Derbyshire railway cycle paths

Mister-P - Interesting you should mention this. Last weekend I was intending to try out the Tissington Trail + High Peak Trail to do a Ashbourne - Buxton - Ashbourne out and back but due to the lingering fog and cloud decided to sack it off - part of the appeal of the ride would have been to have enjoyed the views so no point if I was stuck in the clouds!

I'll do it at somepoint as I've done a few glorious hikes around that way but not cycled the Tissington / High Peak Trails, probably best to avoid a weekend as the trails get busy. Looks like that out and back ride would be approx. 78km.

Monsal Trail is very nice - has a mix of some good views and riding through the old railway tunnels.

Bakewell to Miller's Dale, either has plenty of parking although traffic in Bakewell can be a nightmare at weekends.

The trail is about 8.5 miles each way, there are cafes along it or you can add in some loops up to Longstone Edge.

I really like the bit through Monsel Dale

Looks like that out and back ride would be approx. 78km.

Not quite the pootle with tea and sandwiches I was thinking of, but maybe one for a nicer day in summer.

@bennyboy1 I did something similar but cut back on a different route

All on a gravel bike. A bit of road on the non railway bit

https://strava.app.link/BKkjs6YYWub

A bit further north than the others, but the Longdendale Trail out of Hadfield is quite beautiful on the right day in a big valley vibe sort of way. Depending on how handy you are on a gravel bike, you can make it into a nice loop by adding on the Northern Horse Route from Crowden or, if you're feeling ambitious, head over to the other side of Holme Moss via Dunford Bridge, then loop back over Holme Moss itself or off road it to Marsden then pick up the Pennine Bridleway above it and get back over to Tintwistle that way.

I like the Monsal Trail's tunnels and bridge / viaduct views, but a fair bit of its length is actually quite dull with a riding through a cutting sort of feel.

Monsal Trail is nice but IMO not great for views as lot is through cuttings and not many open vistas (until you get to Monsal Head). A bit short too.

If you really like hills start at Cromford, go along the canal and head up High Peak Trail all the way to Parsley Hay. The view at the top of Sheep Pasture incline looking down to Matlock Bath is one of the best in the area.

If you don't like hills start at Middleton Top! The range of views is better on High Peak Trail. Tissington Trail is very samey all the way.

@ampthill that looks a decent ride. As a cheapskate I’m not a Strava Premium member, would you be able to send across the gpx?

I’m quite limited to the gravel rides where I am and don’t mind making a weekend of it for a decent ride. A good ride followed by decent beer and fish and chips in a nice pub, win-win.

For @w00dster and the orginal poster there are some good gravel/lost lane type routes on her.

https://gravelbike.guide/peak-district-gravel-map/

I've done 3 of them so far and they have all been good.

Just be aware that the pinky-purple route on that link above is currently closed at Ladybower, you can't get up the western side due to tree felling work. Shame cos it's a great little bit of trail around the whole reservoir system.

Monsal Trail is the most scenic, simple out and back. The drop down from Bakewell Station to the town is a hard slog back. Hassop Station cafe is great.

Tissington Trail from Ashbourne up to Parsely Hay is up hill there, downhill back. Push on a bit further for the Royal Oak gastro pub at Hurdlow, also a good cafe just off the trail in Tissington village. Don't be tempted to drop down into Hartington village, it's a slog back up.

High Peak Trail has the least to see, but you could do Middleton Top to Parsley Hay. It starts at High Peak Junction but it's about 2 miles at 1 in 8 up to Middleton Top from there.

Manifold Trail is just over the border, but I haven't ridden it.

There's an 8 mile loop round Carsington Water - it's a typical rail trail type gravel surface, quite a few short sharp ups and downs but a nice little loop.

I think Tissington trail is closed for maintenance / tree work.

Got great memories of the Monsal trail with the kids when they were young

Indeed it is.

The trees are to be felled over the autumn period to commence from Monday 5th November 2022 (as per para 1.6) and be completed by Friday 10th February 2023. The Trail must be open for public use at the weekends and during the School Christmas Holidays as defined in para 1.4.

In this order -

1 - Monsal Trail
2 - High Peak Trail
3 - Ladybower (think a large part of this is currently closed)
4 - Tissington Trail (Can be linked to the HPT)
5 - Manifold Trail (Poor surface, narrow and busy)

@w00dster

Yes email? i can't see one in your profile

Monsal is lovely through Cressbrookdale and at Monsal Head.

