Dovedale area

Afternoon. We’re going for a family mini break to Wetton (near Dovedale) in Aug and can’t wait. Not ridden in the area at all, so clueless, but familiar with the name. Any advice for some flat gentle family rides, and also something more fun when I have a few hours to escape solo?

thanks in advance

lovely area.

this is one of my favourites, done loads of times solo and with family:

The Manifold Way

Cycling the Manifold Way: everything you need to know

Tissington Trail is good too but the gradients are loooong and might be slight but go on for miles and it can get very windy, which becomes nagging.

Monsal Trail is more interesting but a bit further away, again a rail trail, but with (lit) tunnels, great fun 🙂

as for heading off on your own, get an OS 1:25000 scale map and pick out bridleways and greenlanes, endless opportunities…

Cycled the Manifold Trail years ago and is very picturesque.

No idea about routes for yourself round there as I’m based N.E. of where you’re staying. If you need any advice on routes around Chatsworth, Eastern Moors, Sheffield or Chesterfield way then there have been a few recent threads, or PM me.

Only issue with some of the less moorland based routes is the vegetation going crazy.

Or travel further north and do Hope Valley or Ladybower Classics.

Mac Forrest is another shout, but never managed to get over there myself.

Belated thanks for the suggestions. Will have a look and make some plans!

Thanks

+1 for the Monsal trail for a family ride, if you can get yourself over to Bakewell (the trail starts/ends there). Along with the tunnels previously mentioned, there’s a couple of cafe/ ice cream stops if that’s your (or thr kids!) bag. A well set up cafe at the former Hassop train station (and you can park there as an alternative start/end if you like) with both inside and outside options – inc some of the outside stuff covered so you can still see the bikes even if it’s raining.     A smaller take-away shop/ ice creams a few miles further too (at another of the ex stations).

Monsal Head viaduct too.

My favourite bit (other than bacon cobs or ice creams, obvs) is as you exit one of the tunnels into Chedale. So beautiful.

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I find the ‘proper’ mtb options around Dovedale / Ashbourne very limited (happy if someone shows I’m wrong !!).  If you can find the time to get up towards The Roaches (sort of between Leek and Buxton) there’s some better stuff, around Gradbach or getting across onto Wildboarclough.  Though some road bashing is inevitable to join up the bridleways.

Top stuff, thanks for the updates