RUTLAND WATER, EAST MIDLANDS

DISTANCE 34.9KM (21.7 MILES) CLIMBING 400M (1,312FT) TIME 1HR 30MINS TO 3HRS Route summary A gentle, car-free ride around Britain’s biggest reservoir, with plenty to see along the way. It’s easy riding but reasonably long, but can easily be shortened by leaving out the Upper Hambleton loop

Start/finish Whitwell car park, off the A606 (postcode LE15 8BL, grid ref SK 923/082)

From Whitwell car park, ride along the perimeter track to Barnsdale car park and keep along the water edge. Pass Barnsdale Country Club and follow the tarmac cycle path alongside the road for a couple of kilometres, then turn left at the road junction, signed to Hambleton.

Keep ahead on the road for 2.2km, then go left before the village, downhill on the reservoir (cycle) track along the northern edge of the peninsula. Cross the road and go along the southern side, taking care of the cattle grids. Keep left at a fork, uphill. Head left on the road, then left on tarmac to Egleton.

Go left at the crossroads on the cycle track, through Egleton Nature Reserve. Just after going under Manaton railway bridge (use the road if you’re towing a trailer), go left through a gate, up to Manaton, by the pub, and join Ridge Road. Pass the garden centre and, after 1.5km, turn left on a track, down to the water’s edge (this is a great place to view ospreys).

Go right at the bottom, joining the perimeter cycle track. Just past the sailing club, go left through a gate to Normanton car park. Follow the perimeter track, passing Normanton Church, to the dam. Go over this, to Sykes Lane car park and back to Whitwell car park.