Cycling in Nottinghamshire

Clipstone Area

This Authority is very pleased to be invited to contribute to the Clipstone Web-site. The main bridleway through the village is of key strategic importance in the development of the National Cycle Network through Nottinghamshire. This contribution is also seen as an opportunity to paint a broader picture of how this community and bridleway is at heart of a much wider planned network.

Nottinghamshire County Council is working with Sustrans, a cycling and access charity, to develop the potential for cycling in the county.

Nottinghamshire is ideally suited for cycling, being not too hilly and not too flat. The planned network, the range and variety of landscape, together with the links into attractive villages and communities will put Nottinghamshire on the cycling tourism map.

The first phase due for completion in 2000 is the National Cycle Network route through central Nottinghamshire. It is part of the National Cycle Network, that will be passing through Clipstone. The other legs in the network in the east and west of the county which will form part of what is known as the Double ‘H’ Network, are planned for completion by 2005, and will link places of interest and the newly restored Colliery sites, which are to be managed as woodlands owned by the Forestry Commission.

In rural Nottinghamshire the National Cycle Network has been planned to keep the route away from busy roads and on to quiet lanes and tracks. In this part of the country the ‘north/south roads’ are busy ‘A’ roads with too much traffic for safe cycling, we are however blessed with a few bridleways that are to become part of the route.

In fact after leaving Worksop, the majority of the National route is on tracks apart from estate roads, in Clumber Park, until reaching Blidworth. The financial support from Europe and the lottery, has allowed the improvement of the bridleways in the area for the benefit of all users, not only cyclists. There are other improvements at key road crossings which should make using the rights of way safer for all users.

There has been tremendous support form local landowners and estates to improve access opportunities while at the same time developing opportunities to enhance the wildlife potential of the area.