Cycling

Over the last few years the Peak District has become a major destination for cyclists. The 2014 Tour de France passed through the northern portion of the Peak District and the annual Euroica cycling festival is hosted locally.

The Peak District is a brilliant place to explore on a bike, with a number of different off-road cycle paths for the whole family to enjoy.

We have recently invested in a specially designed cycle storage shelter, providing a dedicating place to store your bike.  We also have a wash down area in order for you to ensure your bike is in the best condition after a cycle.  There are also brushes available to clean your bikes with.

We are ideally located for most of the trails, about 3 miles from the Monsal Trail. The High Peak, Tissington and Manifold Trails are all a short drive away.

There are other routes in easy reach including Carsington Water and Derwent Dam. 

We have a range of maps and route on site which are available to borrow.  If you don't have your own bike to bring along on your holiday, there are places available to hire bike, these can be found on the links below, or we can advise when you arrive for your stay.

Monsal Trail

The Monsal Trail is the former Midland Railway Line which runs for 8.5 miles between Blackwell Mill in Chee Dale and Coombs Road in Bakewell.  It is now a traffic free route for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users.  It passes through spectacular limestone dales, with a number of tunnels along the route.  Along with the tunnels there is also a spectacular viaduct on the route. Cycle hire is available from Hassop Station or Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire

Suggested stop offs: 

The Hassop Station Cafe and Monsal Head Hotel are both just off the Monsal Trail

Tissington Trail

A former railway line, the Tissington trail runs between Parsley Hay and Ashbourne covering 13 miles in total.  As with the other trails, it’s a traffic free route for walkers and cyclists alike.  This is probably one of the most popular routes within the local area.  It passes through or near some of the most picturesque villages in the Peak District.  If you don’t have your own bikes, there is cycle hire available in  Parsley Hay or Ashbourne.

Suggested stop offs:

  • Tissington is a lovely place for a well-earned break. We would say it is a must to pass through Tissington, as it is one of the best preserved old villages in the area, with a spectacular old Hall – Tissington Hall.  There is a popular cafe just next to the Hall called Herberts.  It gets very busy in the summer, especially if the weather is fine.  We have enjoyed afternoon tea here a few times!
  • Hartington is also a popular stop off along this route. It is a pretty village, with historic buildings arranged around the large green in the centre of the village.  Again, as with Tissington it can become very busy in the summer months, particularly when the sun is shining.  There is a fabulous cheese shop in Hartington.  The village used to have a Stilton cheese factory, which sadly closed, but the shop still sells a varied range of local cheeses

High Peak Trail

The High Peak trail is the longest of the three trails in the local area spanning approximately 17.5 miles between High Peak Junction, (near Cromford) and Dowlow (just outside of Buxton).  As with the Tissington and Monsal trail, the High Peak trail is a traffic-free trail suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.  It passes through some of Derbyshire’s finest countryside.  Cycle hire is available from Middleton Top Cycle Hire.

 Suggested stop offs:

  • The Royal Oak pub is located just off the trail at Hurdlow, serving food all day (details in our ‘Where to Eat’ section of our ‘Welcome Folder’
  • Cromford Wharf – Cromford Wharf is the historic terminus of the Cromford Canal. Built at the end of the 18th century, it is a nice spot to enjoy
  • High Peak Junction Visitors Centre