Covering country lanes, challenging climbs and some fun but not too gnarly off road descents this makes a great change to the usual riding honey spots.

They are holding a launch event for cyclists at Our Cow Molly‘s on Saturday 2nd July from 11:00-16:00. Why not try Rides 5 or 6 and pop in and see them for a coffee or ice cream (which are the best!).

More info about the project including route maps and gpx files can be found on the new website, see:
https://www.heritagehighways.co.uk/heritage-rides

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You can download the route leaflet here or pick up a copy in local bike shops and cafes in the area as well as the Alpkit store in Hathersage.

The routes include a beginner / family route along the Monsal Trail and then further two loops use the trail to explore some of the best descents in the area. This route will be great in the winter: whilst the Bakewell golf course descent is often pretty muddy most of the rest of the route is on rocky trails and is a bit more protected from the weather than the trails in the Hope Valley.

The Alpkit Foundation was set up in July 2015 to help overcome obstacles that prevent people from Going Nice Places and Doing Good Things. At Peak District MTB we realised that the most popular routes for mountain biking suffer from erosion, especially in the winter. One solution is to encourage people to explore the “routes less travelled” and introduce people to other areas of the Peak District. We also thought it was a good opportunity to introduce the idea of mountain biking advocacy, responsible riding and “Be Nice, Say Hi” to people who might not be familiar with it. This should help us not only promote mountain biking but improve the perception of mountain bikers which is pretty handy when it comes to negotiating improved access.

If you have other ideas for routes less travelled or you have a business and would like a stack of these leaflets to give out to your customers, get in touch. If they are popular, we hope to make more.

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There’s a choice of three route options:
1) The full route (Eastern and Western loops) is roughly 35km with
around 915m of climbing
2) The western loop including Brushfield is 23km with one rocky descent
3) Beginners will love riding along the smooth, all weather Monsal Trail.

There are a several sections on the Monsal Trail which can be busy and are popular with families so take a bell, take it easy and sit back and enjoy the views. We’d recommend avoiding the busiest times
(weekends and Bank Holidays).

Also, it’s a great bad weather route as it’s not too exposed and is a hard wearing surface. The tunnels
are lit dawn ‘til dusk so if you head out later, take good lights as it’s dark in there!

Fuel stops and refreshments on route

Hassop Station, Hassop (next to the Monsal Trail)
Millers Dale Station, Millers Dale (next to the Monsal Trail)
Blackwell Cycle Hire (next to the Monsal Trail)
Edensor Tea Cottage, Edensor
The Devonshire Arms, Pilsley

Download the route leaflet pdf we created here >

PDMTB Route Monsal Dale, Brushfield, Hassop, Bakewell Figure of 8 (Zip file containing GPX file.)

The post Monsal Dale, Brushfield, Hassop and Bakewell Figure of Eight MTB Route appeared first on Peak District MTB.

This is a short route starting at Digley reservoir but get the map out and you’ll see the area has a load of other old cart or packhorse tracks dating back to when the area was industrialised. Don’t under estimate it though, the climbs are harsh but the descents are worth it.

You start at Digley reservoir which has free parking (it looked like it gets busy after midday). Whilst most of the riding is on bridleways and quiet roads there is a bit of road riding on fast road so bring lights and bright clothes.

You start with a sharp climb out of the valley but fortunately this is the last of the major road climbs. Turn left and you join an old cart road and ride along the old cart tracks which leads West up the reservoir with amazing views over Holme. Cross the busy road and you immediately rewarded with more views towards Huddersfield as you head/slide down a crazy muddy track into the next valley. A short road ride takes you back to the next off-road climb before you rejoin the main road again. A bit of road work later and before you know it you are climbing back up and out of Holmfirth and past the winery (I’m told they get a lot of sun in the summer!) before joining a bridleway which heads around the top of the hill before joining Ramsden Road. Ramsden Road is a typical Peak District broken byway: Watch out for ruts, water bars and walkers. It’s a great, crazy blast down into the valley. Once you are there (if you don’t want to go up and do Ramsden Road again) it’s a quick spin back to the reservoir.

Facilities

Holmfirth isn’t just known for Last of the Summer Wine. The pub in Holme does amazing food in biker portions. There is also a little café attached and is just a short diversion up the hill from the car park. If you are an eco-warrier you’ll love the wind turbines. Prizes for spotting the one with only two blades.

