There is a cue sheet for this route on Ride with GPS,
including cues and distances that align with the descriptions below.
Today is a shorter journey with ample time to stop and enjoy
the views and the village of Carcoar. The ever-present vista towards Mount
Canobolas is a feature of this route.
This is Ben Hall country.
Carcoar is a historic village that will interest most riders, and people
can stay here overnight. Accommodation choices are the Royal Hotel or guest
houses as shown on the Carcoar web page. Meals are available at the hotel.
There are also tours of the hospital museum and the historic courthouse.
Those in a hurry can continue to Millthorpe or Orange if an
afternoon in Carcoar does not fit.
Riders will be travelling around Mount Macquarie. Pedal out
of Neville on the Barry Road and go straight ahead towards Barry. Turn right onto the gravel on Old Lachlan Road
(2.2km) and enjoy this delightful rural gravel track on your bike. At 9.5km you’ll come to the Hobby’s Yards
Road where you’ll turn left onto the bitumen again and ride into Barry
(14.0km).
Just outside the
village, turn left onto Mallowgrove Road.
This is a lovely section of gravel, where riders gently climb towards
the crest of the hill, and are rewarded with spectacular views towards Mount
Canobolas in the distance.
Riders will meet the Neville Road, turn left and then
immediately right onto the Carcoar Dam Road (21.3km). This is a gravel road with terrific views
over Carcoar Dam. The road changes to
bitumen at the dam wall, which riders get to cross en velo (and stop to take photos).
Continue cycling on Carcoar Dam Road until you come to Fullers
Lane on the left (29.5km). Take this lane down to the Mid-Western Highway (used
by heavy vehicles) and turn left (31.3km), before rolling down the hill to
Brady Road (32.3km) and turning right towards Carcoar.
Follow your nose and this road down to Carcoar. Be aware there is a steep 1.5 km descent into
Carcoar, before finishing the ride at the historic train station.
Ride distance is 34.7
kilometres.
Disclaimer: This trail has been developed
with the support of local cycling enthusiasts, The Treadlies to showcase some
of our region’s most picturesque rides. Orange360 recommends that visiting cyclists
review road, weather and seasonal farming conditions before they embark on
their ride. Riders embark on their adventure at their own risk.