I'm riding the Pennine Bridleway (on the August bank holiday).
I will start in Sheffield (for sake of fast cheap trains from London, and because I've never found the south peaks too exciting).
From Sheffield I know a nice route Porter Brook -> Redmires Reservoir -> Stanage Edge -> Derwent.
By default, I would take the cut gate path to Langsgett, and then follow the TransPennine Trail ( http://www.transpenninetrail.org.uk/) to join the Pennine bridleway at Tintwistle.
However, I was also wondering about SusTrans route 68 instead- it seems a better way to bash out a relatively boring looking section.
Any thoughts, or other suggestions?
I recently did part of your planned route (although in reverse).
I left the pennine bridleway above Marsden and dropped down into Marsden before going over to Holmbridg. Then over to Winscar Reservoir (taking in part of route 68) before down the transpennine trail and across over to Langsett and over Cut Gate.
It worked quite well and most is off road. Some of my ascents would make easy but uninteresting descents. Dropping down into Holmbridge would be a good descent and it looked like there where some sneaky tracks in the woods down to Brownhill Reservoir. The climb on the bridleway out of Marsden would be a killer though. Great descent for me though!
Also first post after lurking for ~6months 🙂
thanks Charlie. Would you say the route generally is better north to south?
Tough one really... I've only done it once and it was my first ride in the Peak District. Guess it depends on how much you like pushing up hill??
Ascent
I imagine going South to North you have got 2 climbs that aren't great: Howden reservoir to Margery Hill and Marsden up Marsden moor. You'll probably end up pushing up some of these. Going North to South there are 2 long lung buster climbs (at least for me): Piethorne reservoir to the a672 and the Kirklees way up Wesden Moor.
Descent
Going South to North there would be a couple of uninteresting descents that would be mainly gravel tracks: down Wesden Moor and down to Piethorne reservoir. However going down cut gate to Langsett would be awesome and I think down to Ramsden reservoir especially if you find the cheeky tracks in the woods.
Going North to South you have the pleasure of dropping down to Marsden, I really enjoyed that descent when I did it. I was too tired to enjoy the descent down the Howden reservoir. The descent into Holmbridge isn't great and I took the Bridleways round Bradshaw.
Also the bridleway from Marsden up via Wessenden is marked as public foot path on my 1:50K but is a bridleway on my 1:25K??
Not much help really! I only went North to south because I was meeting friends in Hathersage so started from my house in Todmorden. I think the thought of doing cut-gate south to north might swing it in your intended direction if I am honest!
That's a great help really, although the answer seems to be "there's not much in it"!
My challenge now is to service my suspension in time.