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My new(ish) job means I no longer have the luxury of midweek-freedom. No more cheeky trails for me then, alas.
So, I want to ride int' Peaks this weekend but don't want to be bogged down with ramblers and dogs and children. Where is my best bet? It has to be accessible by train and be super-gnar, maybe with a cafe halfway.
My usual routes are Mam Tor, Beast, Cut-gate, Derwent Edge sort of area.
If anyone is out this weekend, and feels like an impromptu Singletrack reunion, then I'm down for that also.
On another not, I'd quite like to ride Blakka Moor at some point but don't know any of the routes around that way, recommendations?
Cheers
Andy
It's all fine on a weekend. There will be more walkers, but not THAT many. Jacob's Ladder is usually quite busy, but the rest of that loop from Edale is always quiet apart from a couple of bits. Most of the stuff around Ladybower will be fine. Same with Cutgate.
We're riding from Rowarth on Sunday, but I don't think there's a station there?
As above really, earlier you set off the quieter generally I find also.
There is a good loop from Dore station that includes Blacka and I find everyone goes early to avoid the crowds. After 5 everyone is on their way home so it's all quiet
Cheers folks, I've never actually been on a weekend so was fearing the worst. Going mega early isn't really an option with rail travel but i'll do my bestest to be out before 10 🙄
going late is a good if an option
4pm onwards everyone has been out and gone home
train to Edale, ride over to Hayfield. Rosies Cafe in Hayfield. Ride back to Edale..
Nearest station to Rowarth would be Marple (not that close!!)
Its never that bad. It can be busy near the car parks, but once you've got about a mile away it really thins out!!
I've had a couple of weekends up there over the last 2 months and always based out of Edale
It's not been to busy and both recent trips have been really nice weather
Jacob's ladder has been quiet climbing the rocky path parallel with the ladder and the descent down the back has had a few ramblers/bikers - but nothing too bad
The Hayfield loop was pretty quiet as well. I only seen other riders on a couple of trips up or down the Beast and i never seen anyone doing some of the rock gardens into Ladybower
Currently, far and away, my favourite place to ride in the UK
2 more weeks to my next visit!!
I always thought Lady Bower was horrendous on summer weekends, bloody mountain bikers every where
I find that in the nice/weather weekends certain parts of the Peaks start getting busy at circa 10-11am onwards.
Especially driving there from Manchester-way. So I always set off by 8am and beat them all and when it starts to get busy I'm just leaving 8)
The Peaks are like The Lakes in terms of rambler traffic - there are honey pot spots that attract the 'hordes' (Jacobs Ladder, Mam Tor, Ladybower for example), but most other areas are relatively quiet.
If you want the hills to yourself for a few hours try and be out by 7 or 8 in the morning.
I used to have Saturday mornings free so would drive out to Ladybower for 7, nice 3-4 hour ride, and arrive back at the car just as it was getting busy ...
It's not usually that bad once you're more thaqn 1/2 mile away from Hope, Castleton, Edale village or Fairholmes, oh and Stanage. The only trails I think of as "busy" are Cavedale, Stanage Packhorse trail and possibly JL, although there's never many walkers on the bridleway section.
You can ride out from Sheff to Hope, Ladybower and back easy enough. Or get the train to Chinley and ride back. Some good stuff over the Churn.
As far as Blacka etc goes - have a look at the map - plenty of bridleways to have a butchers at.
Suggestion for 2-3 hours to take in Blacka from Dore Station for you:
Up through Eccy Woods to Whirlow Bridge, up Coit Lane past Whirlow Hall Farm, follow your nose over to "The Parks" route out of Sheff, up and out and follow the road to Redmires reservoirs.
Up and over Stanage (causeway or cliff descent, your choice!), back up the road (maybe sneek in Burbage if you're feeling cheeky) or Houndkirk Road over to the top of Blacka, take your pick of the 3 Bridleways down (Devil's Elbow the closest to Sheff is a favourite).
Back into Dore village and then look out for the cheeky footpath ('tis marked on the 1:25,000) through the houses back down to the station.
Should be straightforward enough to figure out on the OS map, don't have any of those new fangled GPS things...
Round Linacre/Holymoorside is pretty quite not super knar though ! I am there Sunday morning welcome to join