What you’ll have seen is us talking about the 22% campaign. As the Peak District only has 11% of the rights of way network accessible by bike, we want to double that – even if that only gets us to the national average. But it’s a start.
To do that. We’re calling on you to share the paths you think we should chase first – those no brainer tracks and paths that are footpaths for no other reason that nonsense access laws.

“We all know that there is little logic behind many of the limitations on many of the paths in the peak,” says committee member Andy Wood. “With 22 we want to push to improve access and where we can, make those links between bridleways where it’s a nonsense that they aren’t rideable already.”

So what are we doing? Well so far we’ve gathered about 75 paths that you’ve said should be changed over. Many of you have nominated the same paths – and that is helpful as it gives us a indicator of popularity. With the top 10, we’re in the process of contacting landowners to begin the conversation about improved access.

And to do that, we’re making the argument for landowners to enable, encourage and embrace mountain bikes.

Encourage mountain biking on the land they own or manage with improved facilities and access; enable permissive access by upgrading paths; or completely embrace the biking community and work with us to change the whole scope for what riders can do for them.

Andy says “When we get into the room with them we can make the argument really well – the evidence backs up what we’re saying and when we can have a chat we find that people realise we’re a responsible and useful group to work with.
“Getting into that room in the first place is the hardest part though.”

We’ve pulled some details together with Keeper of the Peak to help us get into the room – and if you know any landowners or others who may be persuaded to grant MTB access, we’d love you to share it.

Project 22 brochure pdf >

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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.)

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We’d like to hear from you as to which paths you think should be upgraded to a bridleway. This will help us prioritise and help us when engaging with landowners, land managers and other stakeholders who can help make this a successful campaign. Please fill out this form and let us know which paths you want to ride on.

Want to get more involved, get the latest news then become a member of Peak District MTB here>

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The 22% project is our focus on increasing the rideable rights of way network in the Peak District from the current level of 11% to match the national average of 22%. Basically, it’s our drive to double the amount of bridleways in the national park.

Why not 100%?

We do want 100% access, but we have to start somewhere. 22% will give us a fantastic foundation. It will give us examples; it will introduce us to landowners, councils and other supporting groups. There is also a key difference. 100% access is a different campaign – it requires more fundamental legislative change. It can be done and we completely support it. 22% requires a different approach – and it’s one we can start on now.

Who does this benefit?

Everyone benefits from an increase in the accessible rights of way. Riders on horse or bike have more places they can go, walkers will see more groups committed to looking after the trails and the trails themselves will benefit from the load being spread over a far greater network – rather than in honeypots.

I don’t want more cyclists on the rights of way network – why is this a good thing?

Why not? Check out our trail maintenance days as an example of  why mountain bikers are a very good group to have involved in the rights of way network. Peak District MTB volunteers – mountain bikers –  spent over 300 hours maintaining the Peak District rights of way network in 2019 alone.

How is this different to the 2026 lost rights of way project? 

The 2026 deadline for recording lost rights of way is about ensuring historical rights of way are not lost. This may be rights of way that have fallen out of use or have been downgraded over the years (more info here). There’s a huge amount of being done by several user groups already. The 2026 lost rights of way initiative is just one element of Project 22%.

How can I help?

• Fill in the form. We want to know which trails should be upgraded.
• And spread the word.

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The BHS promoted website shows routes that have been identified by users that they think should be upgraded to Public Footpaths or Bridleways. The link is just for Derbyshire

https://www.bhsaccess.org.uk/dobbin/Project2026.php?id=eastmidlands/2026Derbyshire

Its alright identifying a route that you think should be upgraded it’s the research that is the time-consuming element. The amount of time spent on providing the necessary evidence is considerable and if you are into local history and research very rewarding.

