Bike Tours
On this page there are some classic leisure rides to get your sen out of Notts and see what’s on offer in this great county and beyond. Our routes are designed to slow you down, keep you off main roads and pass by places of interest and historical curiosities, including food and drink stops to stimulate your mind, your stomach, and your legs!
The tracks below are free to download. We would love to hear your feedback on the routes, so please get in touch or drop by the workshop for a chat. If you are interested in more bike adventures and guided cycling tours, look out for our partner Zig Zag Tours on social media or click on the button below.
Self-led Rides
Nott-Skeggy Again!
80 Miles
Easy/Medium
A way marked route from the National Water sports centre all the way to Skegness via Newark and Woodhall Spa.
This route is best done over two/three days so you can explore the surrounding areas and visit the curiosities on route. We would recommend a stop in Newark where you can visit many interesting local attractions such as the castle ruins ruined by Cromwell 1648 and a new cicvil war museum. In Woodhall Spa you can visit the Kinema in the Woods, a centry old cinema complete with musical interludes, plus many other curious wonders of Nottingham and Lincolnshire. This route is mostly on quite roads and bridal way with a few sections of B roads that are a little busier around Spilsby and Skegness. Its an easy route with a few small hills. Don’t say it! Nott-Skeggy, again! Every year on the closest Friday to the solstice a night ride will commence come rain or moon!
Circular River route
27 miles
Easy
A medium-length ride along the River Trent heading towards Gotham, the village that inspired Batman’s city.
This route offers the perfect mix of countryside landscape and industrial architecture. Highlights include wildlife heaven Attenborough Nature Reserve, major canal navigation junction Trent Lock, and a ride around the majestic Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station.
Mostly on flat cycle paths and bridleways with a small section on road near Gotham, this is an enjoyable ride with plenty of pubs and cafés for a break along the way.
Quick ride to grab some Stilton
14 miles one way
Easy
A regular one for us Stilton Lovers! Stilton is known as the king of cheeses and what better way to check out two creameries in one trip than by bike.
On this tour you will leave Nottingham by heading east on the canal and river passing on to the south side of the Trent. You will cycle through the national water sports centre before taking in the historic Holme Pierrepont Hall. From here you will take an old coal-line up to Cotgrave Country Park, this site was developed by Nottinghamshire County Council from reclaimed land and pit heaps which surrounded the old coal mine.
You will then join the Grantham Canal and follow this all the way to Cropwell Bishop where you find your first bit of Stilton (please check opening hours before you leave).
Follow the track around for another mile and you will find Cropwell Butler and then you can decide which is the best for you. They all do free tasters and other cheesy delights. Local pubs will let you buy a beer and you can sit in the pub and have a local ale and stilton!
The best way to get back is retrace your steps as this is mostly off road. It’s a great way out to the Vale of Belvoir.
Great Notts Ride. Sherwood Forest, Southwell and swimming
53 Miles
Easy/Medium
A tour of Nottinghamshire starting at Nottingham Station and heading north through the old industrial mining areas of Bulwell, Hucknal, Newsted (lord Byron) and Sherwood Forest on Sustrans route 6.
Following old mining train tracks you will then head into Southwell, a real gem of a market town with a large minster, great inn's and lots of history dating back to the Romans.
The route then goes through some picturesque villages with more quaint pubs and a great safe spot for wild swimming, check route for swimming icon.
Coming back into Nottingham you will follow the Trent into Colwick park.
We reccomend that the route is done in one day but can split it with a stop in Sherwood forest or Southwell. Great for camping or bike packing!