| 1. This is a road, canal towpath and green lane/bridlepath route. Take OS Explorer 222 1:25 000 scale map. Begin at Rugby Church Street heading East - becomes Clifton Road. Ride down Clifton Road , down the hill (golf club on right) to the famous "Butler's Leap" (Tom Brown's Schooldays) at the bottom. Go over traffic lights. Continue 150 metres until canal bridge. Descend steps and turn right onto towpath. Continue approx 2 miles to Hillmorton Locks. At bridge (bistro opposite) come off canal and turn left onto singletrack road. Ride past a few houses. Road becomes rough track. Continue on this track through radio station. Cross A5 (care - dogleg left and right) onto lane leading up into Lilbourne. Turn right at intersection with main street. Continue out of village, over motorway bridge until T junction. Turn right. Continue into Yelvertoft. Go through village and, immediately after village shop, turn right into rough track. Continue past allotments and through a gate - past Crack's Hill (nice place for a rest). Track is well-marked. Over canal on bridlepath through several fields until you reach roundabout for Crick bypass. Take 2nd exit into Crick village (shop on left). Through village, down hill. There is a field road/bridlepath on your left as you leave the village. Take it. Go under motorway and under railway. Across field up and up steep short hill. Go past farm on your left. Continue on track over Kilsby tunnel (look for Victorian vents). Down steep loose-surfaced track and cross A5 (care). Ride through village. Turn right at junction. Ride 1 mile to cross roads. Turn left to Barby. In village turn right. Continue through village to pub, Arnold Arms. Turn left. Continue for only 400 metres or so. You will see village shop on your right. Elkington Lane is adjacent to shop. Turn right into the lane. After 1 mile, at an intersection of paths, turn right and cross fields on bridlepath down to Onley Lane corner. Turn left onto farm track bridleway. After 400 metres turn right across canal bridge. Ride across field towards white spot. Go through a dismantled bridge. Note there is a WW2 tank there! Ride along side field, go into polo field, over M45 bridge and follow track down and over Rainsbrook (a stream). Turn right to follow edge of brook for 500 metres, then turn left up marked bridleway to Ashlawn Road. Turn right onto Ashlawn cycleway until intersection with old railway and now nature reserve and part of Sustrans route 41. Follow signs towards Rugby. Get off at Clifton Road and ride back into town. |