Our friends at the Matlock and District Bridleway Action Group (MADBAG) have identified a route above Darley Dale / Ashover which they suggest that should be upgraded from a Public Footpath to a Bridleway and have made an application to Derbyshire County Council (DCC)

https://apps.derbyshire.gov.uk/applications/right-of-way/details.asp?appID=04294

Apart from the application made to DCC what else has the applicant done…well they have been busy, very busy. Apart from the site visits, they have been sourcing evidence from numerous sources including the Darley Enclosure Award 1769, Maps from 1835 / 1836 etc. Below is a link to the actual application made to DCC

https://apps.derbyshire.gov.uk/applications-documents/rights_of_way/Applications/x04294.pdf

So, what is the next stage? It’s now a waiting game, the application was received in January 2019 there will be various legal and committee hurdles to jump through, so it could be years before the upgrade is approved. If an appeal is launched and there is a public inquiry it could be a long time, an application for another route in Darley Dale was received in November 2005 and it is still awaiting a decision following a Public Inquiry – 14 years and still no decision!

We need to be in this for the long haul, if there is a route that you think should be upgraded then please let us know and we can work with other groups to see if it can be upgraded

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One of the initial reasons given for this work was that it would make it more accessible for people with disabilities. Peak District MTB believe this is not justified and in fact is detrimental to many people with disabilities. We’d like to make the following things clear:

Peak District MTB strongly supports more accessible trails

We would always welcome ways to make routes more accessible, in fact, Peak District MTB have supported the work Yorkshire Water and Experience Community are doing at Langsett reservoir to open up more trails for trikes, handbikes and families. https://peakdistrictmtb.org/help-make-new-trails-at-langsett-reservoir/

We’ve tried to support people with disabilities accessing the Peak District for several years now. This includes volunteering for Experience Community who run accessible days out. https://peakdistrictmtb.org/peak-district-mtb-and-experience-community/.

We are also developing information about easier routes in the Peak District which may be suitable for wheelchairs, trikes, trailers, handbikes and those who just want less challenging rides (watch this space!). We frequently highlight issues to landowners and councils that may pose barriers to people with disabilities such as poor surfaces, gates and traffic issues.

Accessibility is about removing barriers, not removing the challenges

Like mountain biking, people with disabilities want different things from the outdoors depending on their abilities and desire for adventure. Routes like the Monsal trail can be perfect for people with disabilities. However it’s clear that high moorland byways like Rushup Edge pose a huge number of barriers which resurfacing will not address. The route is exposed to the elements, has no safe access, parking or facilities, offers no suitable circular route and is sunken meaning it lacks any good scenery making an unattractive journey. The camber and pitch of the route make it extremely challenging (and dangerous for many disability vehicles). The loose stones placed by Derbyshire Council in their first round of maintenance are a hazard to walk on. The gates are so poorly maintained they pose a barrier to even the able bodied.

We accept that there is a duty for Derbyshire County Council in providing accessible routes. However, this should be in accordance with Natural England’s guidance. https://naturalresources.wales/media/2523/by-all-reasonable-means-inclusive-access-to-the-outdoors.pdf

When this issue was discussed in the Peak District Local Access Forum, the members were (like Peak District MTB), in support of Natural England’s stance on disabled access and, therefore, felt that Rushup Edge simply did not fit the criteria of a high priority route.

Peak District MTB has consulted local disability experts

We’ve listened to a range of views from our members, some of whom have disabilities and accept that for some this route is difficult, whilst for others it is a challenged they’d love to take up and do not want routes “maintained” to make it less challenging.

We also visited the area with Gillian Scotford from Accessible Derbyshire who explained that this was a low priority for her and that the money would be best used for other projects. Craig Grimes from Experience Community stressed that DCC’s work should not be done in their name. He’d rather use the money for electric assist handbikes so people could tackle more routes like this. The cost of the proposed work is unclear but figures such as a cost of £170,000 have been quoted. This would buy hundreds of off road disability bikes and trikes or simply avoid cuts to vital council services such as public toilets and bus services. We’ve suggested to Derbyshire County Council alternative ways to address problems on the route which would be far cheaper and easier to maintain.

