Are there any peak locals that know if this loop is ride-able yet? I’ve done some googlefu and whilst it appears its not officially open, it looks like most of it is ride-able.

It would make a good ride to do with my dad so interested if anyone has ridden it.

Thanks

No idea. Sounds like it’s mostly just linking up existing trails. Did the south peak loop last year which probably covers a lot of the same area.

http://www.peakhorsepower.co.uk/south-peak-loop/4591186779

http://my.viewranger.com/route/details/ODUyMjc=

several parts on the ground between Bakewell and Matlock are not rideable without a (unsigned) road diversion

Matlock-Darley Dale – open to walkers, surface completed but no crossing of the railway at Matlock end available for cyclists yet

Darley Dale- Rowsley – all works complete but not officially open until crossing at Matlock is resolved then will all be opened together

Rowsley-Bakewell – 4km section of old railway works not started, landowner negotiations and funding still underway but
“There is a way of using existing public rights of way to get from Rowsley to Bakewell
without going on the A6 via a public bridleway and non-classified highway. We are currently looking at the feasibility of formally promoting and signing these as a temporary off road alternative until the main onward route along the line of the former railway is completed”

I understood as well the run into Buxton is a way off being complete due to issues over land ownership although this is only a short 150m section, extension of High Peak and Monsall trails into centre of Buxton is still under discussion as far as I know

so there should be enough finished that you could ride it with the aid of a map to get round bits that arn’t finished. If you can access the bits that are finished but not officially open yet I don’t know, they may well be barriered off at either end

It’s fairly easy to join the high peak trail to the Monsal Trail, couple of options.

Not sure about the other end though.

Not sure about the other end though

once the link above is fully open all the way through to Matlock station is is a relatively short road section from Cromford along Starkholmes Road and the A615 to Matlock
Alternatively just go up A6 through Matlock Bath (avoids a bit of a short but stiff hill)

There is a way of using existing public rights of way to get from Rowsley to Bakewell
without going on the A6 via a public bridleway and non-classified highway

.

Can you shed any light on that? Do they mean nipping around the back of Bakewell Showground?

Take Church Lane from A6 at Rowsley and continue through Coombs Farm. Perfectly legit.

Thanks for all the replies, we’re going to take a map and give it a go tomorrow. Openstreetmapping shows the bit from Monsal to Rowsley as a track so going to try that.

Thanks for all the replies, we’re going to take a map and give it a go tomorrow.

Can you post a report ? Cheers

Peak District MTB have some helpful guides

Eyam White Peak Winter Mountain Bike Route

The South Peak Loop is it any good?

conditions: http://www.twitter.com/kofthep

rone – Member
There is a way of using existing public rights of way to get from Rowsley to Bakewell
without going on the A6 via a public bridleway and non-classified highway
.
Can you shed any light on that? Do they mean nipping around the back of Bakewell Showground?

POSTED 1 DAY AGO # REPORT-POST
simon1975 – Member
Take Church Lane from A6 at Rowsley and continue through Coombs Farm. Perfectly legit.

POSTED 1 DAY AGO # REPORT-POST

This
Easy enough to follow on the ground, road turns to farm track, bit gravelly, a little climb then downhill back to a path qcross a field on the right that finishes at the end of the Monsall trail
If you miss the field path the track carries on to join the A6 near the entrance to Bakewell showground

Got ya.

I never knew if the track that went through the farm was a ROW.

Matlock-Darley Dale – open to walkers, surface completed but no crossing of the railway at Matlock end available for cyclists yet

There is one in there now, you just use a former pedestrian only gate thirty yards down the track instead. Bit of a shambles on Peak Rail’s part that.

You can, going towards Matlock on a mountain bike, carry on along the footpath, push the bike over the bridge over the Derwent then ride down a set of stairs and along the riverside path to pop out right in the middle of town.

We did the ride yesterday and had a good time. High peak to Buxton is no problem using the sustrans route but we got into a muddle making it from Buxton to Monsal, may use a few back roads and the Pennine bridleway if we do it again. The rest of the route is fairly straight forward with a map to work your way round. As mentioned at Matlock station you will have to carry your bike over the bridge and take the gate on the left. This pop’s you out in Matlock. Some good scenery and a few climbs. Came out at 90k with a few detours.