The Grantham Canal

Route 15 of the National Cycle Network runs along the towpath of the Grantham Canal, which is one of those canals which are not connected to the main canal network and therefore not accessible to boats unless they are taken there on a lorry or trailer.
Nevertheless, it makes a fine cycle ride as the surface is quite good and there are some pretty villages and some interesting buildings in the vicinity. In particular Belvoir Castle, seat of the Dukes of Rutland stands on a ridge high above the rolling fields and the view from there makes the climb worth the effort.
Also Harlaxton Manor now Harlaxton College a branch of the American University Evansville College.

Click on pictures to enlarge them.

From Granthan Railway Station we take the leftmost arch here, onto Harlaxton Road, which though quite busy with traffic, has a shared path to take us away from the Grantham conurbation

The first port of call is to turn onto the entrance drive towards Harlaxton College which is behind these locked gates, but fortunately there is a narrow entrance for pedestrians and cyclists to the left of the wall.

                   
                           The entrance gates are impressive but wait until you see the house...........

The long and impressive drive gives an idea of the size of the grounds, the actual building being hardly visible in the distance although you can just make out the arch at the lodge gates.
Anyway a relief to get away from the road traffic. Very few cars pass this way. Nor should they since "Roads were not built for cars" according to Carlton Reids new book.

The main building is just visible now through the lodge arch, but the public may go no further.


                                       Some fine architectural detailing above the archway.

                            And this is the house/college, not normally open to the public

On now to Harlaxton village
which like many villages in East Anglia, has a unique sign on the
outskirts.
    

                                     ........and has some lovely old cottages like this.....

                                                   .....................................and this.
Interesting chimneys, which appear to have been extended, either to improve the up-draught for the open fires or perhaps to impress the neighbours.

                                                      and also a fine church

After crossing the main road, we arrive at our first sight of the Grantham Canal, here at Harlaxton Wharf, once no doubt a very busy place. The viewpoint is from Bridge no. 66.

    The towpath surface is not the best but perfectly adequate for cycling and here we are on Route 15 of the National Cycle Network..

              Here at the Sustrans mile post, Route 15 leaves the canal bank onto a disused  railway track.

                                                                   Over this bridge.

                  But we are never far from the canal and we return to this point on the return journey.

The railway track section is heavily wooded and has a rudimentary ash/grass/earth surface.  OK in the dry weather but no doubt a bit dodgy in the wet.

Turing right where the green track meets a lane, brings us to a fine stop for a meal at the Gap Inn which has a large modern restaurant behind this simple façade. From here we head towards our next grand edifice of the ride .........................................

Belvoir Castle, which  stands high on a hill, but the views from here make the climb worthwhile, and of course it's all downhill back to the canal towpath....................................

                                        .............. where we re-join NCN Route 15 ...............................


                                               .............. for the ride back to Grantham