Standing at the front of the Pavilion Gardens look left and you will see Manchester Road the A5004 (Long Hill). Unfortunately the name is correct and the start of this route is uphill however you are rewarded by some superb descents later in the ride.
Head up the A5004 passing the University on your right hand side. The start of this hill is steep but the gradient eases further on.
After 1.2km take the right fork onto a narrow lane which is marked Midshires Way.
Keep going onto the dirt track and this will continue to tarmac again where you turn right. Take the left fork and climb up through the pass where after 500m you will turn onto a broad track.
Follow this down to another small lane and bear left. Drop to a sharp right hand bend where you will bear left and the track will climb steeply. Follow this track to the T junction and turn second left which is Shallcross road.
You will ride past the houses following the singletrack lane down to the farm and onto the A5004. Head across to the lay by (taking care on what can be a busy road) and through the gate at the back of it and drop down to the river.
Climb steeply away to the church and turn left on to the narrow lane. Head straight on to the farm turn left then a sharp right dropping into Mill Clough.
Climb out the other side and turn right on to the bridleway that crosses a field. Continue on to a gate that leads to a walled track and keep left and follow this to a fork where you keep right.
You are now on Hoo Moor keep straight ahead for 2km to the road and drop left to the shores of the reservoir. Continue on up Goyt’s Clough to the car park at the top where you will bear left to follow the stony track. Climb this and you will begin your final descent into Buxton. Head straight on to the road which then leads to the A53 Leek Rd.
At the T junction turn left on to the A53 Leek Rd.
Head straight through the traffic lights and keep descending staying on the A53 until you reach the start point of the route the Pavilion Gardens.*
• If you enjoyed this route but would prefer more tarmac there is also a road route following a similar path.
