The Peak District has a wealth of quiet minor roads suitable for cycle touring. There is also plenty of off-road cycling in the Peak District for both inexperienced and experienced mountain bikers. You can find fantastic singletrack, bridleways and BOATs (Byways Open to All Traffic) (see mountain biking page) in both the White and Dark Peak. Off-road, some of the routes may now not be as I have described. Some I know have been ‘sanitised’ in an effort to repair damage caused by 4×4 vehicles and motocross bikes.
Disclaimer – probably not really necessary but just in case …
These routes are suggestions only and should not be used in this form for navigation. It is up to your party to decide whether a route is suitable or not and to make sure that you are properly equipped. Navigation is also the responsibility of your party. We cannot accept any liability for injuries or other mishaps. Please respect wildlife, walkers and horses.
Not cycling in the Peak District !!
Generally, the BOATs are damaged by the off-road motorists enjoying the peace, quiet and fresh air of the countryside. Some off-road motorists also enjoy riding/driving on bridleways. I have even been intimidated by scramble bikers on footpaths as well. In some places they are virtually impassable for horses, walkers and cyclists during the winter months. For example, the Limestone way just north of Litton Mill where a deep puddle had been created by the 4×4 drivers and motocross bikers. This took up the whole width and was impassable for a fell runner, who had to cross the wall into the adjacent field to pass the 2-foot deep water.
Accommodation for cyclists in the Peak District
Booking is made via the secure booking.com online system, I don’t see any of your personal or financial details.
Cycling in the Peak District – Bike Hire
There are several Peak District cycle hire centres for those who are unable to bring their bikes. These hire centres cater for all abilities. To find your accommodation, we suggest booking.com who have a wide range of cottages, apartments, B&Bs and hotels available. You can find their Peak District page here >>
Cycling in the Peak District – Suggested Books and Guides
The Peak District (AA 40 Pub Walks & Cycle Rides)
Cycling in the Peak District: Off Road Trails and Quiet Lanes
Mountain Bike Guide: Quality Routes in the Peak District and Derbyshire
More Cycling Without Traffic: The Midlands and Peak District
Off Beat Cycling and Mountain Biking in the Peak District (Paperback)
Mountain Bike Guide – Derbyshire and the Peak District
The routes below are just outlines and should be OK whatever bike you are using. Make sure you study them on a map before following them and satisfy yourself that the members of your party are capable of handling any potential hazards. For suggestions for mtb (mountain bike) routes, please see the separate Peak District mountain biking page.
Bakewell
Suggestion 1.
Follow the Monsal trail past the Country Bookstore, leave the trail and go through Great Longstone and on to Monsal Head. From Monsal Head you can return to Bakewell via Ashford in the Water. You can turn left onto the A6020 and return via Hassop or right which brings you onto the A6. At Ashford, it is worth spending a little time exploring the village which has an interesting church and several wells. For a longer route, cross the A6 at Ashford, climb up through Sheldon and back into Bakewell via Lady Manners’ School.
Suggestion 2.
From Bakewell, cycle up to Lady Manners’ School and follow the road into Over Haddon. At Over Haddon, take the road overlooking Lathkill Dale to Monyash. Turn left in the centre of the village, cross the busy A515 to pick up the High Peak trail at Parsley Hay. Come off the trail at Longcliffe and come back on yourself to reach Bakewell via Elton, Dale End, Youlgrave, crossing the River Lathkill at Conksbury Bridge.
Baslow
Baslow roads can be quite busy but like Bakewell and Hathersage, it is a good hub for cycling in the Peak District.
Southern loop.
From the car park at Baslow, cycle through Chatsworth to Rowley. At Two Dales, turn left up Sydnope Hill. At the junction with the A632, go left for a short way to Slatepit Dale, where you can go left to follow a minor road to Holymoorside. From there, head west and then take Syda Lane to reach the Baslow to Chesterfield road. Either take the A619 back to Baslow or cross it to follow minor roads to the Sheffield road for the whizz back to Baslow.
Northern loop.
