3. The lane comes out at a junction with the cottages straight ahead
(GR024874). Turn right then directly left and continue climbing past the right
hand end of the cottages. Following the tarmac, climb straight ahead until it ends
just after a house on the outside of a right hand bend. Bearing left, with the
drystone wall on the right, climb up to the top of Lantern Pike on the loose
gritstone track going through one gate on the way. Over the crest descend to a
(GR024874). Turn right then directly left and continue climbing past the right
hand end of the cottages. Following the tarmac, climb straight ahead until it ends
just after a house on the outside of a right hand bend. Bearing left, with the
drystone wall on the right, climb up to the top of Lantern Pike on the loose
gritstone track going through one gate on the way. Over the crest descend to a
gate and through into the field. Follow the
track that initially turns square left then
and takes a straight line to the gate in the
far corner of the field (GR025889).
track that initially turns square left then
and takes a straight line to the gate in the
far corner of the field (GR025889).
4. Through the gate turn left onto the road and follow it round as it bears right.
At the next junction continue straight on and follow the road to the farm
(GR024896). Turn right through the farm and past the right hand side of the
buildings. The road comes to a junction, go straight across over the cattle grid.
The road goes down hill through a few bends, across a stream at the bottom,
then up a short climb to the A624 (GR033891).
At the next junction continue straight on and follow the road to the farm
(GR024896). Turn right through the farm and past the right hand side of the
buildings. The road comes to a junction, go straight across over the cattle grid.
The road goes down hill through a few bends, across a stream at the bottom,
then up a short climb to the A624 (GR033891).
drystone wall. Go through the gap in the wall straight ahead then descend into the
next field finally climbing to the gate in the opposite right hand corner (GR066872).
Turn right through the gate and climb the track between the drystone walls. The track
opens out then eventually flattens off and turns right to a gate. After the gate take the
track which drops away to the left and eventually comes to a fork. Take the less
distinct boggy track to the right, not the one which climbs left. Very soon firm
singletrack appears that bears left and comes to a gate (GR066861).
8. Turn left at the gate and climb the wide rocky track which very soon comes to
another gate. What follows is a very difficult climb (mainly the second half) to Edale
Cross. I have not cleaned all of this climb although never in one go. It'll keep me
coming back as it'll be a while till I have the energy to do it without stopping. At the
summit is a short descent to the gate at the top of Jacobs Ladder (GR081861).
next field finally climbing to the gate in the opposite right hand corner (GR066872).
Turn right through the gate and climb the track between the drystone walls. The track
opens out then eventually flattens off and turns right to a gate. After the gate take the
track which drops away to the left and eventually comes to a fork. Take the less
distinct boggy track to the right, not the one which climbs left. Very soon firm
singletrack appears that bears left and comes to a gate (GR066861).
8. Turn left at the gate and climb the wide rocky track which very soon comes to
another gate. What follows is a very difficult climb (mainly the second half) to Edale
Cross. I have not cleaned all of this climb although never in one go. It'll keep me
coming back as it'll be a while till I have the energy to do it without stopping. At the
summit is a short descent to the gate at the top of Jacobs Ladder (GR081861).
9. Time to drop your saddle if you need to. Go straight on at the gate and start
the descent. Loose rocks, slabs, very steep cobbles, steps and more rocks are
the order of the day. Half way down on a tight right hand corner go through the
gate and not the footpath off to the left. Negotiate the criss-crossing rutted
descent, trying to miss the odd rock, and through a tight left hander. The trail
becomes very rocky and bumpy all the way to the gate and the stream at the
bottom. Always a good place to massage pumped up forearms.
10. Go over the stone bridge and through the first gate of about three along the
track, this ends at some buildings and the final gate. Go straight ahead on the
the descent. Loose rocks, slabs, very steep cobbles, steps and more rocks are
the order of the day. Half way down on a tight right hand corner go through the
gate and not the footpath off to the left. Negotiate the criss-crossing rutted
descent, trying to miss the odd rock, and through a tight left hander. The trail
becomes very rocky and bumpy all the way to the gate and the stream at the
bottom. Always a good place to massage pumped up forearms.
10. Go over the stone bridge and through the first gate of about three along the
track, this ends at some buildings and the final gate. Go straight ahead on the
tarmac, through the next gate, then descend left/right over a bridge and up a
short climb with a telephone box on the right at the top (GR103853). On the left
is Upper Booth Farm and a tea and cake stop (I recommend the lemon drizzle
cake, if it's open). Once refreshments are over continue down the road through
a number of corners to a straight downhill section that passes a car park, under
the bridge and finally comes out at a T-junction (GR113847).
