Nottingham to Newark

There  are two problems with a direct cycle friendly route between Nottingham and Newark, one being the River Trent, which has limited crossing points, and the A46 trunk road which has become a very busy highway, having been modernised in recent years.
However, the surrounding countryside is fairly flat, interspersed with lots of pretty little villages connected by relatively quiet country lanes, so ideal for the leisure cyclist, if not the commuter.
There are two well signed legs of the National Cycle Network available, Routes 15 and route 64. This  ride uses some parts of each of them.
We start at Trent Bridge in Nottingham and finish in the Market Place in Newark, both within easy reach of nearby train stations, and if travelling from Derby, there are frequent direct off-peak services costing as little as £6 (return) with a Railcard.
The length of the ride is about 23 miles.

                                                                              Trent Bridge.

At the end of the bridge the path leads along the South bank of the River Trent passing beneath one of the stands of the Nottingham Forest football stadium.

                                                    It starts here alongside this hotel.

                                    Ride beneath the stand, but not on match days.

                                                      Continue on the riverside path.

                                                      Some nice riverside views.

                                                 Apartments overlooking the River Trent.
  

                                                      We leave the riverside path at the boat club going onto Adbolton Lane, which then passes the National Watersports Centre and a Nature Reserve. We also pass the entrance to Holme Peirrepont Hall, pictured here.

An un-metalled and badly potholed lane takes us into Ratcliffe-upon Trent where we turn left at the Co-op onto Shelford Road.passing the railway station. It is here where we leave NCN Route 15 which which proceeds ahead to Bingham.

                              Turn left here.

Go straight on at this cross roads heading for Newton rather than Shelford, which lies below on the left.

                                                                       Here is Shelford.

                                                Just before Newton we turn left .

                                    And come to the bridge crossing the A46 trunk road...........

..                                           .which heads northwards to Newark and Lincoln.

                               After crossing the bridge we turn left and then right at the junction.........

                                   ........heading for the village of Car Colston.

                  The enormous village green, The Common is surrounded by widely spaced cottages.

                  We turn left in Car Colston, following the sign for Screveton and passing the church.

In 1944 two RAF aeroplanes had a mid-air collision over the village and all occupants were killed.

                                    All eleven RAF personnel are remembered on the memorial stone.

Close by the memorial, in the adjacent field, stand these remarkable plant sculptures which are 23 feet high.

The whole surface is covered with this small leaved plant which grows (?) on a chicken wire frame.

                            The route then goes through the village of Flintham.

At Feltham we are about halfway to Newark, so the Boot and Shoe pub is a good place to stop for food and drink.

At the sharp right hand bend at Top Green we go left, leaving the tarmac and go onto a bridleway which leads to .........

  ...............................................Firs Farm which is visible ahead.
                                                  Lots of potholes on this track,

Back on the road we arrive at this sign which points to our ultimate destination, Newark, on NCN 64.

At Wensor Bridge we cross the River Devon (pronounced " Dee-von), which flows Northwards  to Newark and joins the River Trent.

               Turn right at this bridge, and follow Route 64 northwards for the remaining 5 miles

Route 64 is a reclaimed railway with a good surface, not the most exciting, but flat and traffic free.
It takes us all the way into Newark.

A new bridge, still under construction carries the path over the new bypass road below, not yet open to traffic.

                                 Some nice little lakes alongside the path as we near to Newark

                  At the waterside we leave Route 64 by way of the path up to the bridge,

                     It leads onto Barnby Road which we follow through to Newark Market Place.

                           The spire of St. Mary Magdelene's Church is Newark's most prominent landmark.
A path alongside leads through to the Market Place and train station which are but a short distance away, alongside the River Trent and the Castle.

Verdict
A nice leisure ride on a variety of surfaces, passing through picturesque flat countryside with lots of interesting things to see. Probably best done in this direction with the prevailing wind and the sun on your back. Lots to see and do in Newark.  Good train connections at both ends of the route.