At mid-morning on Sunday 7 June 2009 after almost thirty six hours of continuous rain the sky miraculously brightened allowing a doughty group of cyclists to undertake the inaugural ride on the National Cycle Network Route 48 between Shipston-on-Stour in Warwickshire and Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire in warm sunshine.
Also known as the Two Towns Cycle Route it establishes a specific link between the two towns which first began with a branch line of the Stratford-upon-Avon to Moreton-in-Marsh Tramway. This was opened in 1826 with horse drawn carts carrying coal and goods brought to Stratford by canal from the industrial areas of the West Midlands.
The on-road route is 8 miles in length and passes through attractive Warwickshire Feldon Parklands countryside and picturesque Gloucestershire Cotswold Fringe landscapes. These are identified and described in an accompanying leaflet which also includes photographs and descriptions of notable buildings and structures along the route. The project was managed by former Sustrans Area Manager and current Supporter David Miller who developed the route from proposals put forward by Sustrans Rangers and volunteer members of the Stour Local Delivery Group supported by the Stratford District Council and Gloucestershire and Warwickshire County Councils. The first photograph shows cyclists outside the Moreton Town Council Offices where a reception was held and where they were greeted by the Vice-Chairman of Moreton Town Council Mr. Colin Burford and Mr. Guy Stapleton of Moreton and District Local History Society who supplied information for the leaflet. The second photograph shows "the parting of the ways" just to the south of Willington.
Also known as the Two Towns Cycle Route it establishes a specific link between the two towns which first began with a branch line of the Stratford-upon-Avon to Moreton-in-Marsh Tramway. This was opened in 1826 with horse drawn carts carrying coal and goods brought to Stratford by canal from the industrial areas of the West Midlands.
The on-road route is 8 miles in length and passes through attractive Warwickshire Feldon Parklands countryside and picturesque Gloucestershire Cotswold Fringe landscapes. These are identified and described in an accompanying leaflet which also includes photographs and descriptions of notable buildings and structures along the route. The project was managed by former Sustrans Area Manager and current Supporter David Miller who developed the route from proposals put forward by Sustrans Rangers and volunteer members of the Stour Local Delivery Group supported by the Stratford District Council and Gloucestershire and Warwickshire County Councils. The first photograph shows cyclists outside the Moreton Town Council Offices where a reception was held and where they were greeted by the Vice-Chairman of Moreton Town Council Mr. Colin Burford and Mr. Guy Stapleton of Moreton and District Local History Society who supplied information for the leaflet. The second photograph shows "the parting of the ways" just to the south of Willington.
Not sure if you're still checking/updating this blog, but if so, you might be interested to know that we've just signposted and opened NCN 48 from Moreton to Stow-on-the-Wold as part of the Cotswold Line Cycle Route project - half of it is shared with NCN 442 so it seemed a shame not to get the few extra signs for Stow!
ReplyDelete