Hits Last 30 Days

Monday 21 October 2013

Uttoxeter to Hilton Slideshow

National Cycle Network Route 549 runs from Hilton to the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border at the  bridge carrying the A50 trunk road across the River Dove.  Much of the route is on quiet roads which previously were the main road between Derby and Stoke, passing through some nice villages on the way.

We start in the pedestrianized main street of Uttoxeter....................................
* See note at end.


.....................passing the colourful street market....................


................and onto the cycle path alongside the busy A50.

Soon we are crossing the County Boundary into Derbyshire  at the River Dove bridge..........................


............and onto a redundant section of the old road.......................

.....................as we head through the village of Doveridge ..................

.............where the first of several roundabouts gives access to the A50.


Not a bad road for cycling with little motor traffic.

 Time was (pre A50) when this road was heavy with traffic.

Heading towards Sudbury village now.


With another roundabout reminding us that the A50 is close by, although thankfully shrouded by trees.

A pleasant ride as we approach Sudbury Hall........

.............with sight of Sudbury village ahead.

And here is Sudbury Hall housing the Museum of Chilhood.


Entering Sudbury village with a suitable re-fuelling stop on the left here.

Just the job!

This is the stuff!  Cheaper than petrol and does you much more good.
Tastes much better as well.

Remember the name for next time.

A lovely place to stop and enjoy the afternoon sunshine (and the Pedigree).

Phew!  Powerful stuff this Pedigree.



........ on to the new road at Scropton, recently raised to incorporate flood alleviation works protecting the village from the nearby River Dove.


Lots of earthmoving and some new culverts keep the floodwater off the road (we hope).

And down the other side into Scropton village.

At Hatton the Nestle factory towers above the houses but provides much needed employment for the locals.

The new multi million pound extension brings 300 more jobs.............................

....................and a brand that will no doubt become familiar to coffee drinkers world wide.


The NCN R549 path has been extended to go around the new factory, but is much improved, with more work to be done.


The Salt Brook is now able to cope with potential flooding.........................


..............and the path is wide and well surfaced.

Looking back from the new path you can see the massive size of the factory extension.  Should produce a lot of coffee here.

Now onto the unfenced track across the fields of sheep.........................
................ towards Marston-on-Dove where St. Mary's Church stands proudly above the flat landscape of the Dove Valley.  Beware the cattle grids however, which keep the sheep where they belong, but can rattle the fillings out of your teeth and turn your arthritic hip joints to white powder!
You could of course, at the risk of breaking your ankle, walk across the cattle grid, or perhaps even better, if you are not in a hurry, use the gate alongside.
 


Route 549 skirts Hilton with cycle lanes alongside The Mease and we go off road on the Hilton Greenway ......................


...... which runs along towards the former Egginton  Station where it joins the Mickleover Greenway, running all the way into Derby and the South bound NCN R54 into Burton-upon-Trent.

Readers of an enquiring disposition may wonder why I chose to start the ride from Uttoxeter and not from Hilton.
Well it's a long (and boring) tale ..................................
I set out to go by train to Stoke to collect my camera after repair, intending to cycle back home.
On the outbound trip the train broke down and struggled into Blythe Bridge station where all passengers were herded onto the platform to await rescue.  I was the only one with alternative transport and so, to the amazement (and admiration) of the other passengers, I cycled off in the direction of Stoke, some six miles away.
Having collected my camera, and fortunately being in the possession of a return train ticket, I boarded a train at Stoke to take me back to Blythe Bridge, from where I cycled home via Uttoxeter and R549.
Cycling alongside the A50 into Stoke is not nearly as bad as it looks on the map since there are good minor roads and cycle lanes running parallel to the main road. You never have to cycle on the A50 itself.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Les, You don't say what the cattle grid does to replacement hip joints?
Phil

Les Sims said...

Suggest a squirt of WD40 before leaving home.

littleranger said...

A very comprehensive report and photographs of 549. Well done and cycled.

Anonymous said...

Great report and photos Les.







Geoff