16. Turn right then almost
immediately turn left down the lane
opposite the row of cottages and
This mountain bike route of
17.6miles, which starts in
Hayfield, circles and goes
through the village of Rowarth,
a few miles to the North West.
The trails are split between the
grit stone of the Dark Peaks
and limestone towards the Goyt
Valley. This produces a ride
with variety that includes some
great descents.
1. Start from the Visitor Centre
car park (GR035869) and head
towards the centre of Hayfield
in the direction of the church.
Use the pedestrian crossing to
get across the main road. On
the far side go straight ahead
down the road, with the church
on the left, to a junction. Turn
17.6miles, which starts in
Hayfield, circles and goes
through the village of Rowarth,
a few miles to the North West.
The trails are split between the
grit stone of the Dark Peaks
and limestone towards the Goyt
Valley. This produces a ride
with variety that includes some
great descents.
1. Start from the Visitor Centre
car park (GR035869) and head
towards the centre of Hayfield
in the direction of the church.
Use the pedestrian crossing to
get across the main road. On
the far side go straight ahead
down the road, with the church
on the left, to a junction. Turn
left, go over the bridge, then at the second junction directly after turn right. Climb the lane between the houses and go
straight on at the next junction a short distance later. Follow the lane through a couple of bends to the top of the climb.
Just after reaching this short flat section of road turn left, on the marked BW, up the wide concrete track (GR041868).
straight on at the next junction a short distance later. Follow the lane through a couple of bends to the top of the climb.
Just after reaching this short flat section of road turn left, on the marked BW, up the wide concrete track (GR041868).
2. Climb straight on at the first junction then bear right for a steep, loose, rocky climb to
a gate. After the gate the steep, rocky climb continues for a short while. Follow the trail
as it bears left, flattens off and comes to a junction. Go straight on, keeping to the wall
on the left, and follow the obvious trail up the hill through a few gates. After a gate near
the top the trail widens out and becomes quite rocky. At the crossroad that follows go
straight on to the gate a short distance later. Once through the gate continue straight on
up the rocky, grit stone trail to a junction near a building (GR050883).
3. Turn left and cross the low wooden bridge for the start
of a fantastic gritstone trail. This trail initially climbs gently
through the moors, interrupted by steep stone steps that
drop through a stream gully. Climb away from the stream
and bear right to the top of a long descent. On the
descent the trail offers up a number of line choices, loose
rocks, little drops and ruts. At the bottom cross
the stream by the bridge or the ford. Climb to
the double track and head left to the gate at the
main road (GR034894).
4. Once through the gate turn right and climb
the A624. At the junction at the top of the hill
turn left. After a short climb descend right on
the stream by the bridge or the ford. Climb to
the double track and head left to the gate at the
main road (GR034894).
4. Once through the gate turn right and climb
the A624. At the junction at the top of the hill
turn left. After a short climb descend right on
this road to a junction in the bottom of the dip (GR024910). Turn left and
follow the lane past a junction with a lane on the left, to a gate. Go through the
gate and climb towards Cown Edge Rocks. At the junction where the lane turns
follow the lane past a junction with a lane on the left, to a gate. Go through the
gate and climb towards Cown Edge Rocks. At the junction where the lane turns
tight left and descends (GR016910) follow the track on the
right to continue climbing straight up to the ridge. Climb
this trail over the top of Cown Edge then descend to a
gate.
5. After the gate follow the trail immediately left then right
and descend on the track between the fence and the wall.
Go straight on through the next gate to a wide track and
on to the next junction. Follow the track straight ahead to
a junction with the road at the end (GR998909).
6. Turn right and follow the road to the T-junction at the
farm. Turn sharp left up a short climb around the back of
the farm then drop down through the right hand bend
under the power lines. At the top of the next climb turn left
right to continue climbing straight up to the ridge. Climb
this trail over the top of Cown Edge then descend to a
gate.
5. After the gate follow the trail immediately left then right
and descend on the track between the fence and the wall.
