Ashbourne to Matlock Gravel – not Tissington Trail?

High Peak and Tissington Trails are fairly easy to access from home (done HPT/Monsal Trail loop).

Looking to head up to HPT – either via Matlock and Middleton Top, or up through Winster and jump on at the Y-Not site (Mouldridge) and then shoot off to Ashbourne on the Tissington line (as not been up there before). Don’t want an out and back, so looking for gravel bike suitable (and slop free) routes back – probably heading over Carsington direction.

Had a look at a few apps, but not sussed out a defined route. Anyone done this with as little road as possible – don’t mind a bit through villages (eg Brassington etc)

This is very weird timing.  I was about to post asking about the High Peak & Monsal loop from Matlock to see if it’s all open and rideable at the moment as I plan to drive up there this Saturday-

https://www.strava.com/routes/2820608145745624730

This thread may give me some ideas for a Sunday ride too.

I was about to post asking about the High Peak & Monsal loop from Matlock to see if it’s all open and rideable at the moment as I plan to drive up there this Saturday-

Yeah, it’s fine all year round – the Monsal Trail is generally very busy with walkers who seem oblivious to the fact that it’s a multi use trail on a pleasant weekend though. Did that loop from Darley Dale and added some woody/techy bits around Matlock and Black Rocks on the ebike back end of summer last year and did the reverse (but cut down through Winster) on the gravel a couple of weeks ago.

Doing the traditional loop you’ve posted, the only sketchy bit is the PBW down to Cheedale/Millers Dale – very slippy limestone, but it’s only a short section. People were pushing down it while I was pushing up it the other week

My suggestion would be East out of Ashbourne, over the bridleway over Madge Hill to Kniveton. Over Wigber Low on the bridleway. Few miles heading North on the road to Ballidon, then the long green lane through Roystone rocks up to the HPT at Mouldridge. Then either back down Long Dale and Bradford Dale to Youlgreave if you don’t mind a bit of cheek.

You could have a look at the track from Waterhouses to Wettonmill and Hulme End. You can link to the Tissington trail via minor roads and some tracks.

” the Monsal Trail is generally very busy with walkers who seem oblivious to the fact that it’s a multi use trail on a pleasant weekend though”

I shall ensure my bell is in full working order for the weekend then!

Seems topical to mention this organised ride which I’m hoping to head up for in 9 days time:

The Peaky Finder 2024

Looks good but seems to be the Tissington Trail?

Looks good but seems to be the Tissington Trail?

Can’t really work out exactly where that does and doesn’t go tbh. I will be using the TT – to get to Ashbourne. It’s the return route I’m looking for to make a loop

The South Peak loop heads up from Carsington water over to Grangemill and then Ible. From there you could easily drop down to Matlock (emerging somewhere near Sainsburys) via Blakemere lane, Nailor lane, and Salters lane.

South Peak Long-distance Ride

Not to derail from the OP (see what I did there…!) but an extra Tissington Trail question if I may. What would the TT from Ashbourne to Buxton ride like on a road bike fitted with 32mm tyres?

I’ve walked little sections of the TT, those bits looked fine for a road bike with fat tyres but I’ve only seen a teeny bit in comparison to the entite route.

What would the TT from Ashbourne to Buxton ride like on a road bike fitted with 32mm tyres?

Fine in dry weather. TT stops a few miles short of Buxton itself iirc

I’ve ridden from Biggin to Tissington a few times on a road bike with 28mm conti gatorskins and it was fine (well I got away with it 😉

MoreCashThanDash & littlerob – thanks for that, TT sounds perfectly doable on a road bike then. Hoping to visit in the Spring.

using Google streetview it’s possible to check out the TT surfaces etc, eg

https://maps.app.goo.gl/bVDB5hQwjuJfdNwP9

https://maps.app.goo.gl/QUEQgKZufakKgiaJ8

but check the dates of the image capture!