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I'm joining up a few loops from an old vertebrate graphics guidebook to ride in a new (to me) area of the Peak District.
Anything to be aware of (good pubs/places to avoid) in the above area please?
Bees. Millions of them. Lovely, assuming you’re not allergic or have a phobia of them.
I think I've got a rough idea of the route you've got in mind, I've got a couple of those Vertebrate Graphics books.
Not sure I'd make a specific trip to the area to ride that route, it's more the sort of thing that's a nice couple of hours evening loop for a local. That said, it's all nice enough, the trails are bone dry (almost *too* dry!) and nothing that I'd particularly warn about. Some of the descents off Chinley are towards the MTB end of the spectrum rather than gravel though.
Once you've finalised the route, pop up a link if you can.
Thanks. It’s more that Chinley is a relatively convenient way for me to access the Dark Peak, and so I’m exploring what else there is around the area.
Probably not quite the right area but papermill and/or old hall inn in chinley are very nice pubs. You can take the canal back to new mills etc depending on where your loop is taking you.
If it were me and out for a day I'd make my way over to Hayfield from lantern pike (coffee + cake in sett valley cafe), up towards mount famine/South head and back via the camp site. Maybe climb up to shooting cabins as well if you fancy a bit more and back towards lantern pike .
Depends really what loop you have in mind and how big you want to make it
I’m on tenterhooks
Well, for now, I seem to remember the route from the books goes up Greenshall Lane, which is madness, it's a horrible climb and a fun descent.
How far do you want to do? And starting in Chinley? If you want to do High Peak starting there, I'd be heading Hayfield way.
I'll come up with something once I've pretended to work for a bit
Hello stranger, not seen you in some time! Depending which version of the VG White Peak book you have, I'm on the inside front cover and Jane's on the back cover. We probalby last rode together shortly after those photos were taken to be fair
Probably not quite the right area but papermill and/or old hall inn in chinley are very nice pubs. You can take the canal back to new mills etc depending on where your loop is taking you
If anything I'd say you should plan your route around using these pubs as your post-ride refreshments. I count the Old Hall as my local despite living ten miles away along the canal. Great pub with a good range of beers and excellent food.
I seem to remember the route from the books goes up Greenshall Lane, which is madness, it's a horrible climb and a fun descent.
Could not agree more with this and with the other points raised. I don't have a copy of the Dark Peak book to hand, must have loaned it out to someone, but would recommend waiting to see what @IHN suggests. The Hayfield loop in the White Peak book looks like it covers some good stuff though I think at one point someone started playing silly buggers with access rules around the Matley moor end. It's been so long since I rode any MTB I couldn't say if that's still an issue
Well, for now, I seem to remember the route from the books goes up Greenshall Lane, which is madness, it's a horrible climb and a fun descent.
That was a common Vertebrate Graphics theme. Most loops were better in the reverse direction to that given in the guidebook.
If you want to avoid Hayfield (which I guess folks might as if they've ridden in the Peak then they've likely ridden around there) and do some 'new' stuff, here's a little something I've just knocked up. Fairly punchy climbs-wise but there's some obvious bits that can be cut off/bypassed
Pubs/cafe's wise that you'll pass - Sett Valley Cafe (excellent), Little Mill at Rowarth (good reputation, but not been for ages), Devonshire Arms in Mellor (fine for a pint, never eaten there but I'm guessing average food), Fox at Brookbottom (nice spot, very average food), Dandy Cock in Disley (good pub food), White Horse in Disley (excellent food but more 'restauranty'), Malt Disley (loads of beers, no food), Ram's Head (poncy, shit).
Just off route there's loads of cafe's in New Mills, plus bakery, chippy etc.
That was a common Vertebrate Graphics theme. Most loops were better in the reverse direction to that given in the guidebook.
See also: every route guide from MBR!
One of the routes around Chinley Churn suggests a climb from Hayfield up to the ridge line which is a full on hike a bike but a great descent.
Greenshall Lane I've ridden both up and down and it's crap both ways. If you want to go to the top of it, you're best going along the canal to Disley, across the road then a nice steady gravel climb up the side of Lyme Park (it's called Red Lane at the Disley end then it becomes Green Lane higher up, brings you out on Buxton Old Road or Mudhurst Lane depending on which fork you take).
