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Repton • Linton • Ashby • Moira • surrounding areas
On Two Wheels
Traffic-free family rides, woodland trails and longer National Forest adventures
Start close to home
You do not need to head deep into the National Forest for a useful ride. Branston Water Park, Rosliston and routes around the Trent valley give Drakelow families several nearby options, with Hicks Lodge, CONKERS and Calke adding purpose-built trails when you want to go further.
The improved towpath runs from Branston Water Park towards Dove Aqueduct. It was widened and resurfaced for year-round use by walkers and cyclists, making it one of the simplest nearby options for an easy out-and-back ride.
Canal & River Trust route information →Rosliston is a useful low-pressure base for younger riders and mixed family groups. The woodland site has cycle routes, walking trails, play facilities and a cafe, so the ride does not have to be the whole day.
Rosliston Forestry Centre →Starting at CONKERS Waterside, this signed circular route has several distance options through Moira, Rosliston and the surrounding villages. The 21 and 26-mile variants approach Drakelow from Caldwell before turning towards Rosliston, giving this route much stronger local relevance than the bigger cross-Forest rides.
Best for: confident family riders, older children and adults who are comfortable with a mixed local road route rather than a fully traffic-free trail.
Route directions and distance options →
Hicks Lodge is the strongest nearby choice when the cycling itself is the activity. Pedal & Play is designed to build confidence, Wood Farm introduces family-friendly off-road riding, and Shell Brook gives developing riders a more technical step up.
Explore Hicks Lodge cycling trails →
This circular trail mixes woodland, meadow and canal-side riding. It is mostly flat and traffic-free, making it a useful step up from a short forestry-centre loop without becoming an all-day road ride.
National Forest family cycling guide →
The figure-of-eight Tramway Trail runs through woodland, farmland and pasture. The National Trust describes it as suitable for beginners and family bike rides, with the shorter loop giving younger riders an easier option.
Calke Abbey cycling information →The Coal and Canopy Way is a 251 km gravel and bikepacking route across the National Forest. It is a great regional route, but it makes more sense lower down this page than as the first answer for somebody looking for a ride near Drakelow.
A more approachable option: the National Forest also promotes a family-friendly 22 km Heritage Loop, so you can sample the wider route without committing to a multi-day trip.
Explore Coal and Canopy routes →Route details were checked against Canal & River Trust, Rosliston Forestry Centre, Visit South Derbyshire, Forestry England, the National Forest and the National Trust on 23 September 2026. Conditions, access and temporary closures can change, so check the linked official route information before setting off.
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