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Afternoon all. I stumbled upon a video over the weekend which seemed to show a load of decent looking riding in/around Winhill in the Peaks. Only ever ridden Cut Gate and Whinstone Lee Tor loop but been kinda half aware of a load of "off-piste" type bits in the woods running down to the shore at Ladybower for a bit and wondered whether there was a recommended loop in the area I could do which took in a bit of everything - moorland, BW, off-piste tech etc?
It might be worth considering leaving the off piste tech until it's a bit dryer. I rode on weds and it was holding up pretty well but there were rivers running down some of the tracks even before the weekend, and given the flooding that Derwent had over the weekend it's going to be in a bit of a sorry state for at least a few weeks.
It's hard to describe how to get to a lot of it too. Strava heatmaps or a friendly local are your friend for where the good stuff is.
Basically head north on the bridle path on the western end of Ladybower dam. To riders left as you go round there are various paths the split off up the hill. Go to the top of the hill then look around, there are loads of trails there. The other ones are off to the left off the top of “The Beast”.
It’s been a while since I was there so there may be even more there now.
Cheers - should have added, I'm very conscious of the weather we've had recently - likely to be a new year trip now...
Rather like Goyt Valley, also home to a fair bit of cheeky semi-made trails, it's one of those places that you just have to sort of "discover". Most of it is on Strava though, focus in on the area and highlight all segments and you'll see the trails.
I've never ridden any of them but I've been along the bottom gravel path often enough to be aware that there's a lot of stuff semi-hidden in there.
Do be aware that there were widlfires there recently so the top of the hill got absolutely hammered and the rain at the weekend will have trashed everything. I was in the area (not that specific bit but close by) yesterday and there were still torrents of water pouring off the hills.
The classic “Ladybower Loop” is reasonably challenging and very weather independent as well.
Most of the off piste stuff is in the woods to the right of the bridleway down from Winhill towards the top of the Beast. I think its best ridden when its dry as I found some of it full on
I was lucky to be shown around by my daughter who spent most of her spare time at Hallam Uni riding them along with Wharncliffe.
The Trailforks heat map shows some of them but there are usually enough riding the hillside who can give you some pointers
The problem with the cheeky off the top of Win Hill is that eventually you're deposited onto the fire road around the side of Derwent/Ashop River and it's a dull slog along it to get to anywhere else fun.
The classic “Ladybower Loop” is reasonably challenging
The decent from Lockerbrook to Howden Res is now more or less a dirt motorway apart from about the last 500m or so, it's becoming less challenging
I know where there's loads of cheeky trails but I've only been there on foot.
How do you get to the top of Win Hill with a bike? Is there a way to do multiple runs or is it just find a line and push back up? I've scrambled up Parkin Clough but don't fancy carrying the bike up it.
How do you get to the top of Win Hill with a bike?
Ride up the really obvious double-track?
Is there a way to do multiple runs
I think there's just one track from near the summit of Win Hill down to the tree line. Once you're in the trees there's any number of cheeky trails, some more fun, some more techy, just go exploring. If you want to do multiple runs, there are tracks in the woods that you can use to get from one side to the other, I think e-bikes have really opened up the cheek as it's now much easier to do multiple runs.
I’ve scrambled up Parkin Clough but don’t fancy carrying the bike up it.
other side...
Yeah I made the mistake of coming down lockerbrook the other week 😥
The trails are unbelievably well made for being so out of the way. Would love to know who's doing it. Agree maybe keep off whilst it's this wet, although I'm sure it'll be busy as ever in reality.
There's the "Narnia" climb that peak MTB got reclassified at the beast end of the woods and a couple of fire roads around the middle. I rarely do more than a couple of laps being in the minority on a human powered bike (as part of a train station point to point hope to bamford)
Went down the lockerbrook descent last week and barely recognised it. The flatter section along the top has been widened and graded smooth for a while now, but that now continues all the way down to the last but one turn, the left into the sunken part of the track. Most if not all the trees are removed and harvested, so you get big views instead of that in the woods feel. As it's so smooth before coming into the rockier corner, you don't get settled into it in the same way particularly as its all now open to the view.
Gutted really, it's always been a favourite descent, hard enough for a challenge but not as rough as the Roman road. The only small positives the slick layer of mud wasn't too bad, and there's a new view. But it's really trashed a highlight of the Ladybower circuit and a lot of articles and guide books will need a rewrite!
But it’s really trashed a highlight of the Ladybower circuit and a lot of articles and guide books will need a rewrite!
I may be wrong but they haven't finished work they've just paused over winter. I heard there is reasonably good relations and chance of it being rebuilt into something fun once it's done its job as an access track