This is a 30 mile loop
taking in some of the
best riding in the
Hope & Edale valley
area. The majority of
the riding is on rocky
gritstone tracks that
offer good grip in the
dry and some
excellent descending.
The only word of
warning is don't ride
this loop in the wet.
The gritstone turns
into griding paste
that quickly kills
brakes and gears.
taking in some of the
best riding in the
Hope & Edale valley
area. The majority of
the riding is on rocky
gritstone tracks that
offer good grip in the
dry and some
excellent descending.
The only word of
warning is don't ride
this loop in the wet.
The gritstone turns
into griding paste
that quickly kills
brakes and gears.
flattyres flat tyres mtb mountain bike
routes route the dark peaks peak district
routes route the dark peaks peak district
1. Start at the Upper Derwent information centre (GR172893). At the roundabout, behind the information centre, take
the road on the left of the entrance to the information centre. After about 100m this road passes the bottom of the
Derwent dam and on to the other side of the valley. At the junction at the top of the climb go straight on, keeping the
the road on the left of the entrance to the information centre. After about 100m this road passes the bottom of the
Derwent dam and on to the other side of the valley. At the junction at the top of the climb go straight on, keeping the
Ladybower Reservoir on the right.
2. About 1/4mile after crossing Mill Brook take the BW on the
left, through the gate and up the flagstone climb (GR184887).
Go through the two gates at the buildings then drop a short
way to a stream. Just after this the climb becomes a push, but
it quickly becomes ridable again just before the gate at the
trees. Follow the trail left through two more gates then turn
right and traverse the hill to a final climb that ends at the
Whinstone Lee Tor junction.
3. Take the BW, second on the left about 90deg from the track entering the junction
(GR198874). This is a good, fast descent but keep your eyes peeled as there can be
quite a few walkers. Just after a rocky left/right that drops into Highshaw Clough, follow the
singletrack off to the right of the main trail (GR213875). Around the corner the BW turns
into flat double track. It steepens towards the end for a fun rocky descent that end at the
Ladybower Inn on the main road. Go straight ahead on the A57 and descend to the lights
then turn left onto the A6013. Follow the cycle path on the right to the Ladybower dam.
(GR198874). This is a good, fast descent but keep your eyes peeled as there can be
quite a few walkers. Just after a rocky left/right that drops into Highshaw Clough, follow the
singletrack off to the right of the main trail (GR213875). Around the corner the BW turns
into flat double track. It steepens towards the end for a fun rocky descent that end at the
Ladybower Inn on the main road. Go straight ahead on the A57 and descend to the lights
then turn left onto the A6013. Follow the cycle path on the right to the Ladybower dam.
4. Dismount and cross over the dam, the next parts are
concessional and the only thing asked is that dam is not ridden.
Once across the dam turn right and follow the track along the
edge of the reservoir. The tarmac quickly turns to gravel and
after approx 3/4mile comes to a signed BW on the left, just over a
crest. This grassy track bears right into the forest where
navigation is generally a case of not turning off the main trail. Following a sharp right hander that descends to a junction
go straight up the steep climb ahead. After about 1mile take the track on the left, through the gate, in the cleared area of
forest. Climb the rocky trail then turn left back into the trees. Bear right up a small climb to a gate at the top to exit the
forest (GR173861).
go straight up the steep climb ahead. After about 1mile take the track on the left, through the gate, in the cleared area of
forest. Climb the rocky trail then turn left back into the trees. Bear right up a small climb to a gate at the top to exit the
forest (GR173861).
5. Through the gate follow the track straight ahead then turn right onto a wide
grassy track. Follow this slightly rutted track down to a gate but don't go through
it, turn hard left onto the gritstone Roman road (GR169862). The trail follows the
line of the hill then finishes in a fantastic rocky downhill section. The track
becomes a tarmac lane after a gate, but just before are some drops to play on.
The lane turns 90deg right at Fullwood Stile farm then descends to a junction.
Take the left and follow the road into Hope (GR172835).
6. Turn right on the A6187. About 50m on the right hand side of the road is the
Woodbine Cafe, a good place to refuel as it is very bike friendly. Follow the
A6187 through Castleton and bear right at the junction after the town, past the
Speedwell Cavern and towards Mam Tor.
7. Continue up the road as it gets steeper and after a sharp left go through the
gate onto the broken road (GR132839) where there a lot of drops to have a go
at if that's your kind of thing, or go round them if not. At the top go through the
gate and up past the entrance to the Blue John mine to the T-junction, turn right.
8. Turn right into the car park at the back of which is a path that leads to the
crest of the hill at Mam Nick, there is a bit of carry up some steps here but I
prefer this to taking the road and a dangerous right turn. At the top of the track
go left onto the road and descend about 20m to the gate on the right at the
bottom of the climb up the Rushup Edge BW (GR124834). Once through the
gate a steep but short climb leads onto a split in the trail, follow the marked BW
through the gate, the trail to the right of this being a footpath. The trail then
Speedwell Cavern and towards Mam Tor.
7. Continue up the road as it gets steeper and after a sharp left go through the
gate onto the broken road (GR132839) where there a lot of drops to have a go
at if that's your kind of thing, or go round them if not. At the top go through the
gate and up past the entrance to the Blue John mine to the T-junction, turn right.