If you want to extend the ride, grab a map and take your pick. For the off-roadies amongst us, you can read the area from Sheffield and Manchester by taking the Transpennine trail all the way to Dunford Bridge then pick up the Pennine trail North towards Holmefirth. I’m told these trails are less boring that you might think and are great for bikes to gain plenty of miles. For the Sheffield locals, there’s always Cut Gate or Wharncliffe on the way home.

Get in touch with your route ideas

This route was introduced to us by a local member. The Peak District MTB committee are always looking for contacts in the outskirts of the park as our eyes and ears, as well as great local guides. If you’ve got an idea for a route taking in lesser travelled areas, drop us a line at info@peakdistrictmtb.org.uk.

The post Routes less travelled: Digley reservoir appeared first on Peak District MTB.

[ 2020 Update: Latest version of the route is here. ]

The post All Weather Mountain Bike Route – Dialled Mag appeared first on Peak District MTB.

We started at the new free car park just off Station Close, Rowsley at the end of the new cycle route that goes from Rowsley to Churchtown and saves getting run over on the A6.

It can get sloppy in the woods so we only tend to ride this when it’s been dry a while or when its frosty.
There are also lots of options to extend the route should you want to clock up some extra miles.
Have fun!

Click here for the route map and GPX file>>

Fuel stops and refreshments on route

Grouse & Claret, Rowsley
Cauldwells Mill Cafe, Rowsley
Edensor Tea Cottage, Edensor, Chatsworth

Don’t forget to check our friend ‘Keeper of the Peak’ for the latest trail conditions…
on Twitter here>>

The post Singletrack, Steam, Deer & Northshore: Chatsworth, Rowsley & Northwood MTB Route appeared first on Peak District MTB.

The White Peak isn’t exactly renown for being mud-free. You simply exchange the exfoliant properties of grit for the sludgy muck of sheep farming. However, all is not lost. Choose your trails wisely, on the border between limestone and gritstone and you can have a relatively clean and dry ride. You exchange gnar for steep, mostly road climbs with fun and flowy descents and you are rewarded with some epic views, some gruesome history and later whoops, jumps and smiles.

The area is steeped in history. In 1665 the village of Eyam successfully isolated itself from the outside world to stop the spread of the bubonic plague which decimated the village killing at least 250 villagers, only 85 survived. You’ll pass the Riley Graves, the sad spot where one mother buried her husband and six children. Plague stones are still at the edge of the village: these are where money was left for the outside world, soaked in vinegar to ward off infection. Stocks still stand in the village green where punishment was delivered for minor crimes (riding a fatbike with dropped handlebars perhaps?). Later, watch out for Black Harry: a local highwayman who robbed stagecoaches crossing the lonely moors. Don’t worry though, he was caught, hung and apparently ‘Derbyshire vultures’ picked his bones clean.

A few words of warning: the tracks around Eyam are full of tourists on a ghoulish hunt for signs of the plague so take a bell and be prepared to give way. Also Derbyshire Council have a love for badly done repairs around this area so expect the bridleways to be anything from tarmac dullness to crazily hazardous.

Click here for the route map>>

Fuel stops and refreshments on route

The Barrel, Bretton
Bull Inn, Foolow
Eyam Tea Rooms, Eyam
Insomnia Coffee, Calver
The Miners Arms, Eyam
The Moon Inn, Stoney Middleton
Village Green Cafe, Eyam

Bike shop on route

High Peak Cycles, Calver

Don’t forget to check our friend ‘Keeper of the Peak’ for the latest trail conditions…
on Twitter here>>

The post Eyam White Peak Winter Mountain Bike Route appeared first on Peak District MTB.

It’s a largely weatherproof ride, except for the start around Mam Tor and the perma-bog on Rushup Edge/Lord’s Seat. Like much of the United Kingdom, the Peak District can take a real beating from the weather in winter, and some trails suffer more than others. To help those hammered trails, we’ve joined up with Vertebrate Publishing to put together a tweak to the classic Kinder ride, missing out the mud and keeping the riding on the rocky stuff.

Fortunately, the previously ongoing closure of the byway at the western end of Rushup Edge has ended and Rushup is open for 2020!

Download the Peak District MTB All Weather Circuit pdf (2020 update) here

Our friends at Vertebrate Publishing produce a range of Mountain Bike books, check them out here…

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