From the car park at Baslow, cross the old bridge and turn left. Just before you meet the Baslow to Chatsworth road, turn right and cycle to Hassop. Turn left to follow the main road for a short way then turn right towards Great Longstone. Take Moor road to climb up to Longstone Edge. Turn right into Thunderpit Lane and pass the fluorspar works. The road can be a bit rough along here.
Eventually, you drop into Stoney Middleton. Follow the road to Calver. Just before the lights, turn left and left again. After about 100 yards, turn right towards Froggatt. In Froggatt, take the road on the right that leads to Curbar and shoot up to Curbar gap (busy in high season). Continue past the Curbar Gap car park and return to Baslow down the A621.
Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site
This describes an outline road cycling itinerary on which you can visit the key sites of this UNESCO declared World Heritage site. There is a little riding on busy roada and surfaced cycles track but it mainly follows minor roads to take you from close to the centre of Derby to Matlock Bath via Darley Abbey, Milford, Belper and Cromford. Click here for the cycling intinerary …
Hathersage
Hathersage can get quite busy in high season. Climb out of Hathersage on the Sheffield road and turn off this to go past Higgar Tor. Shortly after Higgar, double back down towards the main car park at Stanage Edge. Turn right at the parking and right again a few hundred yards furher down the fast descent. This takes you past past the Stanage Plantation car park, past Bamford Edge and down to Yorkshire Bridge. Cross the main road and follow the back roads to Hope. From Hope, cut across to Bradwell, on to Great Hucklow (back roads parallel the main road), through to Abney and down to Leadmill. From there, it is just a short distance back to Hathersage.
Cycling in the Peak District – Hope and Edale Valleys
Starting from Hathersage, head out to Castleton and up through Winnats pass. Turn right to climb to the col of Mam Nick by Mam Tor. Then enjoy the whizz to Edale. Follow the Edale Valley and rejoin the main road to Hathersage at Hope.
Family cycling in the Peak District
1. The High Peak Trail
Probably the most popular route for family-friendly cycling in the Peak District. It is essentially traffic-free but there are a few roads to cross. The A515 is the busiest but isn’t usually a problem, even in high season.
There are plenty of places to join the trail which is a dismantled railway. I have added a little information on the history on the the High Peak Trail page. You can start your bike ride at the Cromford canal junction (3/4 mile incline to get you warmed up!!) and go almost to Buxton. For a flatter start, you could go from Middleton Top which misses out the main climbs or you can start at the Buxton end. Parsley Hay and Friden are also popular starting points.
2. The Tissington Trail
Another dismantled railway running from Ashbourne to join the High Peak trail south of Parsley Hay. I always recommend starting at Ashbourne since it is downhill on the way back! There is just one annoying bit at the Ashbourne end wher you have to get off your bike for a short way. There are no road crossings like on the High Peak cycle trail.It is worth a stop at Tissington to explore this small but interesting village. You get great views from the northern section.
Cycling the double …
You could make a longer circular ride by combining both cycle trails. Start at Ashbourne, then head SE on the High Peak trail from Parsley Hay. Leave the High Peak Trail at Middleton Top or even Black rocks and return to Ashbourne via the roads. One or two of these can be busy, even out of season so choose your route carefully.
3. Manifold Way (Manifold Track)
This runs from Waterhouses to Hulme End (or vice-versa of course!) and passes through the valleys of the river Hamps and Manifold. It involves off road trail and minor road cycling. The Manifold Track passes the Thor’s Cave and the Ecton Copper mine, following the track bed of the former narrow gauge Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway. Follow the link for more information about the Manifold Way and Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway.
High Peak trail and Carsington reservoir.
OK so this is not actually in the Peak District but it is close!
Start at Middleton Top near to Middleton-by-Wirksworth. Turn left along the trail and follow this for about 3.5 miles. Leave the trail and turn left along the road. At a right hand bend, pick up a bridleway. There is some grass riding and beware of the gates. These are usually churned up by cattle and rather bumpy with exposed rocks. This takes you past Rainster rocks to Pasture lane. Descend through Bradbourne to the main road.
