Around Pitsford Water

© Automobile Association 2008. © Crown Copyright Licence number 100021153

Getting to the start

Brixworth Country park is signed from the A508 between Market Harborough and Northampton. The route starts at the visitor centre on the reservoir's western shore just to the south of Brixworth.

1 From the main exit of the car park, turn left on a gravel track, following the obvious cycle path signs. Take this track down towards the water's edge, heading to the right of the playground, until you reach the main cycle track around the reservoir, with the marina off to your right.

2 Turn left here, along the wide and smooth gravel track, following the water's edge. You shortly pass through a sequence of gates and continue to follow the shore around a series of shallow bays. As the reservoir starts to narrow, you come to the first gradual rise of the ride, followed by the option of a quick up-and-down single track for the more adventurous. This whole stretch is dotted with little coves, benches and picnic tables, while signs along the water's edge warn of back-casting by anglers.

3 Within sight of the causeway, proceed through another swing gate, and then just before you reach the causeway, go through another gate and over a cattle grid to reach a car park and picnic area (during the summer, there may be an ice-cream van here, providing the perfect excuse for a rest). This is also a good place for a spot of bird watching.

4 Take care when exiting the car park to reach the cycle path across the causeway (this path, which is marked with a bike symbol, is on the car park side of the causeway, so you don't need to cross the main road). Continue to the end of the causeway and up a short rise.

5 Just before the top of this gradual rise, turn right, through a gate and into some woods. Enjoy the ride's first little stretch of downhill through the trees, before negotiating a sweeping left-hand turn. Proceed through a gate and follow the water's edge into a long, narrow inlet. Go through a gate just before the end of the inlet. A tight turn at the end of the inlet will take you back along the other side.

6 Continue to skirt around the reservoir until you come to a corridor through some trees. Go through a gate and follow the track along the left-hand edge of a wood until you reach a pair of gates and a tarmac road (to the left is Moulton Grange). Turn right on the road, over a miniature causeway. Immediately after the causeway, turn right again, back onto the cycle track (this is not well signed) and follow it around to the dam. Continue across the dam, taking a moment to soak in the expansive views of the reservoir. At the end of the dam, go through a gate and then turn right onto the wooded cycle track just past the sailing club entrance. At the end of the woods, you reach the point where you first joined the main trail. Turn left here to get back to the car park and the start.