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National Cycle Route 63 (or NCR 63) is a route of the United Kingdom National Cycle Network, running from Burton on Trent to Wisbech.

Route

Parts of the route are currently incomplete.

Burton on Trent to Measham

Burton on Trent | Swadlincote | Church Gresley | Moira | Donisthorpe | Measham

In Burton on Trent the route currently starts and ends at the junction of Union Street and Duke Street. It is planned that the route will be extended to start and end at the Trent & Mersey Canal in Shobnall at the start of the Kingfisher Trail and form a junction with National Cycle Network Route 54.

Sustrans milepost at intersection of NCN 54 & 63, Shobnall Feb 2012

The route will have a link to Burton Railway Station and will run close to the Brewery buildings which dominate the town. The route leaves Burton over the Trent Washlands via the off-road Victorian Stapenhill Viaduct prior to a climb up out of Burton onto the A444.

At the border with Derbyshire in Stanton, the route is currently incomplete but is planned to link through Newhall on an existing bridleway, then continue to Swadlincote via new off road sections around a golf course which is currently under construction.

The route passes through the heart of Swadlincote town centre where it is necessary to dismount, then climbs out of town via the Pipeworks retail park. The route continues into Church Gresley and cuts off road through Maurice Lea Memorial Park. After a descent down Thorpe Downs Road, the route joins the Conkers Circuit and an off road section leading through the heart of the National Forest for 6 miles to Measham.

NCN 63 at Swainspark Wood near Church Gresley

Much of this section is built on the former Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway which also forms part of the Ashby Woulds Heritage Trail. Places the route passes through on this section are Spring Cottage, Moira and Donisthorpe. At Donisthorpe there is a signed link to the National Forest Cycle Centre at Hicks Lodge.

There is also an alternative section between Church Gresley and Donisthorpe signposted (63) which uses the Conkers Circuit anti-clockwise, via Albert Village, Conkers and the Ashby Canal via Moira Furnace. The path passes close to the Conkers Caravan and Camping site and also the National Forest Youth Hostel.

The route diverts briefly under the A42 on approach to Measham; after a further mile the off road section ends at the Library and Leisure Centre.

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  NCN 63 near Conkers
• 
  NCN 63 near Measham
• 
  NCN (63)on Ashby Canal spur near Moira Furnace

Measham to Leicester

Measham | Ibstock | Thornton | Glenfield | Leicester

The route continues onto the traffic calmed High Street in Measham then turns onto Bosworth Road which leads out into the Leicestershire countryside. Whilst this is an an on road section, it is typically quiet.

The first main point of interest is Newton Burgoland which is a hamlet. The route then crosses National Cycle Route 52 before reaching Odstone. At this point the route turns left heading for Ibstock.

After crossing the A447 the route passes through a ford then turns onto the off road section through Battram Wood.

Leicester to Oakham

Leicester | Goadby | Oakham

Oakham to Peterborough

Oakham | Rutland Water | Stamford | Peterborough

Peterborough to Wisbech

Peterborough | March | Wisbech

External links

• National Route 63 on the Sustrans website.

• CONKERS
• The Conkers Circuit [1]
• [2]National Forest Cycle Centre

Category:National Cycle Routes