This mountain bike route is set in the Derbyshire Dales,
an area of rolling hills and deep valleys. Travelling
26miles in an anticlockwise direction from the High Peak
Trail this route takes in a good number of the Dales. As
well as stunning scenery there some great descents and
hard climbs. Keep an eye on the weather though as one
section, mentioned in the text, floods when the River Wye
is high but it hasn't been a problem for me so far.......
1. The ride starts in Sparklow car park on the High Peak
Trail, just off the A515, 6.5miles south east of Buxton
(GR128659). Once you've got everything together leave
the car park and turn right, away from the bridge, and
climb to the junction with the A515. Turn left onto the
A515 and ride for about 1/2mile to the pub on the right.
Turn right on to the double track between the first building
and the pub. Follow this down hill to a crossroad and go
straight on. The track bears slightly right then descends
to a junction with cottages on the left (GR149670).
2. Turn left onto the tarmac, continuing straight on past
the junction on the left signed to Flagg, to the T-junction
with the sub-station on the left. Turn right and after a
an area of rolling hills and deep valleys. Travelling
26miles in an anticlockwise direction from the High Peak
Trail this route takes in a good number of the Dales. As
well as stunning scenery there some great descents and
hard climbs. Keep an eye on the weather though as one
section, mentioned in the text, floods when the River Wye
is high but it hasn't been a problem for me so far.......
1. The ride starts in Sparklow car park on the High Peak
Trail, just off the A515, 6.5miles south east of Buxton
(GR128659). Once you've got everything together leave
the car park and turn right, away from the bridge, and
climb to the junction with the A515. Turn left onto the
A515 and ride for about 1/2mile to the pub on the right.
Turn right on to the double track between the first building
and the pub. Follow this down hill to a crossroad and go
straight on. The track bears slightly right then descends
to a junction with cottages on the left (GR149670).
2. Turn left onto the tarmac, continuing straight on past
the junction on the left signed to Flagg, to the T-junction
with the sub-station on the left. Turn right and after a
short distance turn right again at the crossroad. Climb the lane and just over the crest take the
left at the crossroad with a track (GR158685). Descend to the bottom of the dip and go
through the gate on the right, into a field.
3. Follow the dry stone (DS) wall, on the right, down hill to a gate. Go through the gate, turn
left, and continue descending with the DS wall now on the left. This first Dale (Deep Dale) is a
tricky slow speed descent needing skill and balance to negotiate the rocks from a fallen wall.
left at the crossroad with a track (GR158685). Descend to the bottom of the dip and go
through the gate on the right, into a field.
3. Follow the dry stone (DS) wall, on the right, down hill to a gate. Go through the gate, turn
left, and continue descending with the DS wall now on the left. This first Dale (Deep Dale) is a
tricky slow speed descent needing skill and balance to negotiate the rocks from a fallen wall.
The stream coming to join the trail at points makes it even more fun. Near the
bottom of Deep Dale take the track off to the right, climbing a short way through
some bushes. Follow the track down hill, with the cliffs on the right, turning left
through a tight corner and along an increasingly rocky section to a stream at a
fence. Turn right and follow the coarse of the stream, keeping to the right, and
pick up the vague trail that crosses the field diagonally to a small gate in the
opposite right hand corner (GR171703).
4. Through the gate turn left and follow the A6 up Taddington Dale. Go up
through the bends to a left hand bend, just after a layby/bus stop on the left,
bottom of Deep Dale take the track off to the right, climbing a short way through
some bushes. Follow the track down hill, with the cliffs on the right, turning left
through a tight corner and along an increasingly rocky section to a stream at a
fence. Turn right and follow the coarse of the stream, keeping to the right, and
pick up the vague trail that crosses the field diagonally to a small gate in the
opposite right hand corner (GR171703).
4. Through the gate turn left and follow the A6 up Taddington Dale. Go up
through the bends to a left hand bend, just after a layby/bus stop on the left,
and take the right,
up a tarmac lane,
to Brushfield. Be
careful as the A6
is pretty busy and
the junction is
right on the corner
(GR157714).
up a tarmac lane,
to Brushfield. Be
careful as the A6
is pretty busy and
the junction is
right on the corner
(GR157714).
