About the route
A gentle ride through the villages of Normanton on Trent and High/Low Marnham with optional
diversion to view the Fledborough Viaduct and River Trent. Incorporates a section of Sustrans
National Cycle Network Route 647. Also includes a short, possibly muddy, bridleway section.
Cycle Checklist:
A150
A631
A6
631
Route number
A631
7 of 20.
Start Point
Trent Vale Cycle Route
Normanton and
Marnham Circular
South Street, Normanton on Trent.
O.S. Grid Ref. SK 798688
Distance
A156
Approximately 10 miles (16 kms).
A57
Duration
1.5 hour + stops.
A
A1
Significant points of interest
The Fledborough Viaduct carrying the cycle route
over the valley of the River Trent.
A46
Normanton School House.
St Wilfred’s Church at Low Marnham.
Refreshments
Refreshment possibilities in route-side pubs at
Normanton and High Marnham.
7
A17
A1
The dots show the start
points of all our 20 cycle
routes. Visit our website
for more information.
Normanton School House. Built by Henry Jackson in 1776.
Start Point: South Street, Normanton on Trent
Route Length: Approximately 10 miles (16 kms)
For more information, visit:
www.trentvale.co.uk
This series of cycle rides has been
developed in partnership with the
charity Sustrans.
Route Duration: 1.5 hours + stops
Route Type: Road and off road, includes bridleway
TVCR7
Normanton and Marnham Circular
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Normanton School House was
built in 1776. It has the inscription
“Henry Jackson of this town Gent
built and endowed this school for four
pounds a year for the education of ten
poor children belonging to this parish Anno
Dom 1776”. Before the Education Act of
1870 education was not compulsory. The
government did not pay for children to go
to school.
This meant that
most schools
were either paid
for by wealthy
individuals or by
the church.
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Fledborough Viaduct crosses the
River Trent. The Viaduct was built
in the 1890’s, for the Lancashire,
Derbyshire and East Coast Railway, as the
crossing of the River Trent at Fledborough
was very low in relation to the land around.
Sir Robert Elliott-Cooper built the Viaduct
and completed it by 1896. Nine million
bricks were used to construct the 59
arches, 39 on the Nottinghamshire side of
the River Trent and 20 on the Lincolnshire
side. The span across the river used four
3 Retrace the route taking the first left for
Low Marnham to rejoin the Fledborough
Road after about a mile. Turn left here,
ignore the first Normanton turn (Brotts
Road) and continue for a further quarter
of a mile or so turning right to re-enter
Normanton from the South.
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2 If going to view the Fledborough
Viaduct continue to follow the Lincoln and
Harby signs down onto the old railway line
otherwise turn right for a short distance
passing Polly Taylor’s Road then turn left
into Hollowdyke Lane for High Marnham,
the pub and the River Trent.
The Viaduct fell into disuse after a
derailment at Clifton on Trent in 1980.
The railway line was closed as it was
deemed to be too expensive to repair.
Now the Viaduct is used as a pedestrian
bridge and cycle way.
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National Cycle Route 647. Down here onto
the old railway line (National Cycle Network
Route 647) for the short diversion to view the
Fledborough Viaduct and the River Trent. This
route is part of the longer Dukeries Trail from
Shirebrook to Harby.
110ft trussed steel girders to bridge the
gap resting on twin iron cylinders. These
were replaced in 1964.
1.5 hours O.S. 1:50 000 Sheet 121 © Crown copyright and database rights, 2012, Ordnance Survey 100019843. Landmark 100022432. © Next Perspectives, 2012
1 Head North along South Street, turn
left at the T-junction onto Tuxford Road
and after half a mile go right for Skegby.
At the next junction carry straight on to
join National Cycle Network Route 647
signposted Harby and Lincoln. Continue
to follow the NCN647 signs at first on
road then along a short section of
bridleway until the Fledborough Road
is reached at Station Cottages.