . You can stay on this track until you reach the Oakham bypass , at which point you can re-join the main road straight ahead into town , following the High Street back to your start .
You will have cycled 16 miles , climbed about 500ft and seen some beautiful English views . If you haven ’ t already done so , you may wish to slake your thirst , in which case , look just past the Station buildings and you will see The Grainstore , a very nice micro-brewery selling some very fine ales and serving great food in large �ortions�
ALL WITHIN RUTLAND
The second route is longer and harder : 58 miles with about 2500ft of ascent . It aims to ride the boundary of the county , without straying into any of the neighbours . This not easy to ride !
As in the previous route , we start at Oakham Station , but this time , cross at the level crossing and bear left , taking the second road on the left , West Road . It is signposted for Braunston . Follow this road clear of town , climbing and then descending into the village of Braunston ( where there are two good pubs ). Turn left at The Old Plough and follow the road straight ahead , through the village , bearing left �sign�osted for �eighfield and Ridlington� and then almost due east for about two miles to a crossroads .
At this point , turn right ( signposted for Uppingham and the A47 ) and follow an undulating road to Ridlington . Carry on through the village until you reach a right turn , signposted to Ayston . There is then a sharp descent , followed by an equally sharp ascent into Ayston , and then carry on through the hamlet until you reach a major road junction where the A6003 crosses the A47 . Navigate the roundabout with care , taking the third exit into the market town of Uppingham – lots of pubs are clustered round the Market Place on the left ( market day is Friday ).
Stay on the A6003 , heading south towards Corby . The undulations continue� �n your right , you will have a fine view of Eyebrooke Reservoir , one of the training areas used by 617 Sqn when preparing for the Dams raid of 1943 . Stay on the A6003 until you have about 12.5 miles on your computer .
( For the purist , there is a variation here . About two mile south of Uppingham , turn right at a crossroads for Stoke Dry . Descend steeply until you reach the reservoir , turn left and follow the track south , leaving the reservoir by the dam and continuing along the track to Cadecott . This is a private track for the use of anglers , but cyclists are tolerated . As the county border runs through the reservoir , this is a close as you can get !)
You will be pass through the village of Caldecott , where you take a left turn ( signposted for Morcott and Stamford ) to ride along the Welland Valley towards the village of Harringworth . The dominant feature here is the Seaton Viaduct , the longest masonry viaduct across a valley in Britain and a Grade II-listed structure . Pick the right day , and you ’ ll see a steam train crossing .