About

Bicycle ride from Harwich via Mistley

Distance: 23 miles, which at a moderate pace will take one and three quarter to two and a quarter hours.

Route: Mainly along quiet country roads, including a few challenging climbs. The route passes Wrabness Woods, Bradfield, Mistley, Wix and Great Oakley.

Start and finish: Dovercourt Swimming Pool, off Wick lane, parking is available.

Route details:

1. From the swimming pool entrance turn left and at the road junction turn left again into Wick Lane.

2. Follow the National Cycle Network blue signs to the mini-roundabout (1.4 miles) at the top of the hill.

3. Turn right and proceed to the next miniroundabout, turning left next to the Devon public house.

4. Continue ahead and go downhill past Ramsey Church. Take great care at the roundabout at the bottom (2.6 miles). Take the second exit and ride ahead to Bradfield.

5. At the junction with the Stranger’s Home public house directly ahead, turn right (7.7 miles).

6. Proceed to Mistley. At Mistley Towers (9.9 miles) turn left for Lawford. 200 metres ahead is MistleyPlace Tea Room, opening times are 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday. The food and snacks are good with a friendly service at very reasonable prices.

7. Continue up the hill. At the top turn left for Bradfield.

8. At the Bradfield Television Mast turn left (12.4 miles).

9. Continue through Bradfield village, turning right into Wix Road (13.7 miles), which leads to Wix and Great Oakley.

10. Continue to Wix, going under the bridge and turning left for Great Oakley at the cross roads.

11. Turn right at the war memorial along Oakley Road to Great Oakley.

12. At the junction next to the school (17.5 miles) continue through Great and Little Oakley.

13. At the mini-roundabout (21.3 miles) turn right for Low Road, continue down the hill and along Wick Lane to turn right back to your start point at the Dovercourt Swimming Pool.

 

Bicycle ride from Harwich via Wix

Distance: 16 miles, which at a moderate pace will take between one and a quarter to one and three quarter hours.

Route: Covers mainly quiet country roads, passing Wrabness Woods with views across to Walton. Villages passed are Wix, Stones Green and Great Oakley.

Start and finish: Dovercourt Swimming Pool, off Wick Lane, parking is available.

Route details:

1. From the swimming pool entrance turn left and at the road junction turn left again into Wick Lane, continuing up Low Road.

2. Follow the National Cycle Network blue signs to the mini-roundabout (1.4 miles) at the top of the hill.

3. Turn right and proceed to the next mini-roundabout, turning left next to the Devon public house.

4. Continue ahead and go downhill past Ramsey Church. Take great care at the roundabout at the bottom (2.6 miles). Take the second exit and ride ahead to Bradfield.

5. At Spinnels Farm (6.4 miles) turn left to Wix.

6. Continue straight ahead to the road junction with a grass triangle (7.5 miles).

7. Turn left to Wix. Go under the bridge and at the cross-roads (7.8 miles) go straight ahead to Stones Green.

8. Continue through Stones Green, following the blue cycle signs, then turning left for Great Oakley (9.1 miles).

9. Continue ahead on the quiet road, take care at the corners with gravel. At the road junction with a grass triangle turn right (10.8 miles).

10. At the junction next to a school (11 miles) turn left to go through Great and Little Oakley.

11. At the mini-roundabout (14.8 miles) turn right for Low Road, continue down the hill and along Wick Lane to turn right back to your start point at the Dovercourt Swimming Pool.

 

Bicycle ride around Harwich

Distance: 6 miles, which will take one hour at a moderate, easy pace.

Route: 70% traffic free. You will pass three lighthouses, Britain’s oldest cinema and meander through historic old Harwich.

Start and finish: Dovercourt Swimming Pool, off Wick lane, parking is available.

Route details:

1. From the swimming pool turn right towards the sea. At the metal flag post turn left to proceed along the promenade, with the sea on your right.

2. Pass the lighthouse and continue ahead. Follow National Cycle Network (blue) signs along the promenade to pass Stone Pier.

3. Continue towards the next lighthouse. Before the lighthouse go through two metal barriers (take care) and continue ahead following the blue cycle signs.

4. At the car park slope turn left and at the road junction in front of the infants school sign, turn right and then take the first left.

5. Pass the Electric Palace cinema along Kings Quay Street. Turn left to pass the Pier Hotel.

6. Travelling past Trinity House, proceed ahead to the mini-roundabout. Turn left for Bathside along Albemarle Street.

7. Turn left, take a quick right and then left again to pass over the railway level crossing.

8. Turn right along Fernlea Road. At the end walk your bikes a short distance turning right through two sets of metal barriers.

9. Continue past Dovercourt Railway Station. With Coco’s Pizza on your left, continue up the track, following the North Sea Cycle route signs to the end.

10. Through wooden posts, go up the short hill. At the top turn left to join the road and climb again.

11. Quickly turn right for Clarkes Road (care) and continue to the end, turning right into Main Road.

12. At the next mini-roundabout turn left and go down Laurel Avenue.

13. At the bottom turn right to join Long Meadows and then left to go along Abbott Road.

14. At the end of Abbott Road turn left. Continue along Low Road and Wick Lane. Turn right for the

swimming pool to finish the ride.

