boulders go all the way down. If that is not your thing you should turn left at the gated
junction at the start of this paragraph and retrace your wheel tracks back to Rowland and
junction at the start of this paragraph and retrace your wheel tracks back to Rowland and
This is an 18.6mile mountain bike route that starts in
Bakewell and travels through the rolling hills of the
White Peaks to Stoney Middleton and back. As well as
some great riding there are some excellent views,
especially on the trails on Longstone Edge.
1. Start from the old railway station car park on the
Monsal trail (GR222690). Ride away from the station
building and turn left on to the road at the exit of the car
park. At the crossroad junction a little further on turn
left. Climb the lane and cross the bridge over the
Monsal trail. Stay on the lane and climb past a BW on
the right then the golf course on the left. After a right
hand hairpin follow the lane as it bears left to a junction
with some tracks on the right, by the farm on the left
(GR228694).
2. Continue straight on along the lane and go over the
crest of the hill. Descend into the trees and go past a
gated junction on the right. Keep straight on at the next
gated junction as the lane steepens. At following
junction take the wide dirt track off to the right
(GR235697). Descend this fast, loose track to where it
becomes tarmac just before reaching Edensor. On
reaching the tarmac go straight on into the village. At
the far side of the village turn left at the forked junction
then go through the white gate and over the cattle grid
to the junction with the main road (GR251700).
3. Turn left and follow the main road over the next
cattle grid then past a lane to the farm on the left. The
Bakewell and travels through the rolling hills of the
White Peaks to Stoney Middleton and back. As well as
some great riding there are some excellent views,
especially on the trails on Longstone Edge.
1. Start from the old railway station car park on the
Monsal trail (GR222690). Ride away from the station
building and turn left on to the road at the exit of the car
park. At the crossroad junction a little further on turn
left. Climb the lane and cross the bridge over the
Monsal trail. Stay on the lane and climb past a BW on
the right then the golf course on the left. After a right
hand hairpin follow the lane as it bears left to a junction
with some tracks on the right, by the farm on the left
(GR228694).
2. Continue straight on along the lane and go over the
crest of the hill. Descend into the trees and go past a
gated junction on the right. Keep straight on at the next
gated junction as the lane steepens. At following
junction take the wide dirt track off to the right
(GR235697). Descend this fast, loose track to where it
becomes tarmac just before reaching Edensor. On
reaching the tarmac go straight on into the village. At
the far side of the village turn left at the forked junction
then go through the white gate and over the cattle grid
to the junction with the main road (GR251700).
3. Turn left and follow the main road over the next
cattle grid then past a lane to the farm on the left. The
main road then climbs through a few bends to a junction (GR247707). Turn left on the
B6048 to Pilsley. At Pilsley, the next village, turn right at the staggered crossroad. Go to
the far end of the lane to the junction in front of the pub. Turn left and climb to the crest
at the end of the houses. The tarmac then becomes a dirt track that descends a short
B6048 to Pilsley. At Pilsley, the next village, turn right at the staggered crossroad. Go to
the far end of the lane to the junction in front of the pub. Turn left and climb to the crest
at the end of the houses. The tarmac then becomes a dirt track that descends a short
way to a junction (GR238710). Turn right and
follow the double track for a short but fun
descent. At the bottom where the track flattens
off follow the muddy ruts to the gate at the end.
It can be quite muddy here but I have still been
able to ride these ruts in the middle of a wet
winter.
4. Go through the gate and turn right onto the
main road. A short distance later turn left and
go through the gate that leads on to a rutted,
follow the double track for a short but fun
descent. At the bottom where the track flattens
off follow the muddy ruts to the gate at the end.
It can be quite muddy here but I have still been
able to ride these ruts in the middle of a wet
winter.
4. Go through the gate and turn right onto the
main road. A short distance later turn left and
go through the gate that leads on to a rutted,
grassy track (GR235714). At the next junction, near the building on the left, take the
right hand track through the gate and into the trees. After a while drop down through a
couple of bends to a stream and use the ford or the stone crossing on the left. After the
stream is a challenging rocky climb that leads to a gate at the top. After the gate follow
the muddy track to a farm. Go straight on through the gate to the left of the farm building
that leads to a junction with the main road in Hassop (GR223721).
