1. Route 6 Derby to West Park Long Eaton
2. Long Eaton to Kirk Hallam (Nutbrook Trail)
3. Derby to Elvaston Park
4. Derby to Ticknall (Calke Park)
5. Derby to Hilton (Nature Reserve)
6. Derby to Rosliston Forestry Centre

Route 6 Derby to West Park, Long Eaton.

This is an excellent route which is suitable for older children. Flat and easy, with no more than a mile and half of 'on road' work in total. You finish in a pleasant park with things for children to do if they have any energy left.

In the top right hand corner of the park, by the canal, is a nature reserve.

Take the Route 6 South towards Alvaston from Exeter Bridge, (By the Council House) in the centre of Derby. Follow this clearly marked route to the junction with the B5010, here the cycle path turns Left, crossing two bridges using the footpath/cyclepath then turn right across the road to ride beside the old Derby Canal, the route brings you out on the A6005 which you follow for three quarters of a mile.Then take the cycleway left where it leaves the road, and ride on towards Breeston. Follow the signs and you return back onto the A6005 again, At this part it is a busy road, Note that a large cycle shop
(Leisure Lakes) is on the other side of the Road. The route turns left here for a short distance to cross the M1 via a dual carriageway bridge.

You now need to cross the A6005, (A right turn by the road island junction) note the sign at the crossing point which shows how to negotiate it! Now, at this point the route leads into Parkside Avenue, The turn into the area of West Park is on the right about half way around Parkside Avenue. The Route 6 sign is three feet high set against a garden wall and slightly off the road, easily missed by countless cyclists! Enter the park, here you may linger in the park. There are food shops further on in Long Eaton. From here you may return by the same route to Derby. Or, as an alternative, it is possible to follow the directions below to find a further ride onto the Nutbrook trail.

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Long Eaton to Kirk Hallam (Nutbrook Trail)

To get to the Nutbrook Trail follow the Route 6 from Derby as directed in the Long Eaton Ride above, In Parkside Avenue take the right turn between the houses into West Park.

At the end of West Park, Route 6 uses a footbridge over the canal. If you wish to continue to follow Route 6 it is clearly marked and you go straight on from the bridge into Long Eaton and thus to Nottingham. But for the Nutbrook Trail this is where you turn off, as yet there are no signs here for the Nutbrook Trail. To find this trail turn sharp left at the end of the bridge and cycle along with the canal on the left (but the canal will be behind the factory). After a short while you will cross side roads leading towards the canal, take the second of these, at the end there is an alleyway onto the canal. Turn right at the canal. Continue to cycle alongside the canal keeping it to the left. After about three quarters of a mile you will ride beneath a bridge, now watch the for a gap on the right. and go through the stile. (This occurs directly at the end of the wall which you have just cycled alongside). You are now on the trail. To follow it cycle on, still keeping the canal to the left. Once again this turn from the canal is easily missed, especially if you happen to be watching the canal traffic of which there is a fair amount. But even if you stick to the somewhat poor canal path the connection with the trail is still made further up.

Once on the Nutbrook trail (Regional Route 67) the route is well marked and soon turns to a tarmacadum surface. Sandiacre Lock is the first place of note. A protected building it is preserved and open to the public on Sundays, the interior is done out to the style of the period of the canals.

It is nine miles to the termination of the Nutbrook trail with a pleasant picnic area in Shipley Park.

The picture shows another picnic area at about 5 miles, In the picture the picnic area can be seen on the left. To the right is the Route 67 continuing into Shipley Park with another four miles of undulating tarmacadum track. Both picnic areas are beyond the turnoff from the route which this cycle ride now follows, although the first is but one mile beyond the scheduled turnoff mentioned in the next paragraph.

To follow our cycle route you must leave the trail and take the A6096 to return to Derby. The turnoff to the A6096 is immediately after a large concrete pipe lying on the right of the trail.(See Photo) there is a path up onto the road by the bridge. Turn left across the bridge and through Kirk Hallam. (The A6096 is a main road with some straight areas that may have fast moving traffic). Follow this road and after 4 miles there is a turning left to Ockbrook with quieter lanes. Ride through Ockbrook following the signs for A52 Derby, riding out of Ockbrook you will cross the A52 dual carriageway by use of the the road bridge and finally, follow the road left into Borrowash, From here it is clearly signed to Elvaston Park. The signs lead into Station Road, with Route 6 back to Derby.

Join Route 6 at the cycle path which goes across the two bridges with the traffic light controls. There is a right turn just beyond the bridges leading onto the Route 6 path into Derby.