Anyone give me a recommendation for some riding near S Manchester? Going down to stay with family at the weekend and will probably bring the bike – they're based in Reddish. Will have the car, so anything in the peak district would probably work. I've never ridden in the Peak at all, what are the classic rides Manchester side?

Nearest good place to where you're going is probably Roman Lakes which is Marple way, but Hayfield is only about half an hour away in the car, and strongly recommended.

If you're after a quick blast round Hayfield there are loads of options. How long a ride you thinking of?

I'd head out to Buxton way. Maybe something in the Goyt valley, or around Three Shires Head and you've also got Macclesfield Forest / Wildboarclough area too.

Thanks, I may be lookng for a serious ride or not depending on whether my BiL fancies coming out – he's more of a casual MTBer. Also the weather I guess, it's filthy up here in Scotland at the mo. So quick blast / longer option would be good to hear.

Second snowslaves Marple Roman Lakes. About 5 miles out of Stockport, so off the motorway at the Tesco/Portwood roundabout and follow signs.
The cafe there has free carpark and toilets. For a £1 you can buy a guide.
Why not ride out from there to Hayfield. We did a route a couple of weeks ago, STW Ride: Marple (Stockport). NOW Sunday 8th November (revised date), there should be a route map on this thread.

Sorry don't know how to bring up old threads. 😳

OK, rain proof impossible to get lost trails r'us productions option:

Dead obvious quick ride is park up at the sportsman pub in Hayfield here: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=404497&y=386800&z=120&sv=404497,386800&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=564&ax=404497&ay=386800&lm=0,

go up the Snake Path here: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=404369&y=387800&z=120&sv=404369,387800&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=564&ax=404369&ay=387800&lm=0

Via shooting cabin over middle moor on this bridleway:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=404281&y=388805&z=120&sv=404281,388805&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=564&ax=404281&ay=388805&lm=0

Left when you hit the road, then a right after a couple of hundred of yards, brings you out eventually onto bridleway skirting Lantern Pike here:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=402663&y=388630&z=120&sv=402663,388630&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=564&ax=402663&ay=388630&lm=0

Turn left at Birch Vale and take this bridleway back to Hayfield
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=402375&y=386940&z=120&sv=402375,386940&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=564&ax=402375&ay=386940&lm=0

And to get to Hayfield avoid the A6 and also avoid going via Glossop – both will have horrid traffic. Instead get there via Brookbottom & Charlesworth, by taking a right at the end of the M67.

btw, if you want a serious ride on Sunday, we have plans I could share with you Gary?

Here's the STW Marple ride thread

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/stw-ride-maple-stockport-now-sunday-8th-october-revised-date

there's a link on there to the map fo the route we did – takes in the better of the trails recommended by snowslave

If you google Reddish Vale mtb you might be able to find something. I've never been there but I used to know a guy who went on about it all the time, and at one point was trying to get it turned into a bike park!

the reddish vale thing was never going to get off the ground, too many NIMBYs for that to happen. The chap went on to start the Manchester Mountain Bikers group on Meetup and I beleive had ahand in some of the work at Farmer John's downhill course in Marple Bridge

Cheers all – esp Snowslave for putting up the route info – loads there to be going on with. I'll be out on Sat. Wife is insisting I attend nephew's 2nd birthday party on Sunday!

christ from Reddish the world is yer ostrich! you could Cahdkirk-Marple-Strines or you could canal path out to Dizz and beyond. Hayf is doable 🙂

I've ridden out from North Reddish to Fairholmes (Ladybower) and in a very sad way, set the bike computer to record how much of it was on tarmac. 1.6 kilometres in total. The biggest portion of that was the linking section from the bottom of Hollins Cross to the left hand bridleway to Jaggers Clough in Edale.

Garry – let us know how you get on eh?

I've got loads of routes mapped that would do you including those mentioned above (and more):
Macc Forest & Three Shires
Hayfield Circular
Roman Lakes/Mellor
Hayfield – Edale Classic

If you want copies in either .trl or .gpx format email me via my profile.