8. Turn right into the car park at the back of which is a path that leads to the
crest of the hill at Mam Nick, there is a bit of carry up some steps here but I
prefer this to taking the road and a dangerous right turn. At the top of the track
go left onto the road and descend about 20m to the gate on the right at the
bottom of the climb up the Rushup Edge BW (GR124834). Once through the
gate a steep but short climb leads onto a split in the trail, follow the marked BW
through the gate, the trail to the right of this being a footpath. The trail then
at that. Turn left and descend to the three way junction (GR099829).Turn right
and follow the main trail to the Chapel Gate descent. At the start of the descent
a loose rocky section comes to a right turn then leads onto a broken ribbon of
tarmac with rocky ruts on either side. This is a great descent, steep and
technical, that has never failed to produce a big grin at the bottom. As the trail
flattens out follow it through the couple of gates on the descent to the road.
9. Turn right and climb the road back up the hill. After the 'S'bend just below
the crest at Mam Nick, take the left through the gate, onto right hand BW that
climbs around the side of Mam Tor (GR125835).
and follow the main trail to the Chapel Gate descent. At the start of the descent
a loose rocky section comes to a right turn then leads onto a broken ribbon of
tarmac with rocky ruts on either side. This is a great descent, steep and
technical, that has never failed to produce a big grin at the bottom. As the trail
flattens out follow it through the couple of gates on the descent to the road.
9. Turn right and climb the road back up the hill. After the 'S'bend just below
the crest at Mam Nick, take the left through the gate, onto right hand BW that
climbs around the side of Mam Tor (GR125835).
10. The trail soon descends, following the fence on the left, to a gate and the start of the
paved section that finishes at Hollins Cross and the next junction. Take the track 90deg
left, which quickly turns right along the line of the hill (GR136845). After a few tight corners
and a few gates go straight ahead on the tarmac lane to the main road and turn right. Not
long after riding through Nether Booth take the BW through the gate on the left, slightly
hidden in some bushes and trees, for the climb to Clough farm. Go through the gate by
the farm, turning right, then continue climbing on the left hand track.
11. After the gate at the top descend to the stream crossing in Jaggers Clough and then
climb to Hope Cross (GR160876). At the crossroad in the trail go straight over and down
the Hagg farm descent. This descent starts out fast but soon becomes rocky and technical
just before the gate. This continues as a technical descent on big rocks till it runs out 3/4
of the way down at a gate on a hairpin. This section runs out 3/4 of the way down at a
gate on a hairpin. Turn hard left before the gate and descend to a small bridge. Once
paved section that finishes at Hollins Cross and the next junction. Take the track 90deg
left, which quickly turns right along the line of the hill (GR136845). After a few tight corners
and a few gates go straight ahead on the tarmac lane to the main road and turn right. Not
long after riding through Nether Booth take the BW through the gate on the left, slightly
hidden in some bushes and trees, for the climb to Clough farm. Go through the gate by
the farm, turning right, then continue climbing on the left hand track.
11. After the gate at the top descend to the stream crossing in Jaggers Clough and then
climb to Hope Cross (GR160876). At the crossroad in the trail go straight over and down
the Hagg farm descent. This descent starts out fast but soon becomes rocky and technical
just before the gate. This continues as a technical descent on big rocks till it runs out 3/4
of the way down at a gate on a hairpin. This section runs out 3/4 of the way down at a
gate on a hairpin. Turn hard left before the gate and descend to a small bridge. Once
across climb up the steep, tricky track to the A57. Cross the A57 and take the lane leading
uphill to the left. A small way up the climb, near the Hagg Farm outdoor education centre,
go through the gate straight ahead and up the rocky climb, a climb I still have yet to clean.
12. Past the switch backs there is a gate at a cross roads, go through this and up the
rocky trail straight ahead (GR163890). Follow the wide BW past Lockerbrook farm and
through the following gate for the final rocky ascent. On arriving at the top get your breath
back for a fantastic descent to the road at the Derwent reservoir. Turn right and follow the
road back to the visitors centre (GR167910).
uphill to the left. A small way up the climb, near the Hagg Farm outdoor education centre,
go through the gate straight ahead and up the rocky climb, a climb I still have yet to clean.
12. Past the switch backs there is a gate at a cross roads, go through this and up the
rocky trail straight ahead (GR163890). Follow the wide BW past Lockerbrook farm and
through the following gate for the final rocky ascent. On arriving at the top get your breath
back for a fantastic descent to the road at the Derwent reservoir. Turn right and follow the
road back to the visitors centre (GR167910).
This ride took 5hrs total, 3.5hrs riding. It is a hard
ride and we were not slow that day so allow up to
8hrs.
There are plenty of other places to eat in Hope
follows the ridge 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
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
and Castleton and there is also a good little cafe at the Upper Derwent
information center. The route can be plotted on OS Landranger 110.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Ladybower Loop (medium)
Hayfield Loop
Hayfield Loop (alternative)
Glossop - Cut Gate
information center. The route can be plotted on OS Landranger 110.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Ladybower Loop (medium)
Hayfield Loop
Hayfield Loop (alternative)
Glossop - Cut Gate
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