Go straight on through the next gate to a wide track and
on to the next junction. Follow the track straight ahead to
a junction with the road at the end (GR998909).
6. Turn right and follow the road to the T-junction at the
farm. Turn sharp left up a short climb around the back of
the farm then drop down through the right hand bend
under the power lines. At the top of the next climb turn left
at the crossroad and follow the lane down hill (GR988905). At the bottom of the hill turn
left up the rocky track. This testing climb goes through a few bends then descends to a
junction at Smooth Lea farm. Turn left and descend through a hairpin to a lane
(GR993896).
7. Turn right on the lane and ride up between the houses to a junction where the lane
turns 90deg right and descends steeply. Go straight on up the track ahead and climb to
the buildings (GR988895). Ride between the buildings to the gate leading into the top of
a field then follow the fence on the left to the gate on the opposite side. Through the
gate climb the tarmac to a large gate at a farm. Once through the gate keep to the fence
on the right and, after the next gate, go down a paved driveway between the houses.
Bear left to the keypad operated gates. In the right hand side of the gates go through
the small pedestrian gate then along the lane and through a quick right/left to a 90deg
right hand bend (GR984890).
left up the rocky track. This testing climb goes through a few bends then descends to a
junction at Smooth Lea farm. Turn left and descend through a hairpin to a lane
(GR993896).
7. Turn right on the lane and ride up between the houses to a junction where the lane
turns 90deg right and descends steeply. Go straight on up the track ahead and climb to
the buildings (GR988895). Ride between the buildings to the gate leading into the top of
a field then follow the fence on the left to the gate on the opposite side. Through the
gate climb the tarmac to a large gate at a farm. Once through the gate keep to the fence
on the right and, after the next gate, go down a paved driveway between the houses.
Bear left to the keypad operated gates. In the right hand side of the gates go through
the small pedestrian gate then along the lane and through a quick right/left to a 90deg
right hand bend (GR984890).
8. Take the signed BW left through the gate and climb straight up the hill.
Once over the crest descend to the right and go straight on through the gate
in the dip. Climb left away from the gate then bear right to a junction with a
lane and go straight on. A short distance later at the junction at the top of the
hill (GR994888), by Hilltop farm (naturally), turn left along the wide and straight
dirt track.
Once over the crest descend to the right and go straight on through the gate
in the dip. Climb left away from the gate then bear right to a junction with a
lane and go straight on. A short distance later at the junction at the top of the
hill (GR994888), by Hilltop farm (naturally), turn left along the wide and straight
dirt track.
9. At the end of the track turn right on the road
and follow it up a gentle climb to a five-way road
junction (GR997882). Go straight across the
main road and of the two choices ahead take
and follow it up a gentle climb to a five-way road
junction (GR997882). Go straight across the
main road and of the two choices ahead take
the wide dirt track on the left. Follow this track to the
four-way junction at the end of the trees on the left. Ignore
the tarmac and take the rocky track off to the left to
descend to a junction with the road at the bottom
(GR001875).
10. Turn right onto the road then a short distance later
take a sharp left onto the track between the drystone
walls. This track ends with a rocky descent to a lane
(GR002880). Turn right on the tarmac and descend
through the dip. Climb to the next junction and go straight
on, past Aspenshaw Hall, to where the tarmac gives way to
some nice singletrack for the final part of the climb.
11. Go through the gate at the top of the climb
(GR019877) and turn left onto the wide dirt track. Follow
this track straight on to the top of the rocky descent to
Laneside farm (GR014888). This is a great descent that
starts steep and rocky then bears left to a flat, smooth
middle section before and a final rocky descent to a
junction with a lane at the bottom.
12. Go left on the lane then follow through a right hand
bend to pass the water wheel at the Little Mill Inn on the
left. From here climb up the lane a short way and take the
track straight on where the lane bears left. This track
four-way junction at the end of the trees on the left. Ignore
the tarmac and take the rocky track off to the left to
descend to a junction with the road at the bottom
(GR001875).
