I’m going to Landal Darwin Forest, near Matlock, on a family break at Easter.
Can anyone please recommend some riding that’s close by or easily accessible quickly by car so that I can smash a quick ride out in the early morning and get back at a reasonable time to spend the day with the family?
TIA

Loads of riding straight from the door (especially if you go out early…). Best trails are cheeky, just follow your nose.

Grab an OS map (and Strava) and look for Whitesprings plantation, Hall dale, Farley Moor, Upper Moor in the old quarry. Also some big dirt jumps off Sandy Lane (in Farley Woods) if that’s your thing.

Further towards Matlock there is Lumsdale, or off the back there is riding towards Ashover. (Have a look at the Ashover loop from the White Peak book). Or you could piece together parts of the 5 dales route (from the same book).

Thanks! Will have a look now…

Bump for the evening crowd

Make sure you lock your bikes up – a couple of years someone had there’s nicked from up there!

Forestry up there will be almost certainly wet (unless we have a heatwave), you can do about 8 mls up with there with minimal road mileage

The Vertebrate White Peak book will be a good investment

Unless it dries significantly in the next 6 weeks I’d suggest you take a drive Northwards to the Dark Peak, or park on the High Peak Trail at Newhaven and piece together some of the Millers Crossing route, which is relatively well drained.

http://flattyres-mtb.co.uk/route-guides/peak-district-mtb-routes/millers-crossing/

Currently, everywhere is flooded and swamp like, especially around the 5 Dales Route (I live on Bradford Dale and we have a lovely new lake).

Second the wet advice. Get ye to Hope 🙂

If you drop me your email addy I have some gpx files you can see a whole load of options right from the door as the guys above have said.

I can get to this route from my door, but it’s about 15-20 minutes drive from where you’ll be.

Eyam winter ride

There’s a little bit in the woods opposite Matlock Farm Park that’s good fun. Riding round a quarry (or something) in a tiny area a couple of hundred metres across. Great fun though. Have a look at https://www.strava.com/activities/1492841144 and https://www.strava.com/activities/1537109270 it’s not all universally great, and as others have said can be muddy, but there are some good bits in there.

LR