Turn left along the road and take an obvious steep and stony track uphill round Wigber Low and Standlow farm to the Wirksworth road. From this, take a right turn to Carsington reservoir, cross the dam and join the track that skirts the reservoir on its Eastern side. This is surprisingly hard work! Cross the main road and take the short track into Hopton. Take the road on the right just after leaving the village and grind your way back uphill. Turn right at the crossroads and continue uphill to the skyline where you will find a track which rejoins the High Peak Trail.
Turn left along the trail back to Middleton Top. If you are feeling fit, you could start at the High Peak Junction instead of Middleton Top (big climb x 2 to get to Middleton Top). There are no serious difficulties with this route. The stony uphill track after Bradbourne can be easily walked if necessary. Perhaps not suitable for a complete novice.
Peak District Cycling – Castleton, Mam Tor, Edale and Cave Dale.
Park on the old main road just outside of Castleton. Take the main road past Treak Cliff Cavern and follow it through the area where the landslips have destroyed it up to the Blue John Cavern. A bit of a grind but great views of the Hope Valley.
Turn right up the main road and turn up the Edale road a few hundred metres further uphill on the right. Take the gate on the left befor the summit to begin the first of the off road sections. This takes you to Rushup Edge, the bridleway takes a gate on the left before the edge itself is reached. The climb eventually eases off and even starts to head down hill.
You eventually reach a gate in the wall at the point that the footpath and bridleway combine. Follow this downhill (rocky in places) to an obvious meeting of tracks. Take the right hand track back towards the Edale valley and enjoy the rocky and technical downhill section to rejoin the road above Edale. Continue past Edale and take a minor road to Back Tor Farm just before the railway crosses the road. The bridleway then climbs up to Hollins Cross. Award yourself a gold star if you manage to ride the whole way up!
At Hollins Cross follow the ‘M1’ towards Mam Tor, eventually (and thankfully) the bridleway and pedestrian motorway part company, back onto decent off road terrain, albeit uphill. A shortish downhill and you reach the Edale road. Turn left and continue up to the ‘Col de Mam Tor’ then overtake all of the cars that went past you on the main road. If you manage to stop in time, turn left at the main road and head off in the direction of Winnats Pass. Ignore the turn to Winnats pass and follow the main road for a few hundred yards.
Take the track on the left through a metal gate towards the caravan site, follow this to just after where it turns sharply left. The bridleway to one of the many technical and awesome Peak District descents leaves the track 50 metres further on (left). It seems pretty tame at first but as you pass through a narrow gate in sight of Peveril Castle, the track suddenly steepens. I have to confess that I have to carry the bike at various points after this. Bold riders with good technical skills will ride the whole way to Castleton. Find your own way back to the car from here! Only about 14 miles but excellent value.
Stoney Middleton and Eyam.
Park at the big layby at the Manchester end of Stoney. Cycle back into the village and turn left opposite the Moon pub. Turn immediately sharp left and steeply upwards, past a farm and along a bridleway, initially across a field then walled into Eyam. Take the road past Mompesson’s Well, turning left up the limestone track to the top of Sir William Hill. Collapse in a sweaty heap.
Enjoy the view and then the downhill, taking the right hand turn down a track to Nether Bretton and Bretton a few yards after joining a minor road. There is an easy line or a rocky line down this track. Turn right at the pub and descend steeply (and swiftly if you dare) into Foolow, turn left then first right opposite the pub, followed by a right fork to bring you to the A623. Turn right and after a short distance turn left up a minor road. Geologists note the exposure of a reef knoll in the small roadside quarry. Ignore the first left, keep going uphill until you come to a fork, the left hand branch of which is a wide quarry road.
It is more or less down hill from here. Follow it round a settling pool from the mineral works, through Rough Side and Coombs Dale back to the A623. Turn left back through Stoney and to your starting point. This route would probably be suitable for inexperienced riders, although it is rocky in places. If you are not in a hurry it is not too bad technically. The ascent to the top of William Hill from Eyam is strenuous and the loose surface needs care if you are not used to riding such surfaces. Easily walked if necessary.
Accommodation for cyclists in the Peak District
Booking is made via the secure booking.com online system, I don’t see any of your personal or financial details.