Greenshall Lane I've ridden both up and down and it's crap both ways.
Nah, it's fun down, it's like a mini Potato Alley.
Waves. Agree with the above comments regarding Greenshall lane.
Also agree with others that the Sett Valley cafe is really good, as is the Old Hall, Chinley, a very bike friendly pub.
I possibly shouldn't be mentioning this (especially in school holidays and in good weather), but Cracken edge is a footpath, which 'could' be ridden at quiet times and hopefully without a grumpy farmer or redsock around.
When are you considering this ride?
Also agree with others that the Sett Valley cafe is really good, as is the Old Hall, Chinley, a very bike friendly pub.
SVC has gone downhill a bit with the new owners. The sandwich I had there the other day was minging. Coffee and cake is still decent though.
On The Bridge in New Mills is nice, you can sit outside with the bikes tucked around the side or the back.
SVC has gone downhill a bit with the new owners
Thanks for the heads up. I think the pies are still made by the previous owner.
On The Bridge in New Mills is nice, you can sit outside with the bikes tucked around the side or the back.
Agreed. As is Arlo's on the canal.
On the route above, if you want to sack off the final climb (and you might) then turn right at Goytside Farm and get up onto the canal. Take it all the way to the end in Buxworth (make sure you go left at the junction or you'll go to Whaley), then pick up the old tramway by the (closed) Navigation Inn. That'll pop you out just down the road from the Paper Mill/Old Hall pubs, which are basically in Chinley
On the route above, if you want to sack off the final climb (and you might)
I'd certainly say the final climb is not worth it for the road descent as per the map, but if you were to continue climbing up New allotments and over the top then come back along Cracken Edge, that might be a very worth while investment...
if you were to continue climbing up New allotments and over the top then come back along Cracken Edge, that might be a very worth while investment...
I thought about that to be honest, but coming down Far Phoside to Peep O'Day, but I figured making someone climb New Allotments by that point is just sadism.
If it was me I'd just go along the canal like I said up there ^. In fact if you do that you could do a mild diversion to The Goyt in Whaley, which is one of the greatest pubs in the known universe.
coming down Far Phoside to Peep O'Day
Yeah, that's a good descent too. I've not ridden round there in so long though I can't recall how hard any of it is
I thought about that to be honest, but coming down Far Phoside to Peep O'Day, but I figured making someone climb New Allotments by that point is just sadism.
This sort of weather (or snow / frozen) is the only time I'd ever attempt New Allotments to be honest! It's tough but doable - quite rewarding if you get it right.
Also absolutely horrible in anything other than bone dry conditions. I descended it once in thick snow, that was a right laugh! The snow basically covered all the lumps and bumps and it just flowed beautifully, it was hard enough on the surface to float through an inch of crusty covering.
Agree with everything above, but if you do the route advised by IHN above it would be a travesty not to visit the Hare and Hounds pub at Mill Brow. At least as good as the Old Hall for food... Don't get confused by Hare and Hounds at Werneth Low.
Last time I went to SVC was as the new owners had just took over and the breakfast was good - disappointed if this has changed. The pies and pastries are still provided by the previous owners (Live and Let's Pie I think?!) and these are REALLY good. They stock them at the food hall in New Mills I think and also at the greengrocers in Charlesworth.
it would be a travesty not to visit the Hare and Hounds pub at Mill Brow. At least as good as the Old Hall for food...
I was going to mention there, because it is indeed excellent, but a bit like the White Horse in Disley it's more 'restauranty' than 'mid ride feed-y'
I've been in the Sett Valley Cafe 3 times in the last week. Oooops!
Food has been great every time 🙂
And yes, the previous owner (Jo) still supplies the place.
Also, New Allotments... the flattish, North-to-South, 0.5km at the highest point is currently full of cow shite! I got covered in it last week. Made the second half of my ride a smelly affair.
Wow, this has certainly generated some opinions...
Waves to those I know.
My plan is to do it on my e-bike, so climbs etc aren't a particular problem. No date set yet.
Given all this information, and the opinions expressed, it's looking like a must do now!
I'd do Cracken Edge, Coldwell Clough followed by the Hayfield Campsite descent and the Last Drop into Rowarth, maybe the Phoside descent too, though it culminates in dull double track down into Hayfield. If you're competent, the Swine's Back ridge above Coldwell Clough is good and there's an optional continuation round the corner and directly down to the campsite, which is nadgery.
I like On The Bridge, as does uz dog, the SVC hasn't been the same since it stopped being The Special Touch cafe more than a decade ago...
At weekends there's a coffee trailer thing in the garden of The Sportsman on Kinder Road where they do half decent coffee and quite good, gooey, salted caramel brownies.
All the stuff up towards Disley is a godforsaken slog with little worthwhile pay off once you get there, all imho. Lyme Park is notorious for deer ticks atm.
I quite like the Paper Mill bridleway as a handy, leafy cut across towards the canal after some pavement riding if you've done the Fox Descent, which is pleasant enough, or Linnets Clough, which has the curious property of being a wet mess pretty much most of the year, it's weird.
Sorry, none of that is really much help unless you really want to know where to find a coffee and a salted caramel brownie on Kinder Road at the weekend.
Given all this information, and the opinions expressed, it's looking like a must do now!
Also given the conditions (apart from cow dung of course). I've never seen the area so dry.
It’s more that Chinley is a relatively convenient way for me to access the Dark Peak
For a "gravel" route as opposed to a full-on MTB ride, you could ride the Ronde Van Chinley
https://veloviewer.com/routes/6235441
My plan is to do it on my e-bike
The limits then would be battery life and ride length - how long do you want to be out and how much climbing can your battery cope with?
Linnets Clough, which has the curious property of being a wet mess pretty much most of the year, it's weird.
I rode Linnet's clough on Saturday, just the tinest trickle near the top, meaning it's running very dry and fast. The cheeky woods off the first bend (we call it scouts honour) will be great, 'if' the naughty locals haven't put logs down.
The limits then would be battery life and ride length - how long do you want to be out and how much climbing can your battery cope with?
I think 2000m of climbing is doable with a range extender. Probably 2500m in future once I start playing around with tuning and tyres.
I think 2000m of climbing is doable with a range extender. Probably 2500m in future once I start playing around with tuning and tyres.
Well, know you say that, I have other ideas...
Have you done the 'classic' Hayfieldy stuff (a la Coldwell Clough etc?)
Here you go, here's an extended version for those with the assistance of a mobility scooter
I think 2000m of climbing is doable with a range extender. Probably 2500m in future once I start playing around with tuning and tyres.
Well, know you say that, I have other ideas...
Have you done the 'classic' Hayfieldy stuff (a la Coldwell Clough etc?)
Yes, I went east, down Jacob's Ladder, up to Mam Tor from Edale, back down and across to Hope Cross, down the Roman Road, up Pindale, minced down Cavedale, then up the broken road and back along the edge to Peep O Day. I had 33% battery left, so just trying to work out some more to add on to make a superloop, and explore a bit more.
The ascent and descent of Mam Tor didn't add much, so wouldn't particularly do that again. I wasn't that impressed with Cavedale, mainly because I couldn't ride a section of the middle third.
I think I can probably tag on the Ladybower loop too.
Here you go, here's an extended version for those with the assistance of a mobility scooter
I think that's pretty much what I've put on my Garmin.
To be fair, that's a pretty good route.
Apropos of nothing, for those who have been watching them do up the cottage at Peep O'Day for years, it's on the market. I love it, and it makes like our place seem like it's on a Barratt estate.
3 bedroom detached house for sale in MAYNESTONE ROAD, Chinley SK23 6AH, SK23
Apropos of nothing, for those who have been watching them do up the cottage at Peep O'Day for years, it's on the market. I love it, and it makes like our place seem like it's on a Barratt estate.
3 bedroom detached house for sale in MAYNESTONE ROAD, Chinley SK23 6AH, SK23
Aka, 'the walk through farm' in these circles anyway. That sign at the gate must have been there for over two decades now. Great house, not the most convenient location, which will maybe save it from becoming yet another AirBNB / holiday let. Hopefully someone will fall in love with it and actually live there.
