Church-crawling along Nottinghamshire’s most famous river
Following one route is a great way to explore Nottinghamshire and its beautiful historic churches this Ride + Stride.
In a previous blog post, we looked at cycling down the county from north to south along Sustrans’ fantastic Route 6.
For our next blog, we thought we would try and follow the county’s oldest, here long before any roads – the River Trent. The UK’s third longest river twists its way across the southern and eastern edge of Notts, with some splendid churches and chapels waiting to be explored along the way.
One thing to note from the off is deciding which side of the river to start your Ride + Stride. It may be miles between crossings. Think about which churches do you want to see? Whichever side you decide, do whatever is most convenient to you!
For my ride, I started on the southern bank of the Trent, about 10 miles west of Nottingham in the village of Barton. You might choose to start further west – Thrumpton or Ratcliffe on Trent. Wherever you start around here, you will spot the ‘Stop the Quarry’ signs adorning the brick walls of the local buildings, clearly an important issue here to the community, of which the church of St George’s of Bartonplays a core part. What a shame it would be to lose this quiet, green slice of countryside if the planners get their way. However, being on this side did mean I could not visit St Mary’s of Attenborough. If you’ve ever been on the train from London, you will have seen this church’s spire reflected in the lakes.
I followed the trail and climbed the hill, and it is quite the hill, to St Mary’s of Clifton. The clue is in the name of course. This church’s position is majestic, overlooking the Trent Valley and the surrounding county. It is also a well-kept secret, set aside from the A road that splits Clifton, hidden by the trees that clad the steep-sided river bank and overlooked by the walkers that park in the Clifton Woods car park opposite. I was lucky enough to receive a tour from a church warden where the resting place of a Crusader was a particular highlight. So much history, sitting quietly in the heart of a local community, just waiting to be uncovered. That is what Ride + Stride is all about.
I followed the trail that runs through Clifton Grove Nature Reserve, much quieter in terms of foot traffic than the popular Attenborough Nature Reserve opposite, so for us cyclists there’s less time spent ringing your bell! The trail eventually led me to another church built right up to the river’s edge, on one of the Trent’s most notable bends – Saint Wilfrid’s in Wilford.
I picked up Sustrans’ Cycle Route 15 through the heart of Nottingham with the river on my left and the Baptist and Methodist churches of West Bridgford on my right. Passing underneath Trent Bridge and the Forest ground, I cycled past rowers and kayakers enjoying the river’s delights more directly.
The 15 became riddled with potholes by the time I came to St Edmund’s in Holme Pier Point, but I’ll let it off for being such a peaceful, traffic-free route out of the city. I soon came to St Mary’s of Radcliffe on Trent, notable for its tall tower crowned with a distinct saddleback roof.
To try and keep following the river, I took the left at the roundabout before Radcliffe’s high street and after a small climb, I emerged at the top of the Trent Valley. The valley floor spreads out before you in a splendid view, looking towards Southwell to the north. I split off from the road here, speeding back down into the valley, heading past Shelford Church towards Gunthorpe.
Gunthorpe is significant, not just for its St John the Baptist Church, or its wide range of pubs to grab a refreshment or two. It’s also your chance to cross the river for the first time since Nottingham.
To explore churches, you may need to deviate from the path and visit the villages such as Gibsmere, Fiskerton, Morton and Farndon.
Now you have a choice. Either option will see your Ride + Stride end in style.
You may wish to split off from the Trent here and head north-west towards the glorious Southwell Minster.
Or you may wish to see your navigation of the Trent come to a fitting end – Newark-on-Trent’s St Mary Magdalene.
The beauty of Ride + Stride is that it is completely up to you where you go, how far you cycle and how many churches to visit. Along the Trent, families will find flat, traffic-free trails and walkers are just as easily catered for along the many footpaths that follow the river. What’s better than spending a day out by the water?
We would love to see your photos of Nottinghamshire’s churches taken next to rivers and water. Send them to us on social media!