Today I rode around Rutland water. You can see how much the water has receded due to lack of rain.
It's a great ride. I took my own bike but there are two centres that you can rent bikes from. I hope you don't mind me giving them a mention -
www.rutlandcycling.co.uk
For a deposit and small hire charge they will loan you a well maintained bike of many styles but you want as many gears as possible for the whole route. I started from Oakham and headed towards Manton, a charming village and low and behold a very nice pub to my side. No I'll put in a few more miles yet.
Dependant on your bikes suspension, or your sense of adventure you can hug the line of the largest man made reservoir in Europe, lifting the bikes occasionally over styles, or stick to the roads as did I much of the way.
I continued from Manton to Edith Weston, quite a flat road and largely unbusy but with some great views. On the way I passed the nature reserve
http://www.rutlandwater.u-net.com. No time to visit but something to look forward to. From Edith Weston you are still taking the anti clockwise route of the water and Normanton is where you will find the smaller of the two bike hire shops
Normanton was Rutland Cycling's second centre. It was founded in 1983 and this centre, up until 2000, was predominantly hire based with a small area dedicated to sales. During 2000 the size of the shop doubled and now has a dedicated cycle sales and accessories area carrying many varied brands and models similar to Whitwell. In addition Normanton still remains very popular for cycle hire throughout the year. As a young man I used to work here and have fond memories of happy families having spent the day tackling the circuit.
From Normanton you take paths and road to Empingham. Time for a sandwich me thinks, and some fizzy pop for energy, as I have an incline to tackle, so I visit the pub and retire for 20 minutes.
The gears on my bike make the incline to Whitwell quite easy and it levels out and, I guess, a private road takes you to Whitwell itself, a hive of activity and the larger of the two cycle hire centres coupled with a busy area allocated for windsurfers and fishing boats. Even today this area is quite busy, but I have had the sun on my back most of the route.
Out of the Whitwell complex and the road levels out somewhat til you are met with the freefall past Barnsdale to your left, Burley House on your right and, through lack of time I decide not to take in the peninsula to Hambleton, but to head back to Oakham as I have an appointment later.
An exhilarating day - many superb views but I need a whole day to fully experience the charms of this great reservoir. My pictures will follow.
Cheers Boddie
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