Not sure that your skills are up to taking on The Beast? Worried that your bike has seen better days? Our instructors are all hugely experienced, qualified and local riders with a real passion for passing on their knowledge. We can arrange guided rides or skills training as well as the hire of bikes and anything else you might need all from our site in the Hope Valley so why not give it a go? See you on the trails!
Whether you are looking for an easy ride with the family or a full day of gruelling climbs and challenging descents then there is something here for you. Below are just a few suggestions to get you started.
These routes have been extracted from the wonderful resources over at The Bike Garage, they are our neighbours and have everything from bike hire to servicing and sales.
These routes have been extracted from the wonderful resources over at The Bike Garage, they are our neighbours and have everything from bike hire to servicing and sales.
Derwent Valley Reservoirs
OK so a lot of this route isn’t really mountain biking but with options from 2 to 18 miles and the possibility of making the entire circuit traffic free the trails around the Derwent Valley Reservoirs are a great choice for a family ride or a relaxing afternoon’s activity. Start along the Thornhill Trail, a disused railway, and follow it to the Southern edge of Ladybower Reservoir. If you have young children with you this may be far enough, take a look at the giant plughole (honestly!) in the reservoir and then ride back along the tree-lined trail. Most people will want to go further however and from here you have several options the longest of which involves following the trails along the side of the reservoirs all the way to the pack horse bridge at Slippery Stones (which, incidentally, is also the start point for the Cut Gate track, definitely one of the best trails in the Peak District) before looping back.
Shatton Moor
In its simplest form this is a short circuit with a technically straightforward but long and sustained climb followed by an enjoyable, swooping singletrack descent. Go through the hamlet of Shatton to climb