 

Bicycle ride from Harwich via Great Bromley

Distance: 22.75 miles, which will take between 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes at a moderate, easy pace.

Route: A hilly start towards Bradfield is rewarded by great views across the river. The ride ends along very quiet country roads between Little and Great Bromley.

Start and finish: Manningtree Sports Centre, Colchester Road, Lawford, free parking is available.

Route details:

1. From Manningtree Sports Centre turn left then at the bottom of the hill (0.5 miles) turn right. Continue ahead, passing Mistley Towers (1.25 miles).

2. Stay on the road to Bradfield and at the Stangers Home public house (3.45 miles) turn left for Wrabness.

3. Turn right to Wix, passing Spinnels Farm (4.8 miles). Carry on until you reach a grass triangle (6 miles), then turn right to Bradfield.

4. At Bradfield turn left along Heath Road, continue to the television mast (9 miles) then turn right.

5. Turn left into Dead Lane (10.15 miles). Take the next left (10.3 miles) passing a farm on the left and pond on the right. Continue to the end of Chequers Road (12 miles).

6. Turn left along Shop Road. At the memorial stone turn right for Great Bromley (12.7 miles) then left at the next junction (13.1 miles).

7. Left again (13.6 miles) for Little Bentley along Hilliards Road. At the grass triangle (14.7 miles) continue ahead along Chase Road East.

8. Keep on the road to Great Bromley, at the junction turn right on to Brook Street (16.5 miles). At the primary school turn right for Manningtree.

9. Take the next left (17 miles). At the grass triangle keep left for Ardleigh (17.3 miles).

10. Turn right along Briar Road (18.2 miles). At the cross roads continue ahead along Morrow Lane to Ardleigh (18.6 miles). At the next junction turn right for Lawford (19.3 miles).

11. Continue to a grass triangle then turn left for Lawford (19.8 miles). Follow signs for Lawford and Manningtree.

12. At the junction with Wignall Street (21.5 miles) turn right. Go straight over the mini roundabout, turn left into Colchester road and back to the sports centre (22.75 miles).

Bicycle ride from Lawford via Great Bromley

Distance: 14.5 miles which will take 90 minutes at a moderate, easy pace.

Route: Very quiet and flat country lanes between Lawford and Great Bromley.

Start and finish: Manningtree Sports Centre, Colchester Road, Lawford, free parking is available.

Route details:

1. From the sports centre turn right along Colchester Road. At the next junction (0.45 miles) turn right.

2. Continue over mini-roundabout and take the next left signposted to Little Bromley.

3. Take the next right along Grange Road (0.9 miles) and proceed ahead to the next junction (2.8 miles).

4. Turn right and keep on the road, do not turn right at Waterhouse Lane.

5. Turn left at the next junction to Ardleigh (3.3 miles) then left again for Great Bromley (3.75 miles).

6. At the cross roads go straight over to Back Lane (4.4 miles). Continue ahead to the next junction and turn left (4.87 miles).

7. At the grass triangle head to Great Bromley (5.8 miles). At the next junction turn right to Great Bromley, passing the church.

8. At the junction turn left on to the B1029 (6.45 miles).

9. Turn left to Mary Lane North, keep on this road passing Stone Road (do not turn off). Continue ahead along Hilliards Road (8 miles).

10. At the next junction turn right along Spratts Road (9.5 miles). Take the next right for Manningtree (10 miles) then at the memorial turn left for Ipswich and Manningtree (10.4 miles).

11. Turn right down Chequers Road (11 miles). Keep on the road to the next junction, then turn left into Dead Lane (12.7 miles).

12. At the end of Dead Lane turn right (13.3 miles). Continue ahead and at the junction turn right for Ipswich and Manningtree.

13. Continue over the mini-roundabout to turn left into Colchester Road and back to the sports centre (14.5 miles).

 

Bicycle ride from Lawford via Little Bromley

 

Distance: 7.5 miles which will take 60 to 75 minutes at a moderate, easy pace.

Route: Quiet and flat country lanes between Lawford and Little Bromley, with lovely countryside views.

Start and finish: Manningtree Sports Centre, Colchester Road, parking is available.

Route details:

1. From the sports centre turn right along Colchester Road.

2. At the next junction (0.45 miles) turn right.

3. Continue over mini-roundabout and take the next left signposted to Little Bromley.

4. Take the next right along Grange Road (0.9 miles) and continue to the end of the road.

5. At the next junction (2.8 miles) with electric pylons ahead, turn left to follow the road with the telegraph poles at the side.

6. Proceed ahead to the next junction with Shop Road (4.2 miles).

7. Turn left and after 20 metres turn right down Chequers Road.

8. Continue on the road and at the next T junction turn left into Dead Lane (5.95 miles).

9. At the end of Dead Lane turn right (6.5 miles).

10. Keep on Bromley Road to the junction (6.8 miles) turn right towards the A137 Ipswich/Mannningtree.

11. Continue over the mini-roundabout and turn left into Colchester Road and back to the sports centre (7.5 miles).