At our 2019 AGM we announced Peak District MTB were working with Severn Trent Water to increase access for mountain biking around the Ladybower and Upper Derwent Valley area. The first stage of that was Peak District MTB volunteers, in conjunction with the Peak District National Park, renovating an existing footpath, in preparation for it to be upgraded to have access rights for mountain bikers.
Over 3 dig days that saw a great turnout over that winter, we largely completed the work on the trail surface itself. And a subsequent dig day was planned for spring to put in the new gate at the top and signs. However when THE EVENT occurred that naturally had to be shelved and it wasn’t until February 2021 that a small team was able to bring in and fit the gate.
At the end of April a few of us returned again fitting the signs. So with all our work on this trail finished, and the approval of Severn Trent Water (the landowner), the new trail is now officially open for mountain bikers (plus walkers and horse-riders) as a permissive (concession) bridleway.
Many thanks to the 21 mountain bikers who gave their time to undertake this work with us, clocking up around 181 volunteer hours. And our thanks to Peak District National Park and Severn Trent Water for making it possible.
But this isn’t the end. It’s only the first step in what we hope to be many more small projects to increase MTB access in this area and amplify what’s already there with better links. As the old saying goes; Roam wasn’t filmed in a day.
To help promote this, and Peak District MTB’s wider bridleway trail maintenance work across the Peak, we’ve produced printed leaflets, which we were very grateful to have funded and supported by the Peak District National Park Foundation.
Bridleway Trail Maintenance Leaflet PDF
If you’d like to be involved with our future works in this area, email James. We also have dig days in the Roaches, Staffordshire, see all dig day dates.
If you like the work we do, but cannot attend dig days, you may want to support us by donating or considering other ways to help.
Related Older Posts:
Planned Elmin Pits Farm Trail
Elmin Pits Farm Trail – 1st Dig Day, 12-2019
Elmin Pits Farm Dig Day 3 – February 2020
