Howdy. I'm heading to the Peak District in a couple of weeks and hoping to get some riding in. I'll be with my son, who is 14 and relatively fit. He has done a reasonable amount of riding in bike parks, but I'm looking forward to getting him out on bridlepaths etc to enjoy a less manicured ride. I'm not that familiar with the Peaks myself, so I was wondering whether anyone could link to some good suggestions that fulfil the following criteria:
- not to far from an 'exit point' (although he is fairly fit, there is some work to do on stamina!)
- Ridable in the wet
- Mostly blue track equivalent, but not averse to some red-type sections. Happy to hike-a-bike sections if he isn't confident enough. Want to avoid too much 'easy' riding, i.e. less than 50% tarmac or fire road if possible.
- Half day ride if not taking any breaks (though we will take breaks).
We're staying near Hope, so near there would be great. The bikes are up to punishment and I will ensure that we're properly equipped for all eventualities. The last time I asked for suggestions here, I got sent on a ride around Ullswater that remains one of my favourites that I have ever done, so hopefully can get something similar. Thank you in advance, Dave.
There’s loads to go at, more than you can fit into a weekend (though you don’t say how long you’re stopping).
From Hope I’d be looking at a warm up road (or hop in the car and drive) to Castleton then up the broken road and Mam Nick to Hollins Cross and down north to Backtor farm. On then up Jaggers Clough to Hope Cross and then can do either potato alley (north westish), the beast (north eastish) or all the way along to Hope Brink. There’s a good climb back up from the reservoir (Elmin Pitts) which means you can lap combinations of the above. Either way the last downhill into Hope is good value.
Should have said there’s equally good riding on Shatton Edge (more 4x4 track but great views), Offerton BW, Bradwell Edge (pretty steep mind for blue trail comparison) and even Stanage Edge and Plantation BW (again a bit technical at the top but rideable after the first hairpin).
Shatton Edge down into Bradwell is a lovely bit of trail from what I remember. Could be pretty wet up there mind.
Backtor farm is probably a good descent to start on - it's not too committed by Peak standards. If that feels like it's almost too much, you might want to avoid the Beast and Potato Alley.
A loop around Stanage is probably not a bad idea - generally a bit less techy around there and you can include Devil's Elbow for a bit of fun. The first switchback off Stanage is rideable, as is the drop after it but there's no shame in pushing!
if you're staying in Hope, there's loads to go at and most of it works both ways and you're never that far from base. If you stick to legal ROW, with the possible exception of Cavedale, nothing is killer tech - even "The Beast" is not very beastly if you have you ignore the name, and the rock is generally very grippy. Expect it to be wet, filthy and to get through brake pads at the moment
As a starter for 10, starting from Hope - up Pindale, Dirtlow Rake and round the Limestone Way to Mam Nick. There's a choice of 3 descents off the Great Ridge (BackTor, Greenlands, Cold Side) into Edale, up Jaggers Clough to Hope Cross. Then you could go straight back to Hope on the Roman Road or if things are going well, down the Beast and up Elmin pits or Sh*tbastard back onto Hope Brink and down the Roman Road.
Cafe Adventure for post ride scran!
Stanage and Blacka are a bit of a hike from Hope and although good riding, you'll need to do a fair amount of road to link it up.
Agree with the general gist of the posts above but:
- Not convinced about going up Pindale unless it's settled down a lot. Don't get me wrong, it's a brilliant climbing challenge at certain points in its cycle, but might just be a lot of pushing for a wean.
- Stanage plantation is indeed one of the best descents around, but it ain't blue grade.
- If you want to minimise road work ( don't we all) then I like Mam Nick, down Toboggan Run up to Hollins then down Backtor though admittedly that's not really blue either!
From Hope I’d be looking at a warm up road (or hop in the car and drive) to Castleton then up the broken road and Mam Nick to Hollins Cross and down north to Backtor farm. On then up Jaggers Clough to Hope Cross and then can do either potato alley (north westish), the beast (north eastish) or all the way along to Hope Brink. There’s a good climb back up from the reservoir (Elmin Pitts) which means you can lap combinations of the above. Either way the last downhill into Hope is good value.
This is a good suggestion. Perhaps with two tweaks:
- Drive to Mam Nick area to start the route, then collect the car yourself later that gives the wean a free 240hm
- From Mam Nick, do the Toboggan/Hollins/Backtor Z to get two decent descents and minimise tarmac
Alternative from Hope (considering the 'blue' remit).
Up the Roman Road to Hope Cross.
Along and down Potato Alley.
Up past the farm to Lockerbrook
Down Lockerbrook to the reservoir.
Spin back along the road to the car park (good spot for some refuelling at the 'shack' there).
Across past the dam and along to the cobbled climb and up across the moor.
Traverse around to the Whinstone Lee Tor / Cutthroat Bridge descent.
Spin along the road for a bit, turn right towards the car park again and up the Screaming Mile.
Down Hagg Farm.
Across Snake Pass and push up alongside The Beast (or ride it if you're that way inclined/fitter than me/have a motor). Alternatively spin along the reservoir and climb up at Elmin Pitts.
Blast back down the Roman Road to finish.
