Roads around Rutland Water

[rugby bloke]

I'm planning my ride to Exton to back an X for the A,B,C challenge and I would like to include a lap of Rutland Water whilst I am there. On the map there are a couple of A roads - A 606 and A6003, does anyone have any experience of riding on these roads ? I'm working on the assumption that roads in this area are cycle friendly and I don't want any nasty surprises.

 

[KneesUp]

Not cycled them, but I've driven them - the roads around there are to my mind relatively narrow for the speed of traffic. I'd avoid the A roads if you want a relaxing ride, but they're possibly ok if you just want to get somewhere quickly. There are lots of lovely little roads going between dry stone walls and 'classic' countryside.

 

[biggs682]

@rugby bloke when are you thinking of doing it ?

From memory the roads around the bottom half are more quieter but not wide , and the cycle route that goes around is not that road bike friendly

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I have ridden the A6003 northbound a few times into Oakham. It is over quick if you just do the minimum. It's ok if you just want to quickly get down that part. Rest of it I would stay in the lanes.

 

[rugby bloke]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I will modify the route to take a wider route around Rutland Water. I have ridden around the area on the Rutland Border Epique Sportive a couple of times so I know there are some excellent , quite lanes. Sounds more fun to ride these than the roads bordering the lake.
@biggs682 - No date fixed yet, I'm going to start from Oundle so need to coordinate with a visit to the mother in law.

 

[KneesUp]

I'll confess I was thinking of Carssington Water when I wrote my reply above - I've also driven around Rutland Water too and although I don't recall as many dry stone walls, the speed / road with observations still stand!

 

[raleighnut]

Isn't there an offroad cycle path around Rutland Water,

 

[biggs682]

That will be a nice route from Oundle up through Kings Cliffe and Colleyweston @rugby bloke i would be tempted to use same route coming back as well

 

[Richard Fairhurst]

Isn't there an offroad cycle path around Rutland Water,

There is - lots of it's unpaved, though, so it depends on your bike.

I'm not a great fan of the A6003 or the A606 though there are much worse A-roads. There are some lovely lanes nearby, though - the back road from Uppingham to Oakham (via Ridlington and Brooke) is gorgeous albeit hilly!

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I've ridden the roads all around Rutland Water. The A606 at the north of the water is the busiest road but rideable. As others have said get off the A roads and you have some cracking lanes to ride on, can be a bit lumpy though.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Oh and there is no village sign at Exton

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Oh and there is no village sign at Exton

The post that kills his ABC dreams...

 

[LeetleGreyCells]

Oh and there is no village sign at Exton

It’s a conspiracy!

Is someone reading this thread and preemptively stealing the signs?!!

 

[HLaB]

I ve ridden them a few times but I prefer a wider loop taking in the nicer roads.

 

[Jenkins]

I'll second @Supersuperleeds comments about the A606 although I've not ridden it, just driven it and cycled areas of the cycle way alongside lot. There's a couple of 30mph sections around Empingham (so thre's your 'E') and Whitwell, but the rest is all national speed limit and can be fairly busy with quite a lot of HGVs