Day trip to Rutland

By popular request, this is the return of a beautiful route we trialled last year. It's worth the drive to get to the start. It is hillier than a typical Cambridgeshire or Essex ride (3000+ feet of elevation - make sure you're confident you can handle this) - but we'll take it steady with stops where needed. After leaving Oundle, we head north-west passing Harringworth's famous viaduct and attractive villages such as Lyddington. On reaching Rutland Water, we cycle along part of the eastern shore of the lake: this part of the lakeside trail is hard-surfaced (apart from one small section of gravelled car park). On the way back we pass through Empingham, Geeston, Barrowden, Kings Cliffe and Apethorpe.

We'll be mainly on quiet, undulating roads, occasionally crossing busier ones (and starting off within the streets of Oundle town).

As this will be a long day's cycling, we'll have an earlyish lunchtime stop at Picks Barn cafe in Lyndon (22 miles) with a second shorter stop if we need it at Barrowden community shop/cafe (41 miles).

Helmets essential. Bring clothes appropriate to the weather conditions, lights, water, snacks, payment for refreshments, and puncture repair kit suitable for your bike.

All are welcome. Please check you are confident with the distance and have a roadworthy bike. Make sure you have provided contact details, ideally phone + email if you'd like the route GPX, and CHECK FOR ANY MESSAGES (e.g. if there is a late change or cancellation due to weather, etc).