Road · United Kingdom
Melton Mowbray – Spalding
A flat 118 km road cycling loop from Burton Lazars, England through Little Dalby, Cottesmore and Carlby, with 427 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Flat, steady riding for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 118.2 km
- Elevation gain
- 427 m
- Riding time
- 4½–6½ hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Burton Lazars
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 427 m
- 118 km
Route description
- Burton Lazars
- Little Dalby
- Cottesmore
- Carlby
- Barholm
- Pode Hole
- Eastgate
- Witham on the Hill
- South Witham
- Burton Lazars
Starting from Melton Mowbray near Birch's Little Pie & Cake Shop, the route heads northeast passing through villages including Burton Lazars, Little Dalby, and Whissendine by 8 km. Climbing begins around 13.3 km on a 1.8 km section gaining 41 m with an average gradient of 2.3%. The highest point is 144 m at 9.7 km. From there it continues through Cottesmore, Greetham, and Stretton towards Clipsham at 24.2 km.
Between 24.2 km and 38.4 km there is a 14.2 km stretch without cafés, shops, or water. Passing through Carlby, Essendine, Braceborough, and Baston, the route reaches Spalding at 59.6 km where a bakery, supermarket, bike shop, and toilets can be found close to the route. The return leg passes Pode Hole, Bourne, and Castle Bytham, with additional cafés, pubs, and shops at various points, finishing back in Melton Mowbray.
The route is mainly on quiet streets (52%) and minor roads (30%), with 86% paved surfaces and some gravel/unpaved sections (9%). It includes 4.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes and 21.8 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. The longest named road ridden is Sawgate Road for 3.4 km. The overall profile is mostly flat with gentle climbing, suitable for steady riding.
Highlights
- Climb between 13 and 15 km with 2.3% average gradient
- High point at 144 m near 9.7 km
- Spalding town at 59.6 km with shops and cafés
- Route passes through Bourne and Castle Bytham
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 13.3 km | 1.8 km · 41 m · 2.3 % · max 4.2 % | 143 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 4.4 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 52% quiet street · 30% minor road · 10% path · 4% track · 4% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 4.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 21.8 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sawgate Road (3 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 86% is mapped as paved, 9% as unpaved or gravel and 5% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 9% climbing · 9% descending · 83% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 138 cafés and restaurants, 35 shops, 1 water point, 3 petrol stations, 4 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.7 kmBirch's Little Pie & Cake Shop · bakery · 90 m off route
- 8 kmLittle Spice Box · café · 50 m off route
- 8 kmMace · convenience store · 50 m off route
- 16 kmCottesmore Post Office and General Stores · convenience store · 80 m off route
- 16.2 kmColin Easson Motors · petrol station · 90 m off route
- 21.7 kmHambleton Bakery · bakery · 80 m off route
- 42 kmBaston Post Office & General Stores · convenience store · 110 m off route
- 59.5 kmSofia Bakery · bakery · on the route
- 59.7 kmLidl · supermarket · 90 m off route
- 59.7 kmSainsbury's Petrol Station · petrol station · 280 m off route
- 59.7 kmBoots · pharmacy · 180 m off route
- 60.1 kmGibbons · bike shop · 60 m off route
- 76.9 kmHeron Foods · supermarket · 70 m off route
- 76.9 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 91 kmBythams Community Shop · café · 80 m off route
- 91.4 kmDrinking water · 80 m off route
- 97.9 kmSouth Witham Village Shop · supermarket · 70 m off route
- 105.8 kmThe Berkeley Arms · pub · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 59.7 km — Spalding (station), 190 m off route
- 111.3 km — Central Station (station), 1.4 km off route
Worth a stop
- 7.5 km — Whissendine Windmill (attraction)
- 77.1 km — Bourne Castle (castle)
- 91.2 km — Castle Mound (castle)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Food and coffee
- Birch's Little Pie & Cake Shop (610 m)
Know before you go
- 14.2 km without café, shop or water between 24.2 and 38.4 km
- 4.4 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 21.8 km on roads with posted limits of 80 km/h or more
- 9% gravel or unpaved surfaces
