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I'm thinking at having a go at the South Peak Loop (in a day) and wonder if anyone knows where on the route I can easily re-fill bottles?
Also, what are the best options for quick-stop food?
TIA
LR
From when I did it a few years ago Bakewell and Hartington are the obvious points to fuel up and take on liquid. From memory after Hartington, assuming you go anti-clockwise, there aren't many stops. Although saying that I did mine at night so there are a few pubs open and the visitor centre at Carsington water.
look up @tapandtrough on Twitter for a map of free water sources
jeffl I'm starting from Winster so currently my possible stops look like:
Hassop station (~20 miles)
The bike-hire place in Chee dale (~27 miles)
Hartington (~37 miles)
Tissington Tea Rooms (~52 miles)
Carsington (Tea rooms or visitor centre) (~57 miles)
However, all of them probably involve me buying something, and I was sort of hoping for the occasional tap, like you get on the SDW.
Pook I had a look at the tapandtrough and, whilst its a good idea, there isn't the coverage to help at the moment.
I was planning on carrying 2 bottles (water & sport-drink) but I could also carry a ruck-sack with bladder for another 2L.
Knock on someone's door?
Or ask politely at a garage or cafe.
Look for a church, there will be a tap somewhere around.
I took advantage of this tip yesterday around Exmoor, cheers God 👍
plenty of campsites, just cycle in and refill at any of the taps in the camping field. Who's gonna say 'no you can't have some water' if you get challenged.
Thanks for all the replies. I did this yesterday so thought, whilst its still fresh in my brain, that I'd write a quick review so that its here for anyone else wanting to give it a go.
1. There was actually no shortage of water availability. Starting in Winster I passed cafes/shops in: (Note: These are my approximate distances from Winster)
Edensor (17 miles)
Hassop Station (20 miles)
Miller's Dale (25 miles)
Chee Dale (26 Slightly off the route at the hire place)
Hartington (36)
Wetton Mill (43)
Mill Dale (48)
Tissington (52)
Carsington (56)
Note that the stop at Tissington (in the car-park) doesn't open if there are no visitors (e.g. bad weather) but the toilets do, and I was told there is a tap on the end of the building (though the proprietor filled my bidons whilst making me a cup of tea). There is also a tea room in the village.
2. As a route its OK, but not great. Some bits, like Gratton Dale (just after Elton), I found hard to ride - A narrow path, and very stony. Also, some bits are just across grassy fields. It makes a routes like the SDW look like a motorway in comparison.
3. There are lots of shonky gates. Many needing 2 hands, and some where I had to dismount. Not a problem, but it mounts up.
4 I can't recall where I got my GPX from, but is wasn't 100% accurate, so I found myself actually at Pilsbury Castle (and having to get out via a kissing gate) when I should have been slightly North of there. Signage is patchy, with long sections where I saw none of the specific blue signs. (Or perhaps I wasn't in the right place!).
Overall it was OK. The views are fabulous, and the logistics much simpler than an A-B route like the SDW. I'll probably ride it again, but I'm not sure that I'd recommend someone going a long way to do it. So, if you're in the area and fancy a big day then this is it.
My route here, though as mentioned above, its not quite right, https://www.strava.com/activities/2393643590
LR
Had a go at that last year on mtb starting near buxton and wish i had properly planned water stops like this,took one bottle and winged it had a quick stop at a tea rooms in over haddon,suffered towards the end,nice day out though.
The refill app is a bit better populated than tapandtrough.