Derbyshire County Council has failed to consult local experts with disabilities

Peak District MTB have repeatedly asked Derbyshire County Council to consult the experts to understand the needs of people with disabilities. We’ve provided details of Experience Community and Accessible Derbyshire and despite having five years to consult them, neither local disabilities group has been consulted. In fact, it doesn’t appear that any local disability group has been involved. We have heard suggestions that, by using accessibility as justification for the work without involving those experts in this area, that Derbyshire County Council may have misappropriated funds.

What should we conclude from this?

1. The maintenance will fail to benefit the vast majority of people with disabilities.
2. Taxpayers’ money could be much better spent.
3. The true justification for the work on Chapel Gate / Rushup Edge remains unknown.

We will keep feeding back to Derbyshire County Council about the requirements of members of these groups with the hope they can be more considerate to people with disabilities and improve access in the Peak District.

https://naturalresources.wales/media/2523/by-all-reasonable-means-inclusive-access-to-the-outdoors.pdf

Notes:

The Countryside Agency and English Nature’s definition of lower priority routes includes:

• Paths in sites where accessible facilities are not present, or where it is inappropriate and economically unviable to provide such facilities
• Isolated paths where few people are likely to use the route (those in areas of significant heritage value may be an exception to this rule)
• Paths where accessible public transport or parking places are unlikely to be provided
• Paths where the natural site constraints do not allow for fully accessible paths
• Paths in locations with high landscape value, where the visual impact of a fully accessible path cannot be overcome
• Paths in open countryside/wild land
• Paths where the cost of improving and maintaining to the highest access standards cannot be justified

https://naturalresources.wales/media/2523/by-all-reasonable-means-inclusive-access-to-the-outdoors.pdf

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https://apps.derbyshire.gov.uk/applications/right-of-way/details.asp?appID=04223

Being from that area, I would say that this is a welcome addition. This would provide an alternative to the Flash Lane / Butchers Lane descent on the Five Dales Route missing out Sydnope Hill

The other route that we have been asked for a comment is on the moors above Darley Dale

https://apps.derbyshire.gov.uk/applications/right-of-way/details.asp?appID=04294

This route is across fields from the road near the B5057 towards Flash Lane. In this instance there is still a long way to go as we are still at the consultation / comment stage. Peak District MTB will be supporting this claim to upgrade the route.

Our friends at Peak Horsepower and Matlock and District Bridleway Action Group are undertaking a lot work in researching old routes to be upgraded and working with stakeholders to develop concessionary routes which will ultimately benefit horse riders and cyclists. So when you see someone on horse be nice and say hi as we are all in this together

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The Peak District National Trust needs volunteers to help the ranger team plant Sphagnum moss in the Dark Peak moors surrounding the Snake and Derwent valleys.

To date they’ve planted over 65,000 sphagnum plants – but with another 65,000 to go before the end of March 2019 they’d like to enlist the help of mountain bikers.

There are two initial mountain biker volunteer dates:
• 26 February 2019
• 10 March 2019

If you would like to help please email: peakdistrict@nationaltrust.org.uk

There is space for up to 15 volunteers each day. If interest is high, more dates may be added. As you know the terrain is steep and the weather challenging; but it is very rewarding work and the views are spectacular.

To learn more about how the National Trust’s is looking after the Dark Peak visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kinder-edale-and-the-dark-peak/features/high-peak-moors-vision-and-plan-in-the-dark-peak

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For anyone interested in joining us in the future. Whilst we don’t have any dates set at the time of writing, we are intending more Saturdays at the Roaches. And some weekday evenings in the Hope Valley. Keep an eye our Facebook or this page: Find more information and our dig days dates >

More hands make lighter work, so we always need more volunteers to help on our maintenance days, so please join us here >

We also accept donations to aid our work >

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