Start Point: Hucknall Station
Cafes: Voltz Bikes, Newstead Abbey Cafe, The Pit@Newstead (micro pub but they serve coffee and are very friendly), The Daffodil Tearoom.
Description
This mid-mileage route takes in National Cycle Network (NCN) Routes 6 and 645 through Newstead Abbey to Bilsthorpe, before heading out towards Eakring. There then follows a technical section emerging at Kirklington where the route picks up the Southwell Trail back to Bilsthorpe to retrace its tracks back to the starting point in Hucknall.
GR1 is an interesting mixture of fast flat gravel, technical section and country roads. It’s the authors go to morning ride that can be added to or cut short depending on the availability of time.
Start Point: Hucknall Station
Cafes: Voltz Bikes, Newstead Abbey Cafe, The Pit@Newstead (micro pub but they serve coffee and are very friendly), The Daffodil Tearoom, Hollybeck Garden Centre.
Description
A route offering around 39 km of gravel but many of the road sections are quiet, with some short exceptions. The first half replicates GR1 taking the rider along NCN 6 trough Newstead Abbey and Blidworth before making its way into the southern edge of Sherwood Forest at NCN 645 and out towards Eakring.
Departing from GR1 at Kirklington experience gravel heaven on the Southwell Trail then ride along the racecourse road before finding the banks of the River Trent and back through quiet villages dispersed with sections of gravel. There are multiple cafe options along the way and the option of following the River Trent to Gunthorpe if you don’t mind sharing the route with livestock grazing the fields along the riverbank.
Start Point: Hucknall Station
Cafes: The White Peacock Coffee Shop, The Pit at Newstead (micro pub)
Description
This 32 km route is all about discovering the Bennerley Viaduct. Heading West out of Hucknall and a short section of gravel the route finds it way through Kimberley and Awsworth before truly escaping tarmac. You can then experience crossing the recently opened Viaduct. It really is special and that is why the route takes a slight optional detour to view the viaduct from below. You then turn back on yourself and climb up onto the viaduct itself.
Leaving on the West side of the Viaduct travel along the Erewash Canal towpath returning to Eastwood, the DH Lawrence Museum and finally the gravel tracks of Moorgreen Reservoir and the challenging climbs of The Felly. After a welcome stop off in Newstead onwards returning to Hucknall via NCN 6.
Update: Access to the Nottinghamshire side of the Bennerley Viaduct is currently closed for the construction of a new more accessible ramp. This will be a great improvement to cyclists but problems have occurred during the construction of the ramp that have created delays to its completion. Please check the charity’s website for updates. In the meantime access across the railway line to the Erewash Canal can be found by taking the footpath just north of the viaduct where there is a footbridge over the railway line and onto the Erewash Canal. At this point you will be able to pick up GNR3.
Start point: Hucknall Station
Cafes: Voltz Bikes, Green Hut Cafe, Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, Ollerton Watermill Tea Rooms, Daffodil Tea Rooms, various in Edwinstowe.
Description
The Major Oak is the crowning glory of Sherwood Forest. A must see relic of this ancient woodland and a hideout for many a highwayman. Leaving Hucknall heading North there are two options, the shorter out and back route or longer partial circuit that returns through Wellow and Eakring. Either way the course stretches past Blidworth Woods and onto Sherwood Forest via NCN 6. Heading North, past Vicar’s Water and King John’s Palace before the final section to the famous great oak. A few extra kms will take you to the village of Edwinstowe or the Visitor Centre for lunch before returning home.
This route offers some fast gravel riding as well as it’s historical context.
Start point: Hucknall Station
Cafes: Voltz Bikes, The Old School House Tea Rooms, Clumber Park Visitor Centre Cafe. Various other options in Tuxford and Newark.
Description
This is the big one, I’ve tried to find the most gravel possible on a large circuit of the county. Although it registers as 60 km gravel most of the roads are single track country lanes, many gravel in all but name. GR5 could easily be converted into a two day adventure, especially if an overnight stay in the historic city of Lincoln is included.
The route heads north through Clumber Park before traversing the county towards Tuxford. It then drifts into Lincolnshire at one point, simply because there is an unmissable section of gravel and the Fledborough Viaduct that I had to include.
Turning south onto quiet unclassified lanes GNR 5 brings you to Collingham before making your way into Newark where you can visit the castle and take advantage of the many refreshment options. Leaving Newark there is a purposeful section of cycling infrastructure (NCN 64) that is followed by numerous villages and short sections of gravel before finally arriving at Gunthorpe Bridge, the last stop before home.
Start point: Hucknall Railway Station
Cafes: The Pit at Newstead, Newstead Abbey Cafe
Description
GNR6 provides a shorter option but still with plenty of variety. Following the NCN 6 out of Hucknall and Linby the route deviates off along a farm track passing Fountain Dale and a few lakes that provide excellent habitat for wildlife. Myth tells us that this is the location of Robin Hood and Friar Tuck’s first encounter. It is also a mildly technical section with broad leaf forestry that can be boggy in winter. The path emerges into Harlow Wood where the going becomes less challenging but equally enjoyable.
