Get on your bike!

It was lovely to see Rutland Water listed in the Times newspaper as one of the 20 most beautiful cycle routes for the Bank Holiday weekend. Here is what they had to say about cycling around the big Puddle!

Rutland Water

Distance: 24 miles

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Difficulty Moderate; gently undulating with some short steep gradients in parts

Start and finish Oakham Train Station

The route The ride begins in historic Oakham, which, with a market every Wednesday and Saturday, is a great place to stop off and pick up picnic supplies. The route leads you to Rutland Water, one of England’s largest man-made lakes, and skirts the edge of the reservoir for 15 miles. Roughly a third of the way around, you’ll come to Rutland Water Visitor Centre; this is a great spot for families as there’s a man-made beach and swimming area in the summer. There are steep climbs and descents along the northern shores of the water. Once you’ve passed the village of Edith Weston you’ll enter the Rutland Water Nature Reserve, which stretches across the western part of the reservoir. It’s worth stopping at one of the 31 viewing hides to try and spot some of the rare wildlife here.

Points of interest Normanton Church, Rutland Water Visitor Centre, Rutland Water Nature Reserve

Loops, links and longer rides Near Oakham, you can follow signs for the Hambleton Peninsula. This is a 7 mile traffic free ride out and around the island in the reservoir.

Cycle hire Rutland Cycling at Whitwell

Online map sustrans.org.uk/rutland

THE TIMES Saturday May 23 2015