Back Seat Riders: Croft to Coate

We meet at The Croft Trail car park, which is off the small roundabout in Pipers Way (B4006) – opposite Nationwide’s HQ building (SN3 1TX). As you enter the site there is a mini roundabout, turn right for the public car-park (please note that parking duration is restricted to two hours at certain times, longer term parking can sometimes be found by turning left at the mini roundabout instead). From there we'll skirt around the mountain bike trails (but not on them) and out the other side of the park, turning in towards Broome Manor Golf Course. The route then takes us right up to the golf course but skirts around it, popping us out on to Broome Manor Lane. There will then be a very short bit of road riding until we take a left turn in to Coate Water. Once we have followed the cycle route almost around the lake and back, we can either stop for a cuppa or a play on the park for 20 minutes - depending on the participants! The time is based on an average speed of 8mph but we'll go with the pace of the group. We should be able to complete the loop, with a park or tea stop, in just over an hour.