Any ideas for something not too full on or overly long. To suit taking the other half who is not massively confident on a bike. Definitely not Parkin, Cave Dale, Hope Cross, Doctor’s or Jacobs 😆

Was thinking maybe Cutgate or I might just default to an easyish loop around Goyt Valley.

Easy ride around Derwent?

Tissington or High Peak Trail and a nice pub lunch

If you want scenic, the Eastern Moors Tour is perfect. The “edges” are stunning!

white Peak! Eyam, stoney Middleton, bakewell.

Windgatherer rocks and Taxal Edge are about as scenic as you can get in the Goyt – we did this as a loop starting from Whaley Bridge on Tuesday evening. Even more fun in the dark 🙂

Oh, is almost everything decent in the Goyt cheeky? Didn’t realise 😉

chestercopperpot – Member
Any ideas for something not too full on or overly long.

maybe…

To suit taking the other half who is not massively confident on a bike.

ok…

Was thinking maybe Cutgate

er, what?!

buy this book, there’s some really good stuff in there.

offroad trails and quiet lanes in the peak district

Esme’s Easters Moors tour looks perfect from your description OP.

Esme – I’ve always wondered if there’s a great point to point ‘Edge’ ride to be done.
Derwent Edge, Bamford, Stanage, Frogatt, Curbar etc – but the trails look a bit easy after Stanage – do you know of any good bits we could weave in to keep it on the technical side?

AlexSimon – Member
but the trails look a bit easy after Stanage

give them a go, they’re great – riding along Frogatt is stunning, and a fair bit of mild technical interest.

Thanks ahwiles – sorry to derail the thread!

I’ve done a loot of those in the book above, they are nice if not a little road heavy.

Going along the top of Curbar and Froggatt Edges is classic moorland type riding. It’s recently (this year?) been upgraded to BW status. It’s a broad track which makes it sound boring but you can choose your line to get as much out of it as you want. Popular with walkers though so hooning along on a weekend might not be a good idea.

Top of Bamford edge and Stanage are footpaths still though aren’t they? The landowner of Bamford edge and the area immediately below is/was particularly sniffy about even walkers and runners not sticking to the path, there’s quite a bit of guidance relating to accessing the crag for climbing so biking there definitely wouldn’t be good for local relations

I think they got a bit cheesed off as people were walking up their drive to access Bamford edge instead of sticking to the footpath that goes around from the side. Last time I was that way they’d fences loads of it.

Top of Bamford edge and Stanage are footpaths still though aren’t they

Stanage is a FP, Bamford doesn’t have any RoW along the rocky edge.

Yep you definitely have to go the top of the New Road just before it levels off to cross the fence now.

Thanks Alex, yes, realise that one is a recognised RoW and Bamford isn’t, was just suggesting that riding a bike on there may cause a few local grumbles given the relatively sensitive access issues to the crag already.

In answer to the OP there’s a really nice ride from Bakewell over to Chatsworth then down to Rowsley I think and back to Bakewell. Nothing technical from memory and a few options to shorten the ride. Could always stop at the Devonshire Arms in Beeley too for a bite to eat afterwards (or on route), very nice spot.

+1 for the Eastern Moors route. You have the bonus that on Big Moor at the moment it’s red deer rutting season and there are some big fellows up there to marvel at (from a distance). There is a slightly more challenging alternative at Baslow Edge traversing below the crag rather than the easy path above. But really the route is all about scenery.

now then OP, you don’t mention how long a ride you’re looking for.

can i suggest that you start off with something in the order of 10k?

speaking from experience, it’s MUCH better to finish a 10k ride, with your better half saying ‘that was fun, maybe we could go further next time…?’ than finish a 23k ride in dark, hostile, simmering silence.

do you know of any good bits we could weave in to keep it on the technical side?

Agree that Esme’s link is perfect for the OP – worth noting that there is a cafe at Longshaw so you may want to put that in the middle of the route (or at the end if you want cake before and after the ride!)

As to more technical bits, you could incorporate one or more of the Blacka descents into that loop. You could even do Fox House – HoundKirk – Lady Cannings – Jumble Lane – Blacka (hope that makes any sense !).

Often thought it would be great if you could get onto the moors from the A57 without having to go down to LadyBower or Rivelin, but it’s not likely to happen without major land reform !

Yes, definitely worth calling at Longshaw for a cuppa, especially as they’ve created some new bridleways for us 🙂

Cheers Esme. Did the ride you suggested. Was a bit drizzly and misty so couldn’t make the most of the views.

Would probably do the optional bit over the top of Baslow edge next time. All the climbs were mellow-n-easy which was a nice change. The downs a bit short but expected for a relatively mellow ride and ideal for a newbie!

Food at the Grouse Inn (all on it’s own in the middle of no where) was good. Massive portions of good quality home-made steak pie and decent draught ale.

Will have to read through the rest of the posts as I reckon there could be a very pleasant summer ride to be had round there.

@ proutster – Yup you can get Shining Tor, Shooters and those tracks off The Street down to the reservoirs in as well. Not sure what the best loop would be!