June 2017 | 99
As you approach the viaduct , bear left on the B672 , pass under the viaduct and climb gently ( for a change ) into the village of Barrowden , a charming spot with a very populated duck pond . There is also a small community shop and café here , serving excellent homemade cakes . You are about a third of the way round the route now , so perhaps a stop for a brew is deserved .
Keep heading east , leaving the B672 to join Back Lane and turn left at a T-junction , continuing sedately uphill until you reach the A47 , again . There is now a choice . If you are prepared for about half a mile of rough track , go straight across the main road and head north east towards Ketton . If the rough track does not appeal to you , turn right along the A47 for about a mile and then turn left towards Tixover Grange . Just before you reach the village of �etton , the off-road variation and the onroad routes converge . At the T-junction , turn left , ride across a level crossing and climb into Ketton , a very pretty village with two pubs and an enormous cement
factory – you will have seen this on your left from some distance !
At the crossroads in the village , turn right on to the A6121 and follow this fairly busy road until you reach the village of Tinwell , where you turn left on to Casterton Lane . You are now very close to the Lincolnshire border , but still safely in Rutland . Head north up Casterton Lane and then take a left turn just beyond a speed derestriction sign . This will lead on to the A606 , the main Oakham to Stamford Road , which you cross at a staggered junction , and continue north , then east , crossing a flyover over the �� and , shortly after , reaching the B1081 , which is , in fact , the old AI just north of Stamford . Turn right and then , after about 200 yards , turn left on to Tolethorpe Road . Carry on along this road passing through Little Casterton with Tolethorpe Hall , the home of Stamford Shakespeare Company , on your left .
With just over 31 miles on your computer , you will reach the A6121 ( again ) and take the staggered junction , continuing east towards Belmesthorpe . Turn left in the village towards Ryhall ( good beer in The Green Dragon and fine food in The �icked �itch� to re-�oin the ����� . Take a left then a right turn , to head north – signposted for Little Bytham and Careby .
Continue north for about a mile and a half and then take a left turn signposted for Pickworth and Holywell , through some delightful woodland , taking a left hand fork ( no sign�ost� , being careful not to get knocked off your bike by deer leaping across the roadside fence !
Just before the 37 th mile you will reach a T-junction where you turn right towards Holywell and after a mile , turn left along a wooded , undulating road into Clipsham – the home of the famous Olive Branch Inn . The route goes left here , but you could take a very short detour to the right to visit the aforementioned Yew Tree Avenue . The route now goes due-west to cross under the A1 at Stretton . Immediately after you emerge from the underpass , you reach a roundabout and take the second exit , Hooby Lane , towards Thistleton . Shortly after this , you will pass the approach lights to the old runway at RAF Cottesmore , now Kendrew Barracks . Keep left at mile 44 to enter the village of Thistleton . This is the most northerly part of the ride .
As you leave Thistleton , heading south west , take the turn on the left towards the village of Market Overton – the birthplace of Isaac Newton ’ s mother . The route carries on through the village , passing ( or pausing at ) the Black Bull on your left and descends steeply , turning right , then left , until you reach the Oakham to Wymondhan Road at a triangular junction near the hamlet of Teigh : one of the ‘ Thankful Villages ’ – all of its soldiers returned after WW1 .
Turn left and follow the road south for about a mile until you reach the village of Ashwell where you take a right turn , signposted for Whissendine , cross the railway at a level crossing and follow this slightly climbing road until the descent into the village . Follow the road through the village . There is a pub , the White Lion , on the right and , as you leave the village , you will see a working windmill , also on the right . Take the fourth road , Pickwell Road , on the right , signposted for Cold Overton , and follow this road until you reach the A606 , where you turn left , continuing through the village of Langham and on to Oakham and the finish .
Park your bike , lock it and go for a pint !