Great Central Cycle Ride

This 25-mile cycle route, part of Sustrans National Cycle Network, links Leicester and Rugby. Using traffic-free and quiet country roads it follows, as closely as possible, the route of the former Great Central Railway between the two cities. Opened in 1899 the Great Central was the last main line railway to reach London and the first to close, in 1966.

Now a shadow of it's former self, the Parcels Office still stands, although on the edge of the city of Leicester and not on the route.

Leaving Leicester at the site of the 'Bowstring Girder Bridge' the route follows the former track bed for around three miles before using off-road paths to reach Blaby. From here the route is along little used roads to Willoughby Waterleys, Ashby Magna, Gilmorton, Swinford and Clifton upon Dunsmore before reaching Rugby.

The Bowstring Girder Bridge, before demolition in 2008

Photo: Tonythepixel

The site of the Bowstring Girder Bridge nine years latter,

in 2017

From Rugby the route continues as National Cycle Network Route 50 to Buckingham and Aylesbury - but that is for another day!

Beginning as the 'Great Central Way', the route leaves

Leicester with the former railway viaduct arches on the right

The traffic-free Great Central Way

Swinford

Passing under a major motorway junction at Swinford,

no traffic to bother the cyclist!

Very little - in fact, nothing, to be seen of the track bed of

the original railway in Rugby.

The statue of William Webb Ellis (1806 - 1872) outside Rugby School.

Legend tells us that as a pupil at the school in 1823, whist playing football he picked up the ball and ran with it, giving birth to the game of Rugby.