A nice circuit is start from Biggin, go down the Manifold valley then Throwley, Ilam, Thorpe (hilly but quiet lanes and pretty) to Tissington Trail and back to Biggin. thepodge's post says it's open at weekends.

Monsal trail was great and kids loved it too so bonus. You can park on the lane at the East end East of Bakewell and it's an easy gradient up to the station. Also if starting from Bakewell end it's downhill all the way home.
Not done the other trails round there but liking the routes described above thanks.

If you want some quiet old railway lines with a multitude of routes then there are some lovely old railway lines South East of Chesterfield and round Sutton, Teversal and Hardwick area. Nice open views, some good up and downs (embankments and bridges have been removed), circular routes possible too.
The Five Pits Trails,
Teversal trail,
Stockley trail,
Rowthorne trail along with linking bridleways.
Five Pits can be linked to the Chesterfield Canal and Rother valley country park via The Avenue and traffic free paths through Chesterfield. There also some official blue singletrack that I’ve done on my hybrid so you’ll be ok on a gravel bike. Accommodation cheaper round here too!
Check out DCC and NCC websites and Chesterfield Cycle campaign. I can probably post you some maps if you’re interested.
Hope this helps.
Direct message if you’d like more.

Where I said that I can post you some maps.. I mean post you some - paper - maps!

I did a nice loop from Millers Dale, round to Tideswell, up for lunch at the Barrel at Bretton, down to Eyam then to Monsal head and back along the Monsal trail.

The actual railways are quite dull and often full of dogs and prams, but the roads around , particularly from Eyam to Monsal head are lovely.

The route described is about 18 miles - so low effot and the Barrel is a cracking pub for food.

I can drop you a GPX if you like.

Might be worth a look at https://www.peaksandpuddles.com/ for a few ideas

Thank you for all the info, plenty to ponder there. The mention of Bakewell has made me hungry so I'll have to swing by there over the weekend I think.

In the summer we did a great ride from Middleton top centre, west a short way on the High Peak Trail, dropped down & round Carsington Water, into Ashbourne, Tissington Trail to High Peak Trail Junction, & back to Middleton on the High Peak Trail. 38 miles, 1660ft of climbing.
Really great ride.

I’m interested in doing some of these trails. Also plan to go up in my van so can anyone recommend any campsites close to them?

I’m interested in doing some of these trails. Also plan to go up in my van so can anyone recommend any campsites close to them?

Not the closest site to the trails but Barn Farm in Birchover is a really nice site. Good facilities and in main season have a pizza oven and breakfast butty van on site at the weekend. Nice pubs within walking distance too.

@dickie that's a cracking route if you get a decent weather day.

I’m interested in doing some of these trails. Also plan to go up in my van so can anyone recommend any campsites close to them?

A couple of my old friends own Middlehills Farm - right next to the High Peak Trail. They are sound and the campsite has a really good rep. Matlock and Bakewell are both pretty accessible from there too

Middlehills Farm

Middlehills farm? Not open now until the end of April next year and not that close to the trail either.

Well, I'd not checked if they were open lol.

But it's a couple of miles tops on (mostly) country lanes

@ampthill I'd be interested in that GPX file as well if you dont mind.</span>

Just a thought, but if anyone's interested, there was a thing called the Peak District Pioneer from Bakewell back in 2017 that took in a bunch of local gravel including some of the rail trails. I didn't do the event, but a mate and I used the route GPX for a spin round the shorter version and it was pretty good. Maybe worth googling for the routes they used.

On a similar theme there's also Grindleford goat gruff which is a good gravel ride in the area, I think 2021 was my fave route. I can hunt out some gpx if you like 60-70km 1200+ meters of climbing.

I'm hoping the camping field at Square And Compass by Darley Bridge is open this weekend but for some reason their phone number is unavailable.

@Mister-P

They have had their camping licence revoked on a technicality from before the current tenants came in. They are trying to get it back though. There's one miserable nimby in the village trying to block it though.

If you have any questions, or want to get hold of them, I can drop them a message.

You could try the Miners Standard at Winster, but don't know if they are seasonal

Or try Greenhills at Bakewell

Ah, bugger. Thank you for the info. I stayed at Duke William in Matlock earlier in the year but they are closed for winter. Might be a layby job this weekend.

@Mister-P I know the tenants of the Duke too 🤣

@Mister-P Did you make it? Where did you stay in the end?

Hello @rockbus

I didn't as I ended up having to work on the Friday. Stayed local for the weekend instead.