Great Central Railway & Ride

Sky Ride Local in Leicestershire

Come and join us on the most unique Sky Ride Local ride in Leicestershire.  This ride will transport you and your bike on the Great Central Heritage Railway from Quorn to Rothley.  After your trip on a vintage steam train we will take you on a leisurely ride back from Rothley to Quorn.

We will need you to meet at Quorn station at 9.40am to be sure that you have enough time to meet with our Ride Leaders, take a few pictures and board the steam train ready for a prompt 10.09 departure (the train will not wait for us).

A goods carriage will be added to the train for us to store our bikes safely and refreshments will be available to purchase on the train.  The train will initially take us south to stop briefly at Leicester North station, before we turn around, and return north for us to alight at Rothley station at approximately 10.55.

After collecting the bikes from the goods carriage, we will start our 9.5 mile return ride to Quorn station on a lovely rural route travelling through Swithland village, Swithland reservoir and National Cycle Route 6.

Please book your spot now to secure one of the limited spaces on this ride, but please remember that payment for your train ticket is required in advanced. Pre-payment for your train ticket is required please see below.

Great Central Railway and Ride - payment for ride participants
Charnwood Borough Council have secured a discounted rail ticket for each participant.  The cost of the tickets is £8 per adult and £5 per child.  This must be paid upfront in order to secure your place on the ride.

How to pay?
1) Send a cheque for the correct amount payable to ‘Charnwood Borough Council’  to
FAO Mat Richardson,
Active Travel Development Officer,
Sport and Active Recreation,
Charnwood Borough Council,
Southfields,
Southfields Road,
Loughborough,
LE11 2TT.
 
2) In person at the Customer Service Centre.  Please ask to make a payment direct to the Sport and Recreation team, and one of the team will come down and take your payment by cash or cheque.
Charnwood Borough Council,
Southfields,
Southfield Road,
Loughborough,
LE11 2TT

If you’re fairly confident on your bike and ready to broaden your cycling horizons, our Steady rides are ideal. At a comfortable pace, and possibly with some modest hills along the way, rides take place on mainly quiet roads with plenty of sights along the way. Rides are between 6 and 20 miles long, at a moderate pace of between 7 and 10 miles an hour.

Additional Information

Helmets must be worn by all under 18's regardless of ride level.
Please make sure your bike is in good working order and bring equipment with you to repair punctures, Ride Leaders are there to help but are not responsible for your bike.
All rides leave at the time stated you must arrive early Ride Leaders will not wait. 

Children under the age of 5 do not need to register and must be in a BSA approved child seat, trailer or tag-a-long.

Meet the Ride Leaders

• Robert Robinson When I retired from my business at Christmas 2011 (just over 50 years as a Barber), I felt that I needed something to keep me active, so I decided to volunteer in order to put something back into the local community.
  
  I have an easy manner around people, as my occupation was first chatting to customers and second cutting their hair! I have a good knowledge of local cycling routes and I am looking forward to leading sky ride’s in the area .
  
  I joined Sustrans in 2012 as a Volunteer Ranger, covering the area from Ravenstone in Coalville to Wilson, near Castle Donington - most cyclists will have heard about the Cloud Trail which goes to Derby (Sustrans route No.6). This year I took on the role of Area Co-ordinator for Sustrans West Leicestershire, covering the area from Stoke Golding on the Warwickshire border to Wilson, on the Derbyshire border.
  
  I am a fit and active person,my interests have always been outdoor-based, and I enjoyed taking part in several sports - at a non-competitive level! I have also helped to form two walking clubs, one in Ibstock (which still meets occasionally) and a walking club for single people, which is still running. I have had lots of experience in leading walks and cycle rides in the past. I have recently completed my British Cycling Leader Course so that I can be involved in leading cycle rides in the County.
  
• Leila Ainge Hi,
  
  My name is Leila, I started cycling again last year 2013 and went on a few skyrides in Loughborough to build up my confidence.
  
  My favourite rides were the Garendon trail and Great Central Railway which I did on a mountain bike.
  
  I have recently started cycling on a road bike, and spent a week cycling from Morecambe to York, which involved lots of stops for cake and strong tea!
  
  I'm not a fast cyclist, but I have seen my confidence improve by taking part in the skyrides and love meeting other cyclists.
  
  Hope to see you on a ride soon! Leila
  
• David Ainge I rekindled my love of cycling again last year, after going on a few Sky rides to get to know a new area after moving house.
  
  Inspired by the great friends we made I got the opportunity to become a ride leader.
  
  Recently rode the Way of the Roses route, and cycle to be able to eat more cheese !
• Hilary McDermott Hi,
  I am Hilary McDermott and I have been cycling now for about 5 years. I started cycling because I was encouraged by friends to complete the London to Paris bike ride for charity. I loved it so much, I have been doing it every year since. I have even expaned my rides to include trips from Leeds to Amsterdam and from Land's End to John O'Groats.
  I would love to encourage more people to take up cycling and build up a confidence on the bike.
  See you on the ride... happy cycling :)

Rider Comments on the Route

1. Kevin Da Costa Monday 5th August
   Great day out, made unique by the lovely Steam Train ride. Well organised, relaxed route...next time, could we build in a 20-30min stop at the farm we passed through?
2. Stephen Hawksley Sunday 4th August
   A really great event incorporating a ride on a steam train, nice for family's with young children
3. Samantha Quinn Sunday 16th June
   Very well organised, great fun going on a steam train and a beautiful route. Got my cycling bug back, thanks to all involved in arranging today.