5. Turn right on the road and climb through a left hand bend to the next junction at the
Catholic Church. Turn right, towards Great Longstone and Rowland, and go past the
entrance to the Hassop Hall Hotel. Climb the lane following the line of the wall on the left
that encloses the grounds of Hassop Hall. The lane eventually flattens off and comes to
a junction at the far end of the wall (GR213721). Turn right and follow the dead end lane
to Rowland. Climb the lane out the far side of the village and past the water storage
facility where the tarmac soon gives way to limestone double track. Go past the
restricted byway on the left to a junction with a wide track on the left, at a gate. Go
right hand track through the gate and into the trees. After a while drop down through a
couple of bends to a stream and use the ford or the stone crossing on the left. After the
stream is a challenging rocky climb that leads to a gate at the top. After the gate follow
the muddy track to a farm. Go straight on through the gate to the left of the farm building
that leads to a junction with the main road in Hassop (GR223721).
5. Turn right on the road and climb through a left hand bend to the next junction at the
Catholic Church. Turn right, towards Great Longstone and Rowland, and go past the
entrance to the Hassop Hall Hotel. Climb the lane following the line of the wall on the left
that encloses the grounds of Hassop Hall. The lane eventually flattens off and comes to
a junction at the far end of the wall (GR213721). Turn right and follow the dead end lane
to Rowland. Climb the lane out the far side of the village and past the water storage
facility where the tarmac soon gives way to limestone double track. Go past the
restricted byway on the left to a junction with a wide track on the left, at a gate. Go
other end (GR225736). Turn left and
climb the wide dirt track. At the
junction with a gated BW on the right,
at the start of the quarry, go straight
climb the wide dirt track. At the
junction with a gated BW on the right,
at the start of the quarry, go straight
on where the wide dirt track kicks up for a short, steep climb. Keep the quarry
on the right and follow the track over a crest and bear left to a junction. Bear
right to stay on the wide track and stay by the edge of the quarry. Climb over
the next crest then descend through a right hand bend that leads to a left hand
bend and gated track leading into the fields on the right (GR205732).
7. Go through the gate on the right then turn immediately left through the gate
on the right and follow the track over a crest and bear left to a junction. Bear
right to stay on the wide track and stay by the edge of the quarry. Climb over
the next crest then descend through a right hand bend that leads to a left hand
bend and gated track leading into the fields on the right (GR205732).
7. Go through the gate on the right then turn immediately left through the gate
straight on through the gate and past the grassy double track on the right to
climb a steeper section of the limestone trail to a junction at the top
(GR222732).
6. Go straight on and follow the wide trail as it bears gently to the left and
comes to a junction next to the protected ‘Double Dyke’ on the left. Take the
left hand track and follow it, ignoring any tracks on the right, to a junction at the
climb a steeper section of the limestone trail to a junction at the top
(GR222732).
6. Go straight on and follow the wide trail as it bears gently to the left and
comes to a junction next to the protected ‘Double Dyke’ on the left. Take the
left hand track and follow it, ignoring any tracks on the right, to a junction at the
in the drystone wall. After the gate turn right and follow the singletrack along the line of
the wall over the crest of the hill. Keep following the wall and descend through a couple
of gates to a gated junction at the bottom. Go straight on through the gate and descend
a short way to a small metal gate (GR207742).
8. After this gate and turn right to ride past the pools on the left to a gate leading into
the deep cut of Rough Side. Go though the gap to the left of the gate for a great
descent with a loose, rocky, water eroded channel that weaves across the track. In wet
weather this channel can be a stream. After bearing left it is always wet where a stream
crosses the track. The descent eventually gives way to tarmac. Follow the lane all the
way to the junction with the main road at the bottom, on the outskirts of Stoney Middleton
(GR235751).