11. Turn right and climb a long straight section to a left hand corner. On the
outside of the corner go through the gate and onto the bottom of Chapel Gate
BW (GR113843). The track, with the distinctive broken ribbon of tarmac in its
center, begins to climb gradually. This doesn't last very long and after a couple
short climb with a telephone box on the right at the top (GR103853). On the left
is Upper Booth Farm and a tea and cake stop (I recommend the lemon drizzle
cake, if it's open). Once refreshments are over continue down the road through
a number of corners to a straight downhill section that passes a car park, under
the bridge and finally comes out at a T-junction (GR113847).
11. Turn right and climb a long straight section to a left hand corner. On the
outside of the corner go through the gate and onto the bottom of Chapel Gate
BW (GR113843). The track, with the distinctive broken ribbon of tarmac in its
center, begins to climb gradually. This doesn't last very long and after a couple
of gates it steepens greatly. There is a gate half way up the steep climb, below
which I have still got to try and clean although I did clean the second section last
time I rode it (after a many attempts). It is all doable, I've just never strung it
together in one go. At the top the track bears left and flattens out. Follow it to
the junction with the post in the middle (GR099829).
12. Turn right down Rushup Edge on the slabs to the gate. Through the gate
continue descending on a great track, filled with big loose rocks and big slab
steps, to the road. Keeping the road on the left go down the track between the
fences. Turn right and drop away from the next gate at the start of a wide track
(GR092825). Descend the rocky track to a tight left hand corner where it climbs
which I have still got to try and clean although I did clean the second section last
time I rode it (after a many attempts). It is all doable, I've just never strung it
together in one go. At the top the track bears left and flattens out. Follow it to
the junction with the post in the middle (GR099829).
12. Turn right down Rushup Edge on the slabs to the gate. Through the gate
continue descending on a great track, filled with big loose rocks and big slab
steps, to the road. Keeping the road on the left go down the track between the
fences. Turn right and drop away from the next gate at the start of a wide track
(GR092825). Descend the rocky track to a tight left hand corner where it climbs
14. Through the small gate on the right follow the track between the drystone wall and
fence. The track leads to a small incline and with a gate at the top. Through the gate
descend off to the left down the rutted grassy singletrack that eventually opens out into
rocky double track with a few tight corners. A road comes into view on the right hand side
and the track comes to a fork. Take the high track straight on and don't descend right to
the road.
15. When the track comes out onto the road
follow it round the corner and at the white marker
stone climb the BW off to the left (GR053862).
The track comes out at a gate in a drystone wall
by the edge of some woods. Through the gate
descend the track straight ahead for a sweet bit of
singletrack. The track generally bears left and
15. When the track comes out onto the road
follow it round the corner and at the white marker
stone climb the BW off to the left (GR053862).
The track comes out at a gate in a drystone wall
by the edge of some woods. Through the gate
descend the track straight ahead for a sweet bit of
singletrack. The track generally bears left and
after about 2/3 of a mile, after a gate, comes out onto a road by a stream
(GR045866). Follow the road straight on to the main junction at the end in
Hayfield and turn right. The George Hotel soon comes up on the left that I have
(GR045866). Follow the road straight on to the main junction at the end in
Hayfield and turn right. The George Hotel soon comes up on the left that I have
always found to do a good pint. After supping, continue down the road and turn left directly in front of the church. Cross
the pedestrian crossing over to the car park and the finish. All of this route can be plotted on OS Landranger 110.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Hayfield Loop (alternative)
Ladybower Loop
Glossop - Cut Gate
the pedestrian crossing over to the car park and the finish. All of this route can be plotted on OS Landranger 110.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Hayfield Loop (alternative)
Ladybower Loop
Glossop - Cut Gate
This is a 22mile mountain bike route on the
western edge of the Dark Peaks. It's a
tough ride with challenging climbs and
great descents, including Jacobs Ladder.
1. Start from the Visitor Center car park in
Hayfield (GR035869). From the car park
turn left, away from the center of Hayfield,
and follow the Sett Valley Trail through the
trees. After roughly 1mile follow the track
round a tight left/right 'S'bend to a gate
onto a road. Turn right and follow the road
over a stone bridge.
2. Just over the bridge turn right up a
steep cobbled road at the end of a line of
houses (GR020869). The cobbles quickly
give way to a loose track, between
drystone walls, which reduces in width as
height is gained. This track finishes in a
gate on a tarmac hairpin. Continue
climbing on the left hand lane.
western edge of the Dark Peaks. It's a
tough ride with challenging climbs and
great descents, including Jacobs Ladder.
1. Start from the Visitor Center car park in
Hayfield (GR035869). From the car park
turn left, away from the center of Hayfield,
and follow the Sett Valley Trail through the
trees. After roughly 1mile follow the track
round a tight left/right 'S'bend to a gate
onto a road. Turn right and follow the road
over a stone bridge.
2. Just over the bridge turn right up a
steep cobbled road at the end of a line of
houses (GR020869). The cobbles quickly
give way to a loose track, between
drystone walls, which reduces in width as
height is gained. This track finishes in a
gate on a tarmac hairpin. Continue
climbing on the left hand lane.
the top follow the trail to a wooden bridge that leads on to a junction (GR049883).
6. Turn square left then take the track off to the right following the line of the hill. Within
about 20m turn right down the singletrack signposted as a BW. The track descends round
to the left then steepens. At the triangular junction drop down to the right through the gap
in the drystone wall. The track widens but is still loose and rocky. After a short while the
track finishes in a drystone wall where there is a good view over Kinder Reservoir. Turn
right and follow the cobbled path down to the gate at the road (GR053880). Watch out for
pedestrians, as this is quite a popular path.
7. Follow the road straight ahead to a big green gate. Turn left over a bridge and climb up
the road, past the dead end sign and between the houses. Where the BW crosses the road
turn right through the gate (GR054878). Climb the rocky track as it snakes its way up the
field till in flattens out by the woods. Follow the BW sign to the right up the deeply rutted
double track. Where the track splits turn left and ride along the contour of the hill by the
6. Turn square left then take the track off to the right following the line of the hill. Within
about 20m turn right down the singletrack signposted as a BW. The track descends round
to the left then steepens. At the triangular junction drop down to the right through the gap
in the drystone wall. The track widens but is still loose and rocky. After a short while the
track finishes in a drystone wall where there is a good view over Kinder Reservoir. Turn
right and follow the cobbled path down to the gate at the road (GR053880). Watch out for
pedestrians, as this is quite a popular path.
7. Follow the road straight ahead to a big green gate. Turn left over a bridge and climb up
the road, past the dead end sign and between the houses. Where the BW crosses the road
turn right through the gate (GR054878). Climb the rocky track as it snakes its way up the
field till in flattens out by the woods. Follow the BW sign to the right up the deeply rutted
double track. Where the track splits turn left and ride along the contour of the hill by the
5. Turn left and follow the road to a left hand bend with a building on the inside, after the trees. Cross over the road and
go through the gate on the outside of the bend (GR035894). Be careful as it is quite a busy road and the building
obscures the view of anything coming. After the gate go straight on along the double track for about 20m then drop down
to the right into Hollingworth Clough and choose whether to cross the stream by the bridge or the ford. Once past the
stream there is a challenging loose rocky singletrack climb to try and clean. This goes on for a little under 1mile until the
track drops away left to another stream crossing. There is then a short carry up some stone steps. Back on the bike at
for a short distance and the surface of the track turns into hardpack. The track then flattens out for a while, drops over a
stream crossing then after passing through a few gates starts descending on a fast track. Be careful as there are some
really nice rock steps just after a slight left hand bend about 1/3rd of the way down that you can take air into. The track
then bears to the right and drops into Roych Clough (GR077837).
13. Climb away from Roych Clough following the track as it winds its way up the hill. A long right hand bend leads to a
less severe section of the climb. Continue along the track going straight on through all of the gates to the top of South
Head, negotiating the slab section at the top (GR062846). Descend the track to a gate, on the left hand side of Mount
Famine, and once through it bear right over the slab on the crest. The track starts descending again becoming slightly
rutted and rocky. At the end of this section go through the double gate, making sure not to ride into the drainage ditch
just before. Follow the wide gravel track as it bears right then straight lines down the hill. Try not to overshoot the next
junction, where the track flattens out slightly, and look out for the Pennine Bridleway turning off to the right (GR050854).
stream crossing then after passing through a few gates starts descending on a fast track. Be careful as there are some
really nice rock steps just after a slight left hand bend about 1/3rd of the way down that you can take air into. The track
then bears to the right and drops into Roych Clough (GR077837).
13. Climb away from Roych Clough following the track as it winds its way up the hill. A long right hand bend leads to a
less severe section of the climb. Continue along the track going straight on through all of the gates to the top of South
Head, negotiating the slab section at the top (GR062846). Descend the track to a gate, on the left hand side of Mount
Famine, and once through it bear right over the slab on the crest. The track starts descending again becoming slightly
rutted and rocky. At the end of this section go through the double gate, making sure not to ride into the drainage ditch
just before. Follow the wide gravel track as it bears right then straight lines down the hill. Try not to overshoot the next
junction, where the track flattens out slightly, and look out for the Pennine Bridleway turning off to the right (GR050854).
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