5. Follow the road up and round a right hand hairpin and on through a left hander to
Brushfield. Go straight on between the lower buildings to a gate. Through the gate take
the double track straight ahead. After a long left hander go straight on through the next
gate and continue climbing straight ahead to a tree with entrances to fields on either
side. Go into the field on the left and follow the DS wall on the right to a gate. Through
the gate follow the track along the ridge, with views over Monsal Dale on the right. The
track soon starts to descend through a steep left/right that leads onto a fast rocky
descent. At the next junction follow the main trail sharply to the left, don't go straight on
down the muddy trail. After a flatter section go straight on through the gate and descend
Brushfield. Go straight on between the lower buildings to a gate. Through the gate take
the double track straight ahead. After a long left hander go straight on through the next
gate and continue climbing straight ahead to a tree with entrances to fields on either
side. Go into the field on the left and follow the DS wall on the right to a gate. Through
the gate follow the track along the ridge, with views over Monsal Dale on the right. The
track soon starts to descend through a steep left/right that leads onto a fast rocky
descent. At the next junction follow the main trail sharply to the left, don't go straight on
down the muddy trail. After a flatter section go straight on through the gate and descend
steeply again on a rocky track. At the bottom go straight on
across the Monsal Trail, under the bridge ahead, and on to the
road junction in Upperdale (GR177721).
6. Turn left and follow the road along Monsal Dale to Cressbrook.
At the junction just after Cressbrook Mill where the lane turns
across the Monsal Trail, under the bridge ahead, and on to the
road junction in Upperdale (GR177721).
6. Turn left and follow the road along Monsal Dale to Cressbrook.
At the junction just after Cressbrook Mill where the lane turns
slightly right go straight on up the steep lane. Climb the lane as it bears left to a crossroad.
Go straight across and continue the climb to the next junction at the top. Go straight on and
around a right hand bend to a church on the right (GR167733). Take the track off to the left,
with the DS wall on the right, and descend to a gate. After the gate follow the grassy trail
ahead to the next gate. Through this gate turn 90deg left and descend the right, then left,
hairpins to a gate that leads on to a tarmac lane and the road at the bottom.
7. Turn right and follow this road for just under 2miles through the stunning scenery of Millers
Dale all the way to the village of the same name at the junction with the main road (GR141734).
Turn right onto the main road then almost immediately take the left up a steep lane. After a
short climb turn left onto the track signposted as the Limestone Way. Follow this track and
climb to a farm. Go straight ahead into the farm and then through the gate at the far left corner
of the yard. Climb the double track going straight on through a couple of gates to the junction
in the track just after a right hand uphill bend (GR138745). Turn left and follow the double
track to a crossroad at a house.
Go straight across and continue the climb to the next junction at the top. Go straight on and
around a right hand bend to a church on the right (GR167733). Take the track off to the left,
with the DS wall on the right, and descend to a gate. After the gate follow the grassy trail
ahead to the next gate. Through this gate turn 90deg left and descend the right, then left,
hairpins to a gate that leads on to a tarmac lane and the road at the bottom.
7. Turn right and follow this road for just under 2miles through the stunning scenery of Millers
Dale all the way to the village of the same name at the junction with the main road (GR141734).
Turn right onto the main road then almost immediately take the left up a steep lane. After a
short climb turn left onto the track signposted as the Limestone Way. Follow this track and
climb to a farm. Go straight ahead into the farm and then through the gate at the far left corner
of the yard. Climb the double track going straight on through a couple of gates to the junction
in the track just after a right hand uphill bend (GR138745). Turn left and follow the double
track to a crossroad at a house.
8. Turn left and descend on tarmac as it drops between Peter Dale and Monks
Dale. Start climbing and, at the end of the right hand bend, take the left
through the gate signposted as a BW (GR129752). Go straight ahead in the
direction of the signpost. At the DS wall turn right and follow it up to the gate in
the top left corner of the field. After the gate climb between the DS walls. The
climb flattens out a bit after a tight right hand bend then goes right/left through
a gate and, continuing between the walls, descends to Wormhill (GR122745).
9. Turn right onto the road then almost directly left into Old Hall Farm. Follow
the concrete paving around the left of the farm house and through a gate into
a field. Follow the track down the right hand side of the fields till there is the
Dale. Start climbing and, at the end of the right hand bend, take the left
through the gate signposted as a BW (GR129752). Go straight ahead in the
direction of the signpost. At the DS wall turn right and follow it up to the gate in
the top left corner of the field. After the gate climb between the DS walls. The
climb flattens out a bit after a tight right hand bend then goes right/left through
a gate and, continuing between the walls, descends to Wormhill (GR122745).
9. Turn right onto the road then almost directly left into Old Hall Farm. Follow
the concrete paving around the left of the farm house and through a gate into
a field. Follow the track down the right hand side of the fields till there is the
choice of two fields ahead. Enter the field on the right and follow the DS wall on the left
to the gate at the bottom of the field. Through the gate ride between the DS walls to the
lane at the houses (GR111746).
