NCN 6 Northampton to Leicester — Where my wheels go

NCN 6 Stage 3.
78km
Northampton to Leicester
A straightforward and just about entirely traffic-free route through the pastoral countryside of the East Midlands connecting the great rugby rivals, Northampton and Leicester. Along the way, you ride through delightful countryside, pass the greatest flight of canal locks in the Midlands as well as being near to many fine country houses. On arriving in Leicester, you have the varied delights of the Space Centre and the Cathedral which now houses the remains of Richard III, after his exhumation from a nearby carpark.

Ride details
Distance: 90km
Start: Northampton Market Square
Finish: Leicester Cathedral
Nearest Mainline station: Northampton
Nearest Mainline to the finish: Leicester
Time needed: 1 day. (riding time approx. 4 hours)
Difficulty: Easy and flat
Traffic and Surfaces: Shared paths, one of the best ex-railway cycle tracks in the UK, the Brampton Valley Way, quiet country lanes. Surfaces and signage are good throughout.
Cycle Paths: NCN 6, NCN 61
Recommended café stops;
What to see: (£) Lamport; Lamport Hall, Kelmarsh; Kelmarsh Hall, Foxton; Foxton Locks and Boiler House, Leicester: National Space Centre, Cathedral, King Richard III visitor centre.

Link to stage 2 and stage 4

Ride notes
The 16 miles from Northampton to Market Harborough are some of the best in the East Midlands. Using one of the longest dismantled railway paths in the country, the route is flat, very well surfaced and much of it runs on a raised embankment giving glorious views of cornland. Majestic oaks and ash dot the countryside and hedges are full of berries and birds. There’s the fun of an unlit tunnel on the way too. (Lights recommended!)

Market Harborough
Market Harborough is one of the loveliest East Midland market towns. The high street, which is mainly pedestrianised, has some beautiful vernacular frontages and the old Grammar School at the northern end is a delightfully beamed building.

Foxton Locks
You re-join the Grand Union Canal (GUC) out of town and follow it on a pleasant towpath to Foxton Locks, the longest and steepest set of locks in Britain. It’s a lovely spot to halt awhile and watch the boats take 45 minutes to negotiate the 10 lock system. Nearby is the Foxton Canal Museum in the building which once housed the engines for a boat lift - built to try and speed up the passage of boats up the 30m incline.

Leicester
After Foxton, its back on gentle and quiet roads all the way into Leicester along the traffic-free Great Central way, which takes you through the city centre. You pass the ruins of Leicester Abbey, and a kilometre later, the striking National Space Centre, which rises right beside the path dressed in a plastic bubble. In the city itself, the Cathedral - which will remain closed until 2024 - is where Richard III was re-buried in 2012 after the discovery of his remains in Greyfriars car park.