Leaving my home and heading out through the woods of oak and beech trees on a Raleigh 3 speed Sturmey Archer bike  my friends and I headed for the royal estate of the Duke of Newcastle, now National Trust Parkland.  We rode all day on the estate roads through villages where the workers of the estate lived, crossing fords, riding past stable buildings and the estates church and up and down the miles that carriages drove between rows of lime trees that led from the estate gates to the original house, unfortunately no longer there.

We were free no restrictions, no helmets and few cars to worry about.

Heading home we reached the Lion Gates the entrance to Welbeck Estate , this signalled the start of Sparken Hill, a challenge set to us all as we had to freewheel with no brakes to the bottom. All usually went well until one time I hit the gravel and went sliding and bear the scars on my knee to this day.

Undeterred I returned and conquered the hill again and again. It was a best ride anytime of the year as I was with friends and enjoying the English countryside.  Stephanie Andrews