Routes
Routes are graded by length and difficulty.
Within an hour's drive of Loughborough
| Route Name | Difficulty  |
Length | Ascent | Round? |
| Cloud Trail | Family | 15 km | 0m | No |
| Watermead Park and central Leicester | Family | up to 22 km | 0m | No |
| Rutland Water | Family
Easy |
Family: up to 15km
Easy: 27 or 37km |
0m
100m |
No
Yes |
| Back lanes behind Barrow | Moderate | 10 km | 50m | Yes |
| Outwoods via Loughborough and Quorn | Moderate | 11 km | 100m | Yes |
| Swithland Wood | Moderate | 14 km | 100m | Yes |
Further afield
| Route Name | Difficulty |
Length | Ascent | Round? |
| Carsington Water | Family
Easy |
Family: up to 6km
Easy: 15km |
0m
200m |
No
Yes |
| High Peak Trail | Family | Up to 60 km | up to 200m | No |
| Sherwood Pines | Family
Hard |
Various routes | 0m | Various |
| Whinlatter Pass | Moderate | 15km | 470m | Yes |
| Threlkeld | Moderate | 21km | 350m | Yes |
| Behind Skiddaw | Moderate | 26km | 450m | Yes |
| Bewick Moor | Moderate | 15km | 150m | Yes |
Rides are categorised as "Family", "Easy", "Moderate", "Hard" or "Extreme"
Family: Essentially flat or gentle gradients, on surfaced or graded paths. Will include roads, but generally avoids busy or main ones. Avoids rough off-road riding and steep climbs or descents, even on good surfaces. Suitable for hybrid and mountain bikes, and road bikes if you're not too fussy about about it. Ideal for children, tandems, trailer bikes etc. The grading does NOT reflect the length.
Easy: Suitable for all but beginner riders, but some fitness and ability to use gears needed. Similar to "Family" but with longer climbs and faster descents. Good surfaces only - no rough off-road so could be tackled with a road bike, tandem or trailer given some basic fitness. The grading does NOT reflect the length.
Moderate: Includes significant off-road sections, some of which may be rough. May be suitable for older, fitter children. Longer climbs are generally on paths or tracks. Mountain bike preferred but hybrid OK: not suitable for road bikes. The grading does NOT reflect the length.
Hard: For experienced riders. Includes sections of hard, rough ascent and fast descent. Mountain bike with suspension required. The grading does NOT reflect the length.
Extreme: A "hard" ride with a minimum ascent of 1000m and at least 40km long.
Yes: a loop ride. Cannot alter the length unless a short (or long!) cut is identified.
No: an out and back along (largely) the same route. The ride can be cut at any point by turning around and heading home.