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Evening all, meeting some old Uni mates in Chinley (near Whaley Bridge) on Friday afternoon. Travelling up from London so planning to take my bike on the train to Sheffield and then cycle across the Peaks. Will be on a gravel bike with panniers so probably keep it on road or gentle gravel.
can anyone recommend a nice route? Might also take train one stop out of Sheffield. But probably easiest just to cycle from Sheffield?
Looks like it follows NCN 6 - so maybe that’s the best route! Anyone do it pretty regularly?
some of it a couple of weeks ago. nice way out of sheffield as far as Ringinglow.
hell of a climb though.
I do a similar route for my commute although not directly into Sheffield.
The road climb out of Sheffield is savage and not particularly pleasant in terms of traffic so NCN6 is good for avoiding the worst of that, once you're back on the road it's up the top where you can at least keep a decent speed.
Most of the rest of it is road (quiet and often poorly surfaced rather than normal busy road) but it depends how much gravel you want vs just getting on with the journey!
Factor in 3hrs for the whole route. You can cut off a chunk of distance by going straight on in Hope then following the main road up through Castleton and climbing the old Mam Tor road (aka Broken Road). It's fine on a gravel bike. It misses out that long drag around Edale and up the Mam Nick road climb.
Alternatively if the weather is crap, get the Northern service from Sheffield towards Manchester. 14-past the hour every hour, no bike reservation needed and that'll get you to Chinley station. Be aware that you have to lug the bike up and down steps to get out of Chinley, there is no step free access or lifts.
Alternatively, one stop further is New Mills Central and from there it's just a spin down canal towpath to Whaley Bridge.
Looking at the weather forecast that might give you an utter bastard of a headwind....
Just put this route together to show how I'd do it.
Tried to be quiet roads and underpasses on the ring road leaving Sheffield, then through the parks, up and over stanage then down via the plug holes at Ladybower. Back roads along hope valley, broken up road up up Mam Tor then lumpy to chapel and steady down all the way to Whaley.
take a waterproof.
Stop here for coffee leaving Sheffield in the parks
https://maps.app.goo.gl/iHN7MAFA9RErnpB39
oops, I was distracted by whaley bridge as your end point. turn off at chapel down to chinley!
^ what he said, except I'd take the Rushup Edge road from the top of Mam Tor (it might be a bit busier traffic wise, but wider, better sight lines and it's not as lumpy) and then hang a right at Slackhall to go through Wash to Chinley.
^ what he said, except I'd take the Rushup Edge road from the top of Mam Tor (it might be a bit busier traffic wise, but wider, better sight lines and it's not as lumpy) and then hang a right at Slackhall to go through Wash to Chinley.
+1 to that.
The route linked on OS maps a couple of posts above also includes (IMO) a rather pointless and climb-heavy diversion onto back roads from Hope to Castleton, presumably to avoid the main road. If I was on a general day out then sure, but for getting from point A to point B as efficiently as possible, I'd put up with the main road, it's not that bad.
oops, I was distracted by whaley bridge as your end point. turn off at chapel down to chinley!
So was I which is why I mentioned staying on the train to New Mills (for step free access off the station and an easy ride to Whaley) but the OP is obviously actually going to Chinley!
So was I which is why I mentioned staying on the train to New Mills (for step free access off the station and an easy ride to Whaley) but the OP is obviously actually going to Chinley!
New Mills -> canal to Buxworth -> tramway to Chinley (well, Whitehough, but it's basically Chinley). Pint at the Old Hall optional, but recommended.
or just get off the train at Chinley {facepalm}
Thanks everyone - some really useful tips there!
If I was on a general day out then sure, but for getting from point A to point B as efficiently as possible, I'd put up with the main road, it's not that bad.
gah, if it was A-B as efficiently as possible then the whole route would be very different! My intent here was to add interest and scenery to the route mostly off or as away from busy roads as possible.
Coming off the old railway from ladybower there's only a tiny bit of elevation at Thornhill and then out of Hope. And nothing in the grand scheme of what came going out of Sheffield or what is about to come out of Castleton!
except I'd take the Rushup Edge road from the top of Mam Tor (it might be a bit busier traffic wise, but wider, better sight lines and it's not as lumpy) and then hang a right at Slackhall to go through Wash to Chinley.
Not that much difference in elevation but much quieter. And I hate that draggy climb along Rushup Edge and the right turn at Slackhall can be sketchy if you're waiting in the road for oncoming traffic - the visbility for traffic from behind is not great. Os maps route planning is great, except for the currently somewhat flakey snap to roads/paths function.
And I hate that draggy climb along Rushup Edge and the right turn at Slackhall can be sketchy if you're waiting in the road for oncoming traffic - the visbility for traffic from behind is not great.
You could always take the road on the other side of the valley to Sparrowpit, turn right there and drop down to The Wash. It's mostly downhill, there's a choice of ways at Slackhall, but they both end up basically in the same place. If you want road avoidance, pop down Charley Lane, then turn right after a mile or so and do the last bit into Whitehough / Chinley on the Old Tramway. It's technically not bikeable at that point, but it's never stopped me or anyone else for that matter.
The 'draggy climb' below Rushup Edge is barely a climb at all. It's fine unless there's a headwind, but can be really busy with impatient weekenders and tourists. The turn at Slackhall is at a minor crossroads, so you can always turn off left then double back and cross road thus avoiding being eviscerated by braindead motorists.
Also, if you have lots of time, there's a nice, lesser used bridleway that cuts down from near Dirtlow Rake to the bottom of Perry Dale, which is just a really nice bit of road and ends up pretty much at Sparrowpit. It'll add time and effort, but it's quite good fun. I guess it depends on whether you want to ride 'gravel' / light xc or just get to Chinley as easily as possible.
ibnchris - did you ride today? I randomly saw someone riding up winnats pass earlier today, bright red panniers. Reminded me of this thread!