Cloud Quarry and Loughborough from Derby

This ride follows NCN Route 6 into Leicestershire, and as far as the crossing of the A42 trunk road, it is one of the longest traffic free routes in the area. Also it has a good tarmac surface for most of the way and since much of it is in the Trent Valley, there are no significant hills.
The focal point is Cloud Quarry, a quite spectacular hole in the ground, and from there we have several options for the return journey, these being indicated later.

          We join the Riverside Path at Five Arches Bridge which is close by Derby's railway station.

                                                   Following the River Derwent Eastwards.

 A new sight ahead; the twin wind turbines erected by Severn Trent Water on Megalaughton Lane.
      The plume of steam is emitted from the cooling towers of Radcliffe-on-Trent Power Station.

                            The path meanders along the river bank towards Alvaston Park

                            See the Derby Velodrome under construction to the right of the path.

        Go beneath the vandalised railway bridge to leave the river bank and turn right into Alvaston Park.

                                                                   On this path.

                                               Alongside the placid waters of Alvaston Lake.

  

 On the right "the listening ears" which amplify sounds over a distance of about 100m.

                                                           Follow the path to the left.

Keeping on the Canal Path.

 

                                  There are several roads to cross and most have Toucan crossings.

                                              Ahead is the Chellaston Road bridge at Shelton Lock.
                      


                           Having crossed Sinfin Moor Lane we head towards Swarkestone Lock

                                                          Over the narrow bridge.


                                                    And beneath the A50 trunk road.

Almost at Swarkestone Lock now, with the Derby Canal bed to the right and ahead a restored bridge at the junction of the two canals.

From the bridge over the Trent and Mersey Canal looking towards Stenson we see Swarkestone Lock.

                            Cross the bridge turning left onto the towpath below.

            The towpath is narrow but has a decent cycling surface from here for well over a mile.

                             Look back to see the bridge which we have just crossed.

After passing beneath the railway bridge we come to Cuttle Bridge, which carries the A514 road between Chellaston and Swarkestone village.

                                  Nice reflections in the waters of the canal at Cuttle Bridge.

                                                   Beware of oncoming cyclists

 

                                   Follow the towpath towards Weston-upon-Trent.

    Leave the canal towpath here, turning right at the redundant railway bridge to join the railway path.

Cross the River Trent on this concrete surfaced viaduct. This river crossing was a vital link in the construction of the cycle path since other river crossings at Swarkeston Bridge and Shardlow are far away.

From the Trent Viaduct, the cooling towers of the defunct Willington Power Station can be seen across the flatland of the Trent Valley.


The path is in a cutting here so we cannot see the nearby villages of King's Newton and Melbourne. These lovely stone bridges carry local roads across the path, but of Melbourne Station there is (sadly)
no trace

This Sustrans milepost stands on the border between Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

                                                                 Here be Derbyshire.

                                                        And here be Leicestershire
 

                                Tonge Station, now a private house and small touring caravan site.

                           From Tonge Station we climb up a gradient towards the A42 bridge.

And see Breedon Church standing high on the hill to our right.  On reaching the road ahead, turn right to visit  Breedon where there is an excellent café at the Garden Centre, and you can climb the hill to the church where there are spectacular views of East Midlands Airport and Charnwood Forest.
Alternatively turn left at the road, cross the A42 bridge and follow the Cloud Trail to Cloud Quarry.

                                                                  Pass the stud farm.

 

                                                  Take the path to the left, and go under the bridge..

                                 Here is the Cloud Trail, another reclaimed railway route.

                                                Turn left at this sign for Worthington.

                                       Climb up the hill, keeping the quarry fence on your left.

At the summit is this view of Cloud Quarry where thousands of tons of limestone has been extracted for many years.

              Opposite and alongside the path are these mythical creatures called the Rock Drills.

Another return option from here is to follow the outward route back to Derby, and this is the best option if you wish to keep the whole ride off-road.
Otherwise if you wish to continue on to Loughborough, carry on along the path until you reach the public road at the top of the next climb.  The remainder of the route is then mainly on public roads, some of them country lanes but others can be busy with traffic. Generally they are well marked as NCN Route 6 or the Garendon Trail. You will pass through Osgathorpe, Belton and Shepshed,  before reaching Loughborough,  from where you can catch a train back to Derby. A single ticket costs between £5 and £7 dependant on a Railcard.

Finally, as I rode into Lougborough on completion of this survey, the sun was setting on the West side of the A6 road, and I managed to take this final photograph as my camera battery ran flat.