The National Forest

A previous post on this blog (see April 2019) took a brief look at the excellent off-road cycling opportunities available  in the National Forest, and here on a second visit we take another look, this time concentrating on videos which you can view on YouTube via the links below.

Ride 1
This ride starts from Conkers Waterside where there is an excellent free car park, a cafe, and toilets.

Here is the car park which is accessed from Bath Road in Moira.  Drive past the National Forest offices to park opposite  the Ashby Canal Basin.

This is the main building of Conkers Waterside,

Here is the cafe which unfortunately is only open on Sundays.

Follow this exit from the car park turning left to cross the railway.  See video.

The remainder of the ride to Measham is on YouTube via this link.
Click  HERE1

Ride 2
This ride starts from the Hicks Lodge Cycling Centre which is to be found just off the main Moira to Ashby Road.

Car parking is not free here, but proceeds go to improving and maintaining the adjacent cycle paths.
The ride starts with a lap around the adjacent lake, which was once an open cast coal mine,  On completion we follow another path which takes us out onto the road through Moira which leads to Moira Furnace, an ancient iron works.  From there we ride on the towpath of the Ashby Canal and back to Conkers Waterside,
The video for Ride 2 can be found on YouTube via the following link.
Click ONHERE