Poolsbrook, Rother Valley, Clumber Park, Creswell Crags, Clowne Greenway
Details
NB: A £1.00 attendance fee is payable at the start. This goes towards the group's administration fees so please come prepared - thanks.
We start at Poolsbrook CP (Country Park), ride up the TPT (Trans Pennine Trail) to Rother Valley CP, then follow the Chesterfield Canal as far as Worksop. We then head south-east into the forest down to Clumber Park (National Trust), for a cafe lunch stop. Entry to the park is free to pedestrians and cyclists.
After lunch we ride through more forest, then open country, to Creswell Crags with its limestone caves which were once home to prehistoric humans. We then pick up the former railway now known as the Clowne Greenway and follow it back to Poolsbrook, and ride round its two lakes before returning to the car park.
Lunch: Lunch will be at the Central Bark café in Clumber Park, with its enclosed outdoor seating area, or you can bring your own food.
Time: 10:00 for 10:15 start. It is Easter Saturday so traffic may be heavier than usual.
Location: Poolsbrook Country Park, Staveley, Chesterfield, S43 3WL.
What3Words: https://what3words.com/often.little.coherent
Parking: Free
Distance: 40 miles
Estimated duration: 6 hours (Including stops).
Technical difficulty: GREEN/BLUE (Easy to Moderate) - good quality tracks, trails and roads with nothing technical beyond a few potholes and bumps.
Physical difficulty: RED (Difficult). Only about 1,400ft of total ascent over the whole route, but a good level of cycling fitness is required on a standard bike because of the distance.
Suitable for: Mountain Bikes or Gravel Bikes.
Recommendations: Spare Tube, Tools, Pump, Lunch (optional), Energy Bars, Water.
Safety: No Helmet = No Ride!