10. Turn left onto the tarmac. After the houses follow the lane off to the left, skirting the
woods to a farm. Ride through the farm and at the corner, on the other side, turn off the
lane and through the gate on the left (GR114729). This grassy trail drops into Chee
Dale through some switchbacks eventually passing under a bridge and coming out on
the banks of the River Wye . Follow this trail, with the river on the left, to the bridge at
the cottages, this last section being the bit that can flood. Take a left over the wooden
to the gate at the bottom of the field. Through the gate ride between the DS walls to the
lane at the houses (GR111746).
10. Turn left onto the tarmac. After the houses follow the lane off to the left, skirting the
woods to a farm. Ride through the farm and at the corner, on the other side, turn off the
lane and through the gate on the left (GR114729). This grassy trail drops into Chee
Dale through some switchbacks eventually passing under a bridge and coming out on
the banks of the River Wye . Follow this trail, with the river on the left, to the bridge at
the cottages, this last section being the bit that can flood. Take a left over the wooden
bridge then follow the wide track to the right as
it winds through Wye Dale, under the railway
bridges. At the end of the trail go through the
car park to the A6 (GR103724).
it winds through Wye Dale, under the railway
bridges. At the end of the trail go through the
car park to the A6 (GR103724).
11. Turn right onto the A6 and under the railway bridge. After about 1/2mile at
a left hand bend, with a small bridge over the river and a small building on the
right, take the sharp left up a steep track (GR094725). If you go under a
second railway bridge on the A6 you have gone too far. Climb the trail, going
right/left over the railway, up to King Sterndale. Follow the lane out of the
village as the track turns to tarmac. After two houses on the left take the track
a left hand bend, with a small bridge over the river and a small building on the
right, take the sharp left up a steep track (GR094725). If you go under a
second railway bridge on the A6 you have gone too far. Climb the trail, going
right/left over the railway, up to King Sterndale. Follow the lane out of the
village as the track turns to tarmac. After two houses on the left take the track
straight ahead, were the lane turns right, and on through a gate.
12. Take the gate into the field and go diagonally across to the other side of the field
and the gate in the middle. Through the gate head diagonally across this second
field to the right, in the direction of the power/phone lines. Once through the DS wall
and out by the edge of Deep Dale (a different one) follow the grassy singletrack that
ends into a rocky descent into the Dale. Turn left at the bottom to a gate then left
again after the gate to the main trail (GR096707). Turn right and ride the wide grassy
trail up Horseshoe Dale. There are little rock sections in places to keep the riding
interesting. After a few longish bends go through the gate into the farm.
13. After the gate out of the farm turn left onto the road. Follow the road to a
junction on a left hand bend and continue straight on, off the main road, to
Chelmorton (GR102699). Ride straight across the crossroad then left/right up the
hill, past the road on the left, and onto the next crossroad. Turn right onto the uphill
12. Take the gate into the field and go diagonally across to the other side of the field
and the gate in the middle. Through the gate head diagonally across this second
field to the right, in the direction of the power/phone lines. Once through the DS wall
and out by the edge of Deep Dale (a different one) follow the grassy singletrack that
ends into a rocky descent into the Dale. Turn left at the bottom to a gate then left
again after the gate to the main trail (GR096707). Turn right and ride the wide grassy
trail up Horseshoe Dale. There are little rock sections in places to keep the riding
interesting. After a few longish bends go through the gate into the farm.
13. After the gate out of the farm turn left onto the road. Follow the road to a
junction on a left hand bend and continue straight on, off the main road, to
Chelmorton (GR102699). Ride straight across the crossroad then left/right up the
hill, past the road on the left, and onto the next crossroad. Turn right onto the uphill
double track and after about 1mile go
straight on at the junction with the lane
and onto the A515 (GR113676).
14. Go over the main road and turn
right on the Pennine Bridleway. Follow
the fence on the right and where it
finishes then turn left and through the
gate. Descend on the trail to the
bottom of the dip, turning left through
the gate onto the High Peak Trail .
straight on at the junction with the lane
and onto the A515 (GR113676).
14. Go over the main road and turn
right on the Pennine Bridleway. Follow
the fence on the right and where it
finishes then turn left and through the
gate. Descend on the trail to the
bottom of the dip, turning left through
the gate onto the High Peak Trail .
Follow this for a 1.5mile gentle down hill spin all the way back to the car park and the finish.
All of this route can be plotted on OS Landranger 119. This ride has taken me about 3 - 3.5hrs in good conditions but
as can be seen it was a bit snowy when I finally got round to sorting out this route guide and it took me and Paul 6hrs.
There is nowhere I can think of on the way round to fuel up so make sure you take enough for the day.
All of this route can be plotted on OS Landranger 119. This ride has taken me about 3 - 3.5hrs in good conditions but
as can be seen it was a bit snowy when I finally got round to sorting out this route guide and it took me and Paul 6hrs.
There is nowhere I can think of on the way round to fuel up so make sure you take enough for the day.
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