This ride offers spectacular and varied scenery, nothing too stretching in terms of climbing, and a chance to explore some of the less well known cycling highlights of the Vale. Not to mention the opportunity for a coffee and cake at the decidedly cycling-friendly Caffe Velo Verde at Screveton. It clocks in at almost exactly 30 miles but you could easily make this closer to 25 miles by heading directly from Car Colston to Screveton and missing out the loop across the A46. Ride Responsibly Do ride with due care and attention at all times, so as not to endanger your personal safety as well as others. Follow the normal rules of the road and Highway Code guidance at all times and be considerate and reasonable towards other road users. Ensure your bicycle is well maintained and road worthy. Horses If you encounter horses – highly likely in the Vale of Belvoir - please speak as you approach to let the horse and rider know you are there and pass wide and slow. Please take a look at the guidance on this page http://www.bhs.org.uk/safety-and-accidents/safety-advice- and-information/common-incidents/cycles Cafes Most of our routes suggest some cafe stops in addition to Cafe Allez! – some are our favourites – but do check opening times before riding. Commentary Start Belvoir Castle, turn immediately left exiting the Castle car park (Picture 1) towards Knipton and head up through the old forest. Before the T junction at the end of the lane look left and down (2) for a great view of one of the small lakes and clearings that have recently been renovated as part of the work to complete plans laid down by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown in the 18th Century. Turn right at the T junction towards Stathern, descend down then up, taking the first right, back into the woodland. The lane takes you down the steep descent of Terrace Hill (3), care as the road surface is not brilliant and there is often gravel on the road. Braking will be required before the left hand bend! (4) Stop then straight on at the crossroads at the end towards Barkestone. Enter Barkestone (5) and take the left at the T junction to (6, 7) Plungar. First right in Plungar towards Granby for a fast straight blast over the bridge and back out into the countryside. Road often used by tractors and horses so do watch out. Travel straight through Granby and descend down to a small chicane which opens up towards woodland. Take the first right in the woodland onto Manor Lane (8); a quiet tree-lined avenue, one of the most picturesque in the Vale. Follow the road round to the left at the end then turn right to bring you up to the A52. Extreme care crossing the A52. Head across and slightly to the right to go into Whatton. After you leave Whatton village (9) take the first right into Aslockton. Cross the railway tracks and pass the pub (10) and church then turn left onto Mill Lane. Enter Scarrington (12) and you will see a stack of old horseshoes at the Old Forge (13)... the largest in the world! – beating the similar stack that you may have glimpsed as you left Aslockton just beforehand (11). Take the right onto Hawksworth Road. Almost immediately turn left signposted Car Colston. Follow the road as it twists through the village and see one of the largest village greens for miles (14). Turn left at the roundabout onto the old Roman Fosse Way, then take the first right over the bridge which crosses the new A46 dual carriageway (15). Descend into East Bridgford down Butt Lane. Turn right at the crossroads in the centre of the village and head out (16) towards Kneeton. (17) About 2km down the road (before Kneeton village) turn right down Red Lodge Lane. Straight across the A46 using another new bridge then immediately right (18) and immediately left down Lodge Lane. Descend down this rarely used lane and enjoy the sweeping bends through the fields into Screveton. At the very end of Lodge Lane turn left with the old red phone box in front of you. Cycle a few yards then Caffe Velo Verde (19) is on your left at the crossroads just before you exit Screveton. It is set back so be sure not to miss it. After a quick refuel at the Caffe head straight over the road down Hawksworth Road (20) towards Hawksworth. Turn right at the T junction at the end then immediately left to Thoroton. At the end of the road right into Thoroton, straight through the village (21) and left at the next cross roads down Smite Lane to Orston. Follow the road through Orston (22) and up the hill out of it. This hill is used for the annual village soap box car race (23), but is not as daunting as this suggests. Right at the top of the hill (24) to Elton. At Elton extreme care to cross the A52. Then follow the road as it turns right then left through the village. At the next cross roads turn left signposted Redmile (25, 26). Straight through Redmile then care crossing Long Lane. Straight on at the crossroads with the final hill bringing you back up to Belvoir Castle and a well earned coffee at Cafe Allez! to finish off the ride. 1.Heading out from Belvoir 2.The view down to the 3.Descending Terrace Hill – one of Castle Castle grounds the UK’s top 100 climbs 4. The foot of Terrace Hill 5. Chimney art in Barkestone 6. The Vale, approaching Plungar 7. Plungar’s village church 8. The beautiful avenue that 9. Leaving Whatton is Manor Lane 10. Aslockton’s pub – not our 11. Aslockton’s forge and its 12. Into Scarrington ... official stop but your call! massive horseshoe stack... 13. ... and the UK’s biggest 14. Car Colston’s whopping 15. Crossing the A46 (1 of 2) horseshoe stack! village green 16. Lovely former windmill 17. Glimpse of the Vale 18. Crossing the A46 (2 of 2) on leaving East Bridgford from this little-known road and heading to Screveton 19. Time for a coffee at the 20. Cyclists’ treat of a road 21. Another unusual home cyclist-friendly Caffe Velo Verde leaving Screveton ... Thoroton 22. Moving Remembrance 23. Lasting relic from the 24. Harvesting energy near Day tribute, Orston Orston Soapbox race Elton – Cafe Allez! approves 25. Near Redmile – almost 26. Peacock hedge near back Redmile .