The Conkers visitor centre lies in the heart of the National Forest just outside Moira and between Measham and Swadlincote. There are excellent cycling opportunities from here. If you want off road or mountain bike cycling then the newly opened Hicks Lodge will cater for your needs, particularly for novice and intermediate riders. For families we would recommend the Conkers circuit – a traffic free route through the National Forest. This circuit is signed and route maps are available from the visitors center (check).
Conkers also lies on the Ashby Woulds Heritage trail which together with the canal side paths provides further options for family friendly cycling. National Cycle Network (NCN) route 63 runs through the Conkers site and can be followed through Measham, into Leicester and beyond to Rutland! For the more adventurous cyclists we have put together a collection of circular cycle routes which start from NCN 63 by the Conkers Youth Hostel (grid reference SK305156). From the Conkers Visitor Centre this is a short ride on the Enstone Trail which starts by the railway crossing. The Hickes Lodge Cycle Centre is just 2 miles away and is an alternative start point which is detailed in the ride descriptions. Follow this link for a map of the area showing the links to the different routes
The rides are on a mixture of trails and quiet country lanes. The rides could be adapted to start from the conurbations of Measham or Swadlincote. For those arriving by train Burton on Trent is the nearest station the recommended route from the station is here.
Each of the rides below is documented as a PDF file which can be downloaded and printed. The rides are also documented on a website called www.ridewithgps.com and the ride number link is provided for each route. From this site you can view the route in more detail and look at profile and other information. You can also download the route to a GPS device.
These rides are currently a work in progress - any feedback would be welcome.
C01 Bosworth Battlefield and Steam 29 miles (462336)
Visit historic Market Bosworth and ride on the Battlefield Railway
C02 Gosphall Temple 24 miles (462334)
A ride into Leicestershire along quiet country lanes that includes a short detour to the quirky ruins of Gopsall Temple.
C03 Tamworth Castle 26 miles (795996)
Visit Tamworth Castle and the pretty Castle Gardens. Return uses the Coventry Canal towpath for a while.
C04 Melbourne and Calke Abbey 27 miles (796331)
C05 National Memorial Aboreutum 20 miles (796136)
Heading out west the route passes Catton Park before making its way to the National Memorial Aboreutum near Alrewas. The route returns via the pretty village of Lullington
C06 Roliston Forestry Centre 11 miles (796334)
C07 Moira Furnace & Measham 10 mles (796337)
Cxx Burton Station (796357)