You then cross the road into Thieves Wood, know for being part of the King’s Great Way, linking London to Nottingham and northwards to York. This, it is said made it an attractive spot for outlaws, so keep a hand on to your valuables. In reality these sections are dominated by Forestry Commission woodland that provide a rich source of fast gravel tracks undulating through mainly pine forest.
Start Point: Hucknall Station
Cafes: Arboretum Cafe, Bean by the River, Trent Bridge Kiosk,
Description
No cycling guide of Nottinghamshire would be complete without the option of taking in the historic City of Nottingham. I’ve surprised myself with the amount of gravel, canal towpaths and riverside tracks that are available. It is a city however so do expect to encounter some traffic. This is made safer by the inclusion of bus lanes that cyclist are permitted to use.
Nottingham is an interesting place built on caves and of course it’s connection to Robin Hood although to make the most of the city visitor attractions it’s probably better to leave the bike at home for safe keeping. The city is well served by tram and train. On the route the Old Market Square is a delight and there are plenty of outside lunch stops on a nice day (where you can keep an eye on your bike). The Victoria Embankment is probably one of my favourite stops and from there it is possible to extend the ride onto Holme Pierrepont Country Park and the National Water Sports Centre, well worth a visit.
Start point: Hucknall Station
Cafes: Newstead Abbey, Voltz Bikes Blidworth (requires slight diversion), Warsop various options, Creswell Crags Cafe, also options in the town, Clumber Park.
Description
GNR8 offers the highest ratio of gravel out of all the listed routes despite skirting the eastern fringe of Mansfield. Parliament Oak is one of the three historic oaks of Nottinghamshire and is visited on the outward journey. GNR8 then passes through Creswell Crags inhabited by the earliest known humans on British soil.
The rider travels through the Welbeck Estate with abandoned lodges and the ancient sunken lane that is Drinking Pit Lane. This leads onwards to glorious Clumber Park before returning through Sherwood Forest, Vicar Water and home. If you’re planning a gravel riding visit to Nottinghamshire GNR8 is a must.
Alternative: GNR8 B option that takes in the Archeological Trail can be found here.
Start point: Station Street, Nottingham
Cafes: The Old Wharf Tea Rooms, Dove Cottage Tea Rooms, Café Velo Verde.
Description
GNR9 offers a real contrast to the routes of north Nottinghamshire. Leaving the city via the Nottingham Canal, crossing the River Trent and then following the Grantham Canal to the far south of the county. Its picturesque rural vistas are a delight and there are a number of strategically placed coffee stops along the route.
After leaving the Grantham Canal the remainder of the ride loops back through the villages with mainly quiet unclassified lanes and picking up gravel trails where available. It’s a relatively flat route to be enjoyed at your leisure.
Start point: Newark Castle
cafes: Newark (various options), Cafe Velo Verde.
Description
GNR10 starts and finishes in view of Newark Castle. Although only 25% of the ride is gravel or traffic free the majority of the course is on quiet rural unclassified lanes. The start and finish can be reached by by train to Newark Castle Station from Nottingham or Lincoln. Newark is also accessible by train to Northgate Station which the route passes to offer an alternation start and finish point. After heading North along the banks of the River Trent for a short while the route then leaves Newark on NCN 64. GNR10 then completes a circuit of country lanes with a stop-off option at Cafe Velo Verde nestled in the village of Screveton. On the return leg it picks up NCN 48 for a short section of true gravel before heading back to Newark.
Other routes you may like – click on title for view route on Ride with GPS
Mega routes mate… We should plan some more “Nutts in Notts” rides next year. Mapo
Thank you kind sir. I think the full Notts (GNR 5) would be a good idea with an overnight stop in Lincoln. We can then do the Fedborough Viaduct that I haven’t been on for years.
Cheers
Gravel Notts
Found your website looking for gravel rides in Nottinghamshire. Thanks for a great resource; more familiar with South Notts but the rides up towards Mansfield, Cresswell and Worksop are interesting. Thank you.
Thank you for the positive feedback, much appreciated. I’m hoping to add another route in the summer, south-east From Nottingham to Newark utilising NCN 64 and 48, with a few twists! Enjoy your gravel riding and do follow us on Instagram and Threads @gravelnotts as well as Facebook.
Best wishes from GN
Thanks so much for these, including the new additions. I’ve used parts of many of the originals – I live in west Bridgford so I might try the more northern extremes in combo with a train once it warms up. Today I did City Slicker and Dukes Wood Delight combined, with a lovely tearoom stop in Farnsfield.
You are welcome and thank you for the positive feedback. I’m pleased that you’re finding the routes useful. Hope it wasn’t too muddy at the top of Dukes Wood today. Here’s to spring, just around the corner.