9. Turn left on the A623 and ride into Stoney Middleton, past the houses on the left.
After these houses go past 40mph then the 30mph signs to the centre of the village. At
the next group of buildings, just after the ‘30’ signs, turn left up the very steep lane
(GR231754). Don’t start too fast on this climb, it goes on for a while. Go straight up
between the houses. Once the village has ended the gradient decreases, but the climb
still continues for a while. After the crest the lane comes to a four-way junction on a right
hand bend (GR212751).
the wall over the crest of the hill. Keep following the wall and descend through a couple
of gates to a gated junction at the bottom. Go straight on through the gate and descend
a short way to a small metal gate (GR207742).
8. After this gate and turn right to ride past the pools on the left to a gate leading into
the deep cut of Rough Side. Go though the gap to the left of the gate for a great
descent with a loose, rocky, water eroded channel that weaves across the track. In wet
weather this channel can be a stream. After bearing left it is always wet where a stream
crosses the track. The descent eventually gives way to tarmac. Follow the lane all the
way to the junction with the main road at the bottom, on the outskirts of Stoney Middleton
(GR235751).
9. Turn left on the A623 and ride into Stoney Middleton, past the houses on the left.
After these houses go past 40mph then the 30mph signs to the centre of the village. At
the next group of buildings, just after the ‘30’ signs, turn left up the very steep lane
(GR231754). Don’t start too fast on this climb, it goes on for a while. Go straight up
between the houses. Once the village has ended the gradient decreases, but the climb
still continues for a while. After the crest the lane comes to a four-way junction on a right
hand bend (GR212751).
10. Turn left and climb the wide dirt track. Go past a high
stone wall on the right then follow the wide track as it bears
right then left and comes to a rutted double track between
some drystone walls. Descend this track to the previously
visited junction at the bottom (GR207742). Go straight
across the junction and through the small metal gate to the
right of the wide track. Climb to the junction just after and
turn left through the gate. Cross the wide dirt track then
climb the rutted grassy track on the other side (You could
simply climb the wide dirt track but i nthe wet it can be a
stone wall on the right then follow the wide track as it bears
right then left and comes to a rutted double track between
some drystone walls. Descend this track to the previously
visited junction at the bottom (GR207742). Go straight
across the junction and through the small metal gate to the
right of the wide track. Climb to the junction just after and
turn left through the gate. Cross the wide dirt track then
climb the rutted grassy track on the other side (You could
simply climb the wide dirt track but i nthe wet it can be a
bit claggy). Follow the ruts all the way to the top then bear right and descend to a gate.
Go through the gate and past the entrance to the quarry on the right, bearing slightly left
to the gated junction (GR218736).
Go through the gate and past the entrance to the quarry on the right, bearing slightly left
to the gated junction (GR218736).
11. Go through the gate and turn right to climb
the previously ridden wide dirt track, keeping the
quarry on the right. After the crest follow the
track left to a junction, where the wide track turns
off to right (GR214735). Take the track on the
left and descend the trail covered in big, loose
boulders between the drystone walls. Keep
going straight on down to the junction at the
bottom (GR217728). This trail is very technical
and real challenge to clean as the loose
Turn left and follow the Monsal for a few miles. Go past a small industrial estate on the
right, on the outskirts of Bakewell, to the old station building is at the end of the industrial
units. Turn right and go down the side of the station to reach the end of the ride at the
car park.
right, on the outskirts of Bakewell, to the old station building is at the end of the industrial
units. Turn right and go down the side of the station to reach the end of the ride at the
car park.
pick up the return route there.
12. At the junction turn right and descend into
Rowland. After the village follow the lane to the
junction at the other end (GR213721). Turn
right and follow the lane as it bears left to the
next junction. Take the lane on the left and
follow it all the way down to junction at the
bridge. Just before reaching the junction take
the thin track off to the left that leads to the top
of the bridge and the Monsal trail (GR206710).
12. At the junction turn right and descend into
Rowland. After the village follow the lane to the
junction at the other end (GR213721). Turn
right and follow the lane as it bears left to the
next junction. Take the lane on the left and
follow it all the way down to junction at the
bridge. Just before reaching the junction take
the thin track off to the left that leads to the top
of the bridge and the Monsal trail (GR206710).
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