You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I am in the very, very early stages of planning a post lockdown gravel ride from my home to the family up north. would be a one way trip with a stop just over midway, somewhere between Derby and Buxton probably a BnB. I know the bits of the ride at both ends but theres a whole lot of stuff in the middle that I haven't the foggiest about. Id like to try and make it as gravel as possible, but more than happy to bumble along some nice country roads and happy to take in some nice off road stuff as well. Some semi-tech riding might be quite nice but I appreciate I do have to actually make progress!
I decided the STW hive mind would be able to help provide advice for hopefully all the blank spots in my route. Here it is: https://www.komoot.com/tour/328216706?share_token=aG6dd0SDCRdzwPWoxMMG23F4pIZJ2Ud9ZZ8lZqzSlqvxwQX79T&ref=wtd
Let me know what you think!
Pop over the Woodhead, (watch for the bloody roadies, they really slow you down) jump onto the M1 at Jn 35A, then a couple of hours on the motorway and off at the jn 15. Easy really. Weekends probably a bit quieter.....
M1 might be considered a bit cheeky.
done these route you could mix and match these to get you near derby
Appreciate time is tight but you could cut out Long Hill and Whaley Bridge to visit some of the Peak Dale villages, maybe using routes like Tissington Trail or other old railways. There's also Pennine Way via Kinder that could be an option? My knowledge of biking around there is zilch so it's more of a driving my car and hiking experience.
If you can get up to Sandiacre you can ride the majority of the Portway (reputed to by an iron age route going from the Trent to Mam Tor/Castleton). The bits which are footpath are easily avoidable on reasonably quiet lanes. From there Roych Clough would get you to Hayfield, although not having been along there in the last ten years I can’t remember if its gravel bike territory.
Aim to pick up the pennine bridleway at Middleton top near carsington res, follow it from there to glossop near enough.
I'd probably jump on the High Peak Trail near Middleton Top / Carsington and follow it to the end. Easy riding, flat and great views all the way to Buxton more or less
Well you've already got the Brampton Valley Way in there so that's my suggestion out the window. Hello from the other side of the racecourse (Abington).
Well you’ve already got the Brampton Valley Way in there so that’s my suggestion out the window. Hello from the other side of the racecourse (Abington).
Hello neighbour! That was the easy bit, its finding some nice lanes and tracks between MH and the Peaks thats going to be tricky!
I’d probably jump on the High Peak Trail near Middleton Top / Carsington and follow it to the end. Easy riding, flat and great views all the way to Buxton more or less
Aim to pick up the pennine bridleway at Middleton top near carsington res, follow it from there to glossop near enough.
Good suggestions, will for sure help me get over towards Chinley where i've got plenty of options depending on how the legs are feeling and how much time i've got left!
Thanks for all the useful comments!
Yep you've already tied in many of the better gravel trails (i.e. disused railway lines). For a stop over both Brassington and Middleton Top are nice small villages with good pubs, if you can find somewhere that has security for your bike, but they make for a long day with the hill at the end.
An alternative around there, if you can find a 'nice' way across Derby following the NCN and regional routes to Kedleston Road or Markeaton, there is a bridleway that takes you south of Kedleston Park and then choose minor roads to Mercaston, then Hullard Ward to Carsington Water. At the southern point car park you can pick up the Carsington Water trail and then NCN547 signposted through Hopton to the High Peak Trail.
Ah brilliant thanks for the pub suggestions.
Looks like I can get through Derby on a riverside path for the most part and then link up with the BW south of Kedleston. From Carsington north I think I am all sorted.
Some simple NCN routes to connect some of the other sections up if I can't find anything more exciting.
Looks like I can choose High peak trail or Tissington with a slight route change coming out of Derby, any suggestions as to which might be better? From research and some google streetview investigation they look fairly similar.
Any real world experience anyone?
I forgot to mention the Monsal Trail too.
The following review might shed some light re their differences:
How about avoiding Leicester and Derby altogether by heading NW from Market Harborough skirting below Leicester on minor roads and heading for Burton-on-Trent and North to join the High Peak Trail in Ashbourne? I haven't cycled that way but worked in that neck of the woods years ago. Back then there were plenty of nice quiet roads.