10. Turn right onto the road then a short distance later
take a sharp left onto the track between the drystone
walls. This track ends with a rocky descent to a lane
(GR002880). Turn right on the tarmac and descend
through the dip. Climb to the next junction and go straight
on, past Aspenshaw Hall, to where the tarmac gives way to
some nice singletrack for the final part of the climb.
11. Go through the gate at the top of the climb
(GR019877) and turn left onto the wide dirt track. Follow
this track straight on to the top of the rocky descent to
Laneside farm (GR014888). This is a great descent that
starts steep and rocky then bears left to a flat, smooth
middle section before and a final rocky descent to a
junction with a lane at the bottom.
12. Go left on the lane then follow through a right hand
bend to pass the water wheel at the Little Mill Inn on the
left. From here climb up the lane a short way and take the
track straight on where the lane bears left. This track
passes some houses then reduces in width for a
tight, tricky bit of rocky singletrack. At the top of
the trail follow the fence through a left hand
bend and onto the tarmac. A short way ahead,
tight, tricky bit of rocky singletrack. At the top of
the trail follow the fence through a left hand
bend and onto the tarmac. A short way ahead,
at the junction in Rowarth (GR012893), turn right. At the next junction climb
the lane off to the left. This soon comes to a gate on the right. Go through the
gate and follow the rocky track down through the ford at the bottom then climb
to the next gate.
the lane off to the left. This soon comes to a gate on the right. Go through the
gate and follow the rocky track down through the ford at the bottom then climb
to the next gate.
drystone wall on the left. Take the vague trail that heads off slightly to the right of this
wall, to climb across to the opposite side of the field. The trail does start out very vague
but becomes progressively more defined. It’s not steep but the grass and mud can
make this quite draining, especially if wet. At the far side of the field go across the wide
muddy area to the gate in the right hand corner (GR027885)
wall, to climb across to the opposite side of the field. The trail does start out very vague
but becomes progressively more defined. It’s not steep but the grass and mud can
make this quite draining, especially if wet. At the far side of the field go across the wide
muddy area to the gate in the right hand corner (GR027885)
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wide dirt track on the right, between the drystone walls, signposted as the
Pennine Bridleway to Lantern Pike (GR019901). Bear right through the gate
and to continue along the gritstone trail that ends at a junction at a farm. Go
straight on to the next junction. Continue straight on and climb to the gates on
the outside of a 90deg left hand bend at the top (GR025889).
Pennine Bridleway to Lantern Pike (GR019901). Bear right through the gate
and to continue along the gritstone trail that ends at a junction at a farm. Go
straight on to the next junction. Continue straight on and climb to the gates on
the outside of a 90deg left hand bend at the top (GR025889).
13. After the gate climb the lane off to
the left. Halfway up this climb take the
14. Go through the gate and into a field. Don’t
follow the track that follows the line of the
15. Once through the gate climb the short,
steep gritstone track to the top. Bear left along
this track and descend, through a gate lower
down, to a junction with a lane. Bear right then
left, past the cottages on the right, and descend
the lane a junction at the bottom (GR024874).
descend to a hairpin (GR022872). At the hairpin go straight on through the
gate, onto a loose, rocky BW. At the bottom turn left onto the road, go over
the bridge. After a very short climb turn left through a gate (GR021868) to
pick up the Sett Valley trail. Follow this trail all the back to the car park at the
Hayfield Visitor Centre to end the ride.
gate, onto a loose, rocky BW. At the bottom turn left onto the road, go over
the bridge. After a very short climb turn left through a gate (GR021868) to
pick up the Sett Valley trail. Follow this trail all the back to the car park at the
Hayfield Visitor Centre to end the ride.
A description of a ride I took on this route and more pictures can be found in the Gallery.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site:
Hayfield Loop
Hayfield - Jacob's Ladder
Hayfield and the Goyt Valley
Glossop - Cut Gate
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site:
Hayfield Loop
Hayfield - Jacob's Ladder
Hayfield and the Goyt Valley
Glossop - Cut Gate