The Green Wheel is a network of cycle routes around Peterborough. The design is based on a bicycle wheel, with a circular route (the rim), and a number of linear ‘spokes’ running into the city. There are a number of other alternative rides based on the Green Wheel, using additional connecting cycle routes, maps of which can be downloaded from http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/travelchoice/downloads.aspx#cycling.I have thought about riding the Green Wheel ever since it was created in 2000 as a Millennium project, but never quite got around to it. Eventually, in 2012, I managed it, riding the full perimeter route (apart from two small sections as described below).
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I joined the GW route at it’s western most point, where Bullock Road turns left to Haddon. Riding anti-clockwise, the aim was to complete the whole original route minus the last little stretch along Bullock Road which I have cycled many times before.
- The Green Wheel is regional cycle route number 21.
Detailed Route Guide:
Abbreviations: T= T-junction, R= turn right, L= turn left, RH/LH= right/left hand (usually followed by “bend”)
Starting from Ferry Meadows car park at GR TL-142984, just off the A47 east of Castor village.
Continue down the hill through the linear car park, cross the river Nene at Ferry Bridge and continue down Ferry Walk around Overton Lake, crossing a small bridge, keep the lake on your right until you come to the Ferry Meadows visitor centre. There is a cafe and parking here, so you could start your ride from here if you wish, although parking may be more difficult at busy times.
Turn left at the visitor centre, right just before the level crossing (sp cycle route 63), follow the railway track for about 1km, then cross over it at the first bridge, turn right at the T-junction and follow the track until it emerges at the Lynchwood Business Park. From the roundabout, take the second exit which will bring you onto the A605 by the entrance to the East of England Showground. This crosses the A1 to become the Oundle Road, a fairly quiet road since the new A605 was built.
Take 1st left (sp Haddon, Great Gidding) into Bullock Rd, over the new A605 then 1st left (sp Haddon). This road contains the only real hill on the otherwise flat route. Continue through Haddon, under the A1, ignore the first left on a RH bend (sp Green Wheel, City Centre, The Ortons), as this is one of the “spokes”, take the next track immediately after the LH bend
- “take the next track immediately after the LH bend”
This off-road section continues for 2 miles, until a traffic control that enables you to cross the busy A15. On the other side of the A15, turn left and then right after about 50m down a narrow track (sp Green Wheel Fawcett).
- “On the other side of the A15, turn left and then right after about 50m down a narrow track (sp Green Wheel Fawcett).”
- “Continue on this track which takes you over the main railway line “
- Some of regional route 21 is also national route 12.
Continue on this track which takes you over the main railway line and into Crown Lakes Country Park. There are quite a few paths and tracks meeting here but the Green Wheel is well sign posted, essentially, you need to continue in the same direction as you crossed the bridge over the railway. As you emerge from the country park, turn right into Haddon Way and left at the T junction with http://espanacialis.org/ the main road in Fawcett. 1st right then 2nd left (Cross St) will bring you to the next off-road section, where Cross St meets St Mary’s St.
This track eventually runs alongside the B1095 just before it runs underneath the A605 via a subway. The cycle path continues around a housing estate (Stanground) which you need to keep on your left with the river on your right. The cycle path emerges into North St, where you need to turn sharp right and over the river by the lock gate. After 2 miles, turn left at a X-roads and over the River Nene at Stanground Washes via the Shanks Millennium Bridge.
- “After 2 miles, turn left at a X-roads and over the River Nene at Stanground Washes via the Shanks Millennium Bridge.”
Head back towards Peterborough now on the North Bank, turning right after about 500m, and continue following the track past Flag Fen archaeological site, emerging onto Pearces Road at Halfpenny Toll House. Immediate right then left onto Willow Hall Lane. After just under two miles, turn right onto a field track at the Green Wheel sign post.
- “After just under two miles, turn right onto a field track at the Green Wheel sign post.”
After 1.3 miles you emerge onto Eyebury Road, turn right and go through Eye, crossing the A47 by the cycle route bridge on the right side of the roundabout. Over the second roundabout and then left after 200m into Green Road. Here, due to the new A16, the route is not well signposted. I went all the way to the end of Green Road and turned right at the T junction, meeting the A16 shortly afterwards. If you cross the road carefully, you can then ride a service road north for 0.8 mile until you rejoin the Green Wheel route and turn left down Middle Road. [There is a cycle track coming in from the right here so I suspect that the new GW route takes a right turn half way down Green Road onto Turves Road although this is not sign-posted and is barred to traffic.]
Right at the next X-roads into Newborough and straight across the B1443 Thorney Road into Willow Drove. At the end of Willow Drove, turn left and follow the gravelly track down to Peakirk. Turning right at the junction with the B1443 then left at the T junction in Peakirk itself leads you to Glinton. In Glinton, turn right down North Fen Rd at the church (not well signposted), and continue until left at the T junction. At the next T, right then immediate left to cross Lincoln Rd. Under the A15 via the triple tunnel (the middle one is best). Left at the T with Etton Road, through Etton and straight over the next X roads.
- “Under the A15 via the triple tunnel (the middle one is best).”
After about 750m there is a manned level crossing which held me up for 20 minutes. After crossing the railway, turn left at the T junction onto Woodcroft Rd and then right at the next T into Marholm. In Marholm, R then immediate L into Castor Rd.
- The manned rail crossing between Etton and Marholm.
Turn right at the next T to cross the busy A47 and second left down Ferry Hill back to the start. (NB the first left is no entry and is an exit slip road from the A47.)
Total GW Distance = 42 miles
Refreshment stops: There are not many opportunities for refreshments en route, so if you want to build in a stop, plan a start/end point so that you arrive at the Ferry Meadows visitor centre (or one of the northern villages) for a break at a convenient time.
