A FRIENDLY group cycle ride to Stoneywell is being planned for Sunday 11 May.
The ride will set off at 11am from the Bike Park in Town Hall Square, and will use cycle tracks and country roads as it winds through the beautiful Charnwood countryside to Stoneywell, a historic National Trust property.
Cyclists who join the ride – which is free to sign up to – will also get free access to the property. The cottage is an architectural gem designed and built by Ernest Gimson, one of the most influential architects and designers of the Arts and Crafts movement, and is filled with original hand-crafted furniture and family treasures. The cottage is nestled in an idyllic four acres of garden, featuring a vegetable patch, tennis court, and around 150 varieties of rhododendron. Beyond, paths wind across 11 acres of semi-ancient woodland.
Andy Salkeld, active travel team leader at Leicester City Council, said: “We are delighted that this ride is being supported by The National Trust and by Ride Leicester. We’re also really pleased to be able to offer free ebike loans so that we can widen participation in the ride.
“Non-electric bikes are welcome too, but we ask that riders can ride at a pace of at least 10 miles per hour, and the route will include a steep hill as we approach Stoneywell. Please bring an inner tube if you are using your own bike, and dress accordingly for the weather. First-timers are very welcome so if you’ve never joined a group ride before, come along and give it a go!”
Assistant city mayor Cllr Geoff Whittle, who leads on environment and transport, said: “We’re very pleased to support a regular programme of group bike rides like this one. They are aimed at helping everyone to discover just how easy and enjoyable it can be to get around by bike, and being in a group can also help to build your cycle confidence.
“Whether you’re commuting, exploring the city, or just enjoying the fresh air, an electric bike could be perfect for your journey, which is why we’re delighted to be offering free ebike loans for this ride, too.”
Zsolt Schuller from the National Trust said: “Cycling is a fantastic way to visit many of the places in the care of the National Trust and more than a quarter of them (26%) are within a mile of the National Cycle Network. It’s great to be working with organisations such as Ride Leicester, linking up a visit to somewhere as special as Stoneywell with initiatives to help build people’s cycling confidence”.
The ride and visit to Stoneywell – plus the all-important stop at Stoneywell’s tearoom, which serves hot and cold drinks, light meals, and snacks – will take approximately three hours. To register for the ride, visit https://www.letsride.co.uk/rides/national-trust-stoneywell-cottage-1
Ebike loans for the Stoneywell ride are free of charge and include a helmet if required. Ebikes must be booked in advance by 4pm on Friday 9 May at the latest – email ecycles@leicester.gov.uk to enquire about a loan. Please also ensure that you have registered for a place on the ride.
Entry to Stoneywell is free for ride participants but if you are a member of the National Trust, please bring your membership card with you. Stoneywell is open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays until 2 November 2025. Visits must be booked in advance. Find out more about Stoneywell at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/leicestershire-northamptonshire/stoneywell
Ride Leicester’s goal is to enable fun, safe, inclusive, organised and free guided rides and events as part of the city council’s Cycle City Action Plan. Find out more about Ride Leicester group rides at: https://letsride.co.uk/groups/ride-leicester
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Picture of Stoneywell ©National Trust Images/Andrew Butler