With our club weekend beginning to appear on the horizon, this weekend a group of Stockport Community Cycling Club leaders set out to Leicester to recce the rides.

The first cycle ride planned for the club weekend will be around Rutland Water.

The main car park is at Whitwell. We arrived at lunchtime and headed over to the Harbour Cafe for lunch.

After lunch, we set off for the cycle ride around the reservoir.

We cycled past the Sykes Lane visitor area.

And along the dam.

Past Mowmire Beach.

And towards Normanton Church.

This church was saved in the 1970’s from a watery grave. Now mainly used as a wedding venue and occasionally as a museum, it was originally known as St Matthews and served as the parish church for Normanton and in particular the wealthy Heathcote family.

We continued on our way past the locals.

The big climb of the day was after Lyndon Visitor Centre and up to Lyndon Road.

We followed the roads towards Manton.

You meet all sort of folk on cycle rides!

Next stop was Egleton.

We picked up National Cycle Network Route 63.

And followed this through Barnsdale and back towards Whitwell.

Before we finished there was the obligatory stop for ice-cream.

This is an enjoyable 15-mile cycle ride around Rutland Water. We are confident the club riders will enjoy this excellent circular route.

You can view our Rutland Water route below: