This is a mountain bike route,
starting just outside Hayfield, that I
rode with the CCM lads. It still takes
in Jacobs Ladder, Rushup Edge and
the Roych Clough descents but
climbs directly to the back of Jacobs
Ladder from Hayfield and climbs up
to Rushup Edge via Hollins Cross
and Mam Tor, so cutting out the
climb up Chapel Gate. This
15.6mile route is still tough and will
challenge your climbing and
descending abilities.
1. Start in Bowden Bridge Quarry
car park, starting point of the 1932
mass trespass (GR048869). Turn
right out of the car park then turn
almost immediately left on the bridge
over the stream. Go left after the
bridge then bear right, past a couple
of lanes on the left, and climb to a
forked junction in the road, with a
starting just outside Hayfield, that I
rode with the CCM lads. It still takes
in Jacobs Ladder, Rushup Edge and
the Roych Clough descents but
climbs directly to the back of Jacobs
Ladder from Hayfield and climbs up
to Rushup Edge via Hollins Cross
and Mam Tor, so cutting out the
climb up Chapel Gate. This
15.6mile route is still tough and will
challenge your climbing and
descending abilities.
1. Start in Bowden Bridge Quarry
car park, starting point of the 1932
mass trespass (GR048869). Turn
right out of the car park then turn
almost immediately left on the bridge
over the stream. Go left after the
bridge then bear right, past a couple
of lanes on the left, and climb to a
forked junction in the road, with a
cattle grid on the left and gate on the right (GR053865).
2. Go through the gate on the right and continue climbing. Stay on the tarmac as it bears left and descends steeply to
a gate at the bottom. Through the gate follow the lane ahead as it bears left and starts the long climb to the back of
Jacobs Ladder. Where the lane turns sharply to the right continue straight ahead up the wide, steep gravel track to a
gate (GR058859). After this gate is one of the steepest parts of the climb but don't worry it's short and sharp and the
2. Go through the gate on the right and continue climbing. Stay on the tarmac as it bears left and descends steeply to
a gate at the bottom. Through the gate follow the lane ahead as it bears left and starts the long climb to the back of
Jacobs Ladder. Where the lane turns sharply to the right continue straight ahead up the wide, steep gravel track to a
gate (GR058859). After this gate is one of the steepest parts of the climb but don't worry it's short and sharp and the
incline becomes more manageable after a bit.
Navigation at this point is simply a case of
following the main trail straight on up to the back
of Jacobs Ladder. The last third is the most
difficult part of the climb. I did manage to clean
the whole thing this time but only after having a
second go at the biggest rock garden. At the
summit is a short descent to the gate at the top
of Jacobs Ladder (GR081861).
3. Time to drop your saddle if you need to. Go
Navigation at this point is simply a case of
following the main trail straight on up to the back
of Jacobs Ladder. The last third is the most
difficult part of the climb. I did manage to clean
the whole thing this time but only after having a
second go at the biggest rock garden. At the
summit is a short descent to the gate at the top
of Jacobs Ladder (GR081861).
3. 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 and
more rocks are the order of the day. Half way down on a tight right hand corner go
through the gate on the right and not the footpath off to the left. Negotiate the
criss-crossing rutted descent, trying to miss the odd rock, to a tight left hander. The trail
more rocks are the order of the day. Half way down on a tight right hand corner go
through the gate on the right and not the footpath off to the left. Negotiate the
criss-crossing rutted descent, trying to miss the odd rock, to 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.
4. Go over the stone bridge and through the first gate of about three and along the track
that drops into the valley, ending 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). Continue down the road
through a number of corners to a straight downhill section that passes a car park, under
Always a good place to massage pumped up forearms.
4. Go over the stone bridge and through the first gate of about three and along the track
that drops into the valley, ending 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). 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)
5. Turn left onto the road to Edale and follow it as it
immediately bears right. After roughly 1mile turn right,
down the lane directly before the 30 limit signs at the edge
of Edale, if you get to the junction in Edale you've gone too
far. Follow this lane straight on over the stream and ride
5. Turn left onto the road to Edale and follow it as it
immediately bears right. After roughly 1mile turn right,
down the lane directly before the 30 limit signs at the edge
of Edale, if you get to the junction in Edale you've gone too
far. Follow this lane straight on over the stream and ride
towards Mam Tor. Climb this lane, following it
through a tight left hander, with obvious footpaths
off to the right, then up through a long right hand
bend to a gate and style on the left (GR125845).
6. On the other side of the gate is a track
leading off left and right with a grassy bank
behind, a good picnic spot. Take the left hand
through a tight left hander, with obvious footpaths
off to the right, then up through a long right hand
bend to a gate and style on the left (GR125845).
6. On the other side of the gate is a track
leading off left and right with a grassy bank
behind, a good picnic spot. Take the left hand
trail and follow it up to Hollins Cross. The trail has a small grass section but
mainly it's a good gritstone climb with criss-crossing tracks and wide rocky
sections that, while technical near the top, are doable giving a very satisfying
mainly it's a good gritstone climb with criss-crossing tracks and wide rocky
sections that, while technical near the top, are doable giving a very satisfying
way up to Hollins Cross. Eventually the trail bears right and comes out at the top (GR136845)
7. Turn right and follow the paved track off to the right. Once through the second gate follow the natural trail to the
right of the paved track, this eventually flattens out and bears right around the contour of Mam Tor then descends to a
7. Turn right and follow the paved track off to the right. Once through the second gate follow the natural trail to the
right of the paved track, this eventually flattens out and bears right around the contour of Mam Tor then descends to a
gate by the road at Mam Nick
(GR125835). Turn left on the road for
a short climb over the crest. As the
road drops away to the right take the
marked BW through the gate on the
inside of the corner which is the start of
the Rushup Edge section of the ride.
8. Once through the gate a steep but
short climb leads onto a split in the trail,
follow the marked BW through the gate,
(GR125835). Turn left on the road for
a short climb over the crest. As the
road drops away to the right take the
marked BW through the gate on the
inside of the corner which is the start of
the Rushup Edge section of the ride.
8. Once through the gate a steep but
short climb leads onto a split in the trail,
follow the marked BW through the gate,
not up the footpath to the right. The trail then follows the crest of Rushup Edge and is quite easy going until the next
gate and another short, sharp climb. At the top descend along the trail that follows the wall on the right, taking care of a
number boggy holes. Go through the gate at the bottom of the field then through the next gate a couple of meters
down on the right. This brings the route back out onto a gritstone trail, and a good one at that. Turn left and descend
to the three way junction (GR099829).
9. Continue straight on down 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.
gate and another short, sharp climb. At the top descend along the trail that follows the wall on the right, taking care of a
number boggy holes. Go through the gate at the bottom of the field then through the next gate a couple of meters
down on the right. This brings the route back out onto a gritstone trail, and a good one at that. Turn left and descend
to the three way junction (GR099829).
9. Continue straight on down 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 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, 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).
10. 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.
(GR092825). Descend the rocky track to a tight left hand corner where it
climbs 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, 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).
10. 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. 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 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 BW turning off to the right (GR050854).
11. Through the small gate 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 to the top of the lane, don't
descend to the right (GR053862). Follow the tarmac, that was the top of the first climb of
the day, left over the crest and down to a gate. Through the gate continue descending to
the car park and the end of the ride.
Head negotiating the slab section at the top. 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 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 BW turning off to the right (GR050854).
11. Through the small gate 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 to the top of the lane, don't
descend to the right (GR053862). Follow the tarmac, that was the top of the first climb of
the day, left over the crest and down to a gate. Through the gate continue descending to
the car park and the end of the ride.
Given the short distance it is easy to underestimate this ride. The riding, up
and down, is mostly of a pretty technical nature and will take roughly 3-4 hours
to complete. That said if you like technical you'll love this. There is not really
anywhere to stop and resupply on the ride, unless you go into Edale, so make
sure you have enough food and water. All of this loop can be plotted on OS
Landranger 110.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Hayfield Loop
Ladybower Loop
Glossop - Cut Gate
and down, is mostly of a pretty technical nature and will take roughly 3-4 hours
to complete. That said if you like technical you'll love this. There is not really
anywhere to stop and resupply on the ride, unless you go into Edale, so make
sure you have enough food and water. All of this loop can be plotted on OS
Landranger 110.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Hayfield Loop
Ladybower Loop
Glossop - Cut Gate
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