I had the day off work yesterday and mate and I went had ourselves a day up the white peak. Starting in bakewell, up over the moor, then up and then down coombs dale, up round the riley graves then back up and down, up down up down and ending with the descent through the golf course ending in bakewell. What a fantastic ride, just 21 miles but very nearly 3k foot of climbing. Absolutely stunned by the quality of the downhill in the area, especially the last one through the golf course. A great big slog up from pilsey past the church and you wonder if it’ll be worth it, it is!
Right at the start where the bridleway drops away from the tarmac you can see another well worn track leading off to the left. My mate says ‘there’s a been a few bikes through there.’ Dropping round the bend you come upon a mass of roots spreading out in all directions, not only roots but massive slabs of stone, drops and boulders, more roots and it was great fun picking a fast line through it all. There was a criss cross of tracks that were dieing to be explored, we were short of time and had to get back but I will definitely be returning here to explore that wood properly.
It's highlighted for some work by DCC isn't it?
It seems you're right oldman.
http://www.peakdistrictmtb.org/index.php/74-bakewell-golf-course-downhill-what-s-going-on
rather rubbish, ride it while you can it seems.
Absolutely stunned by the quality of the downhill in the area
Really? I guess as a local I take them for granted, but I wouldn't describe any as stunning! Not a patch on Dark peak, Wales, Lakes etc
Sorry, that sounded a bit negative! If you enjoy the area, the 5 dales route is worth a crack when the weather gets better.
Also worth an explore around black rocks (bit destroyed by forestry at moment), Crich chase and shining cliff.
Lots in that part of the woods and then through to Rowsley. I believe the majority of it is private land (Haddon Hall estate) and marked as permissable footpaths. I've ridden it for years but always stuck to the existing paths.
Cheers for the tip benman I will have a look at those places? I'm guessing they're all bit cheeky?
I've done lots of routes in the lakes and in wales and although some of the scenery is a lot more stunning than in derbyshire the quality of the descent (completely subjective) and the sheer number of tracks available means that I route I did yesterday was one of the best rides of my mtb life.
The 5 dales route is in the Vertebrate book, and on a few websites. No cheekiness involved on that one.
The other stuff is cheeky, but its all on Strava so pretty easy to find nowadays.
the other descents I really like in that area are the switchbacks into Youlgreave and a cheeky one in the woods above Beeley. The whole area makes a nice change from the dark peak.