Around Pitsford Water
Look out for the abundant birdlife along this purpose-built, waterfront cycle track.
Minimum time 1h30
Distance 7.5 miles (12 km)
Difficulty Easy
Suggested map OS Explorer 223 Northampton & Market Harborough
Start/finish Brixworth Country Park car park; grid ref: SP 752695
Trails/tracks smooth gravel or tarmac all the way round
Landscape woodland, waterside and causeway
Public toilets at the start
Tourist information Northampton, tel 01604 622677
Bike hire Pitsford Water Cycle Hire, tel 01604 881777
Recommended pub The White Horse, Old Northampton
Notes Care needs to be taken when exiting the car park at the west end of the causeway
Description
Established in 1997 with the help of a substantial grant from the Millennium Fund, Brixworth is the newest country park in Northamptonshire, while Pitsford Water was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (or SSSI) in 1971. The latter is home to numerous species of wading birds, is the site of the county's largest winter gull roost, and is regularly visited by ospreys on their spring migrations. In the winter, wildfowl numbers have been known to reach 10,000, with ducks, grebes, geese and swans being the most common residents. The wide variety of habitats around the reservoir also provides food and shelter for migrant birds in spring - surveys show a breeding population of 55 species.
In the summer, meanwhile, the reserve comes alive with dragonflies and damselflies. Common blue and emerald damselflies are probably the most abundant species, with each numbering many hundreds of thousands on a good day. Butterflies add to the colour with 23 different species recorded. Other attractions at the park include a brand new playground, a sensory garden, a boules area (balls are available for hire), three wheel-chair accessible nature trails and a human sundial. Sailing, windsurfing and canoeing lessons are available from the Marina (April to October) and fly fishing can be arranged at the Lodge on Holcot Causeway (the reservoir is stocked with 35,000 trout each year).
Why do this bike ride?
This is a gentle and enjoyable ride on smooth gravel tracks. With great views of the reservoir and little in the way of hills or other challenges to contend with, it's ideal for families with younger children.
Directions
© Automobile Association 2006. © Crown Copyright Licence Number 399221
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.
User reviews
(2 user reviews)
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Great for all ages and abilities. In our group there was a 6 year old on his first big cycle ride. He had no problems at all and that was on a bike with no gears. The lake is well sheltered from the wind by the surrounding hills, with the excepting the causeway at the NE end and the dam at the SW end. Car park has no height restriction, should you carry bikes on the roof, but take £2 for the pay-and-display. Play park is a great for the children whilst loading/unloading bikes. Recommended
Reviewer: Cycle Dad, Bicester
Visited: 18 May 2008
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Hello, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed my day out here. My wife and 6 kids also had ramalama day, that means good in our family, ha ha ha. It's a highly recommended day out for us, I'll be back, ha ha ha. Good bye and good day to all. x
Reviewer: Ramalama, Essex
Visited: 18 February 2007
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