There are some amazing off-road trails in the Peak District, which have been converted from old railway lines.
Tissington Trail - check out my ride on Komoot
High Peak and Monsal Trail - check out my ride on Komoot
The first we tried was the Tissington Trail, which is part of the Pennine Bridleway and runs from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay for 13 miles. What a idyllic cycle this was. Nothing complicated or hard about this hardpacked gravel service. Slight incline for the 13 miles but that made for nice fast ride on the way back. We passed by the villages of Tissington and Hartington and on a lovely spring day on the Easter weekend. Beautiful views as we passed through this part of the Peak District.
On the Saturday, we had a combination of road and trail. Starting out in Buxton, we made our way up along the high peak, steady climbing, but nothing too severe, past the villages of East Sterndale and Hurdlow. Absolutely beautiful views of the peaks, past Monyash and then a fast descent into the lovely Peak District village of Bakewell, famous for its Bakewell pudding. Bakewell, is the start of the Monsal Trail, which runs for around 10 miles and has no less than six tunnels. Again, the Monsal Trail is an old railway line. Easy cycling again with amazing views, particularly as you go over these high viaducts to look down to the valleys below. The only negative was on his beautiful spring day, the trail was like the M25 of cycle trials with other cyclists and walkers. Once you reach the end, it onto a short bridleway part of the Pennine Bridleway along the River Wye before a bit of a hairy jump back on the A6 for 2 miles back into Buxton. Will definitely look to reflect that next time I do this route.
Two perfect gravel trails, easy to cycle with incredible views along old railway lines, the Monsal Trail made particularly interesting by all the tunnels and high bridges.
Can't wait to get back to the Peak District for more amazing cycling.
Along the High Peak
⬆️ all the above of Tissington Trail
And below Monsal Trail ⬇️
