1. Starting at the Forest recreation make your way down Gregory / Radford Boulevards toward Lenton / Queens Medical Centre.
Cross over Abbey Bridge and then take the first left onto Lenton Lane. Half a mile down Lenton Lane turn right at the canal bridge and drop down onto the canal towpath.
From this point the next 20+ miles will be all bike path trail. Follow the canal path all the way to Beeston lock then onto Attenborough nature reserve. Througn Attenborough onto Trent Lock (Golf Course and Nice Pub here) where you will join the Erewash Valley Trail. Note this section can be quite busy at weekends.
This trail goes all the way from Trent lock along the canal towpath to Eastwood / Langley Mill near Ikea, one way it must around 15 - 18 miles. Mostly quiet on this stretch and flat. Pass through Sandiacre Trowell, Ilkeston, Cossall.
Once at Eastwood head towards town Centre to get onto the Old Nottingham Road (A610) not advisable. Take Nottingham road through Eastwood, Kimerley, Nuthall back onto A610 or side road / path back to Forest Rec.
This route is around 30 miles in all and because of traffic does slow your average speed. Mostly trail so only suitable for mountain / cross or tricross bikes. Nice nature-full quite and relaxing ride mostly away from traffic. Took me 2.5 hours door to door. |