It's a good, classic loop. Only downside is that there aren't many easy exit points once you drop off the ridge away from Hope.
push up alongside The Beast
You what now.....?
climb up at Elmin Pitts
Phew... Sanity restored.
I think you need to be more precise with your directions colournoise. I know that area really well and don't follow your suggestion. In fact I've just realised that this:
Across past the dam and along to the cobbled climb and up across the moor.
Actually means the opposite of what I thought it did. I thought you meant the bridleway behind the pub that goes up to WLT and is almost all rideable. And contains cobbles.
But given that you say:
Cutthroat Bridge descent.
I can only assume you mean to go up the paving slabs ascent then down the cobbles.
I'm not convinced. The paving slabs is indeed a classic ascent if you're on it but for most people it's far more rideable in the other direction ( though of course much longer)
Down Lockerbrook to the reservoir
up the Screaming Mile.
Are these the same thing?
Or, buy one of these books (sign up for emails first and get 10% off) it’ll give you a good overall picture of the area and time for some enjoyable fireside studying before you go! GPX downloads included, available from Vertebrate publishing, Sheffield.
Lots of great suggestions for Hope based routes. Alternatively if you don't mind a short drive I'd suggest the eastern moors route, in keeping with your blue/red grading criteria. Although will be wet as we've had loads of rain recently.
Can extend up across Houndkirk moor if you want, or extend to Devils Elbow. On Baslow Edge id recommend taking the upper optional route.
Edit: can also take the left after the Grouse pub, which will take you to Longshaw, for food and drink. Also a nice cafe in the carpark at Curbar gap Fri-Sun.
The routes suggested above will be hard for most 14yos with not much xc experience - that's likely fine, but set expectations that it's ok to push a lot of these climbs and they're cumulatively tiring. (Peak climbing is hard - I've done all of the above routes with my kids over the past few years and it's been a learning experience).
I do the Beast variant of colournoise's route with my 14 yo daughter and it's good. Roman Rd climb is scenic and mainly rideable for her. Beast is great and should be ok if your lad has done park stuff, but Potato alley gives you a gentler road climb up the other side. There's an outdoor cafe at the dam in fairholmes to stop for a break. The climb up to Winstone Lee Tor will be a big push but is worth it for a great descent.
Back to Hope on the cycle path then road then makes a nice do-able ride - on the off chance that your lad is still raring to go after WLT, you can keep the screaming mile climb (hard) / Hagg farm / Elm pits / Hope brink end variation up your sleeve.
Beast is great and should be ok if your lad has done park stuff, but Potato alley gives you a gentler road climb up the other side
You do know if you do the Beast, don't go over the bridge to the A57? Go left into the woods just before the bridge and apart from an initial little climb it's pretty flat along to the bottom of Potato Alley?
My first thought was the classic man tor figure 8 from the Vertebrate Publishing books, which are well worth getting, but then noticed Peak District MTB have a good all weather version worth a look.
Down Lockerbrook to the reservoir
up the Screaming Mile.
Are these the same thing?
Nope. The screaming mile is the climb up from Bridge End Car Park.
screaming mile is the climb up from Bridge End Car Park.
The bridleway past Crookhill Farm etc? That joins Hagg, Rowlea and Lockerbrook bridleways at the top.
Righto
See I've heard both Lockerbrook (we actually used to call it Suicide Brake) and the climb up from Bridge End car park (the one halfway down the road to Fairholmes, on the left) described as Screaming Mile. Which is where all this gets a bit confusing. Not the climb past Crookhill though, that's just the climb past the farm.
Which is why I am keen to use names from the OS Maps for the OP's benefit rather than names that different people use for different trails.
Saying which.... Toboggan Run that I referred to is Mam Nick to Greenland's Farm 🙂
That was always just Greenlands. But Toboggan Run suits it well.
Take some tubeless worms with you - some of the rocks don't take prisoners lightly. It's a memorable place to ride though. Don't be afraid to push, as the trails can be rough. Go for it!
Which is why I am keen to use names from the OS Maps for the OP's benefit rather than names that different people use for different trails.
Quite. The Screaming Mile is often confused by folk. I think the biggest issue is that the name actually suits Lockerbrook far more. Screaming mile just sounds like a brilliant descent, not a crappy long climb. And then you get different names to the traditional ones being used when strava segments get set up i.e. Les Arcs now seems to be called Alpine (not a huge leap i know)
I think the Screaming Mile that isn't Lockerbrook used to be an ace fast descent, then it got resurfaced. That's going back a while though. And obviously Lockerbrook itself has been resurfaced too, now. Which probably makes it screaming-er to be fair.
Les Arcs now seems to be called Alpine (not a huge leap i know)
Think I always knew that as New Pants Please, or is that somewhere different again - switchbacks down to the pub?
Is that trail fair game at the moment btw, wasn't there a bit of a bike ban at some point?
Is that trail fair game at the moment btw, wasn't there a bit of a bike ban at some point?
Still a big source of conflict with walkers and now in even more of a tracked out mess than before. Certainly not what it used to be. If ridden, best ridden off peak.
Only ever known it as Les Arcs. Rode it once (in it's newer, wider, messier guise). Have never felt the need to go back.