Cycling & Mountain Biking
The Peak District – ‘the outdoor capital of England’ – has literally hundreds of miles of mountain biking and cycling trails just waiting to be discovered and Buxton is the perfect base from which to explore.
Much of the family-friendly cycling takes place along the trails which follow the tracks of former local railways. Routes such as the Tissington Trail and High Peak Trail start only a few miles to the south of Buxton at Parsley Hay (opposite the junction of the Youlgreave road with the A515), and offer excellent traffic-free cross-country routes which pass close to many pretty villages. Mountain biking tracks are found in the Hope Valley and Castleton, around the Goyt Valley, the Roman Lakes near Marple and across Kinder from Glossop or Hayfield.
Nearby Cycle Trails
Find below information about nearby ‘easy going’ Pedal in the Peak, cycling trails managed by the Peak District National Park Authority. Additional trails Carsington Reservoir, Tissington Trail and the Thornhill Trail. More information on the PDNPA website here.
Monsal Trail
The Monsal Trail is a traffic free route for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users through some of the Peak District’s most spectacular limestone dales. The trail runs along the former Midland Railway line for 8.5 miles between Blackwell Mill in Chee Dale and Coombs Road in Bakewell. More information about the Monsal Trail on the PDNPA website here.
Manifold Trail
9 miles, Hulme End to Waterhouses near Leek along the disused Leek and Manifold Light Railway, through the Manifold and Hamps Valleys.
High Peak Trail
A 17.5 mile linear route from Dowlow near Buxton to High Peak junction, Cromford along the old Cromford to Buxton railway line. Links up to the Tissington Trail at Parsley Hay. More information about the High Peak Trail on the PDNPA website here.
Nearby Cycling Routes
Nearby, more challenging Pedal in the Peak ‘explorer routes’ are listed below. Additional routes include Ashbourne, Carsington, Matlock, Hathersage and Bakewell. More information about cycling routes here.
Buxton to Whaley Bridge
High Moors and Gritstone Tors. 28 miles, ascent 964m.
Tideswell & Millers Dale
Discover limestone dales, a former railway, the historic plague village and the ‘Cathedral of the Peak’ in an unspoilt farming landscape. 20 miles. ascent 527m. Start/finish: Millers Dale Station SK17 8SN, Eyam or Tideswell.
The Roaches & Rudyard Reservoir
Uncover a landscape shaped by water, experience traditional villages and enjoy spectacular gritstone edges. Roaches loop 6.8 miles, ascent 248m. Rudyard loop 10.8 miles, ascent 328m. Start/Finish: Tittesworth reservoir ST13 8SW, Rudyard Lake, or Leek.
Hartington
Take a journey through the hills and limestone dales of the Peak District and enjoy traditional villages, medieval settlements, copper mines and a disappearing river. Short loop 9.5 miles, ascent 355m. Full loop 23 miles, ascent 1025m.
Extended Routes
Including the National Cycle Network, Pennine Cycleway and the Tour de Peak District. More information about extended routes is available here.
Pennine Cycleway
The Pennine Cycleway (68) comes through Buxton on its 355 miles (571km) route between Derby and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Managed by sustrans. More information about the Pennine Cycleway here.
Pennine Bridleway
The Pennine Bridleway extends for 205 miles along Pennines’ ancient packhorse routes, drovers roads and newly created bridleways. It runs from Middleton in Derbyshire to Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria and runs just to the east of Buxton.
Tour de Peak District
The Tour de Peak District is a 3-5 day moderately challenging cycle route, which roughly follows the boundaries of the Peak District National Park. It is a pleasant multi-day cycling challenge that anyone with moderate fitness and reasonable cycling ability can achieve, but those new to cycling should tackle easier and shorter routes before working up to this route.
Cycling Festivals & Events
Peak Epic Sportive
The Peak Epic is one of the UK’s most challenging road cycling events, comparable to the Fred Whitton and Dragon Ride. The ride starts and finishes from Lady Manners School in the beautiful Peak District market town of Bakewell. The truly epic long route ascends 4000m/13000ft in just 166km/103 miles, across the full breadth of Peak taking in the Hope Valley, Edale, Chapel-en-le-Frith, the Goyt Valley/Cat & Fiddle, Macclesfield Forest, Axe Edge, Longnor and finally Lathkill Dale. The majority of the ride is held on narrow country lanes away from the traffic-filled A and B roads. The terrain is relentless, continuously up and down, twisting and turning leading to low average speeds e.g the average finish time last year for the long route was 9 hours. The Peak Epic is certainly not to be underestimated! In addition to the long route there is a Medium route.
A 55-mile cycle challenge in aid of disability charity Livability and organised by the specialist cycling shop Rourke Cycles in Stoke-on-Trent. The route winds through Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and the beautiful Peak District National Park, including the infamous 7-mile Cat & Fiddle climb.
Thornbridge Brewery Sportive
A fantastic adventure through the Peak District from one of the best breweries in the UK based in one of the most picturesque villages in the UK, Ashford-on-the-Water.
With two distances of 30 and 60 miles this sportive is for everyone!
Cycle Hire
In Buxton
Some bikes are available for hire from cycling shops in Buxton: Mark Anthony’s Cycle Shop and Peak Ascent Cycle.
Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire
This is the nearest to Buxton situated in Wyedale, just off the A6 heading towards Bakewell and situated at the start of the Monsal Trail. Children’s bikes, adult bikes, child seats, tagalongs and trailers and electric bikes are available. Park in the carpark or travel by bus to the Topley Pike Quarry stop (opposite the carpark) on buses 65, 66 or the Transpeak.
Parsley Hay
Another cycle hire near to Buxton, situated eight miles to the south at the junction of the High Peak and Tissington Trails; easily reached via the A515 from both Buxton and Ashbourne. Open February to November. More information about Parsley Hay cycle hire on the PDNP website here.
See more information about cycle hire in the National Park on the PDNPA website here.
e-Bike Charging Points
Charging points for e-bikes are available at (list in development):
- Fernilee Methodist Chapel – Taxal View, Fernilee, SK23 7HD
Maps & Books
Maps
Ordnance Survey: Explorer Series (1:25,000) – OL1, OL24
Ordnance Survey: Landranger Series (1:50,000) – 110, 118, 119
Cycle Derbyshire: maps can be picked up from Buxton Visitor Centre or downloaded here (2018 map, .pdf).
Books
Cycling in the Peak District: Off-Road Trails & Quiet Lanes – Vertebrate Publishing, 2017
Peak District Mountain Biking: Dark Peak Trails – Vertebrate Publishing, 2016
Dark Peak Mountain Biking – VG Guidebooks
White Peak Mountain Biking – VG Guidebooks
The Peak District & Derbyshire Mountain Bike Guide – Ernest Press
Mountain Bike Guide – Derbyshire & The Peak District – Ernest Press
Cycling in the Peak District – Cicerone
Route Planners
Cycle Streets
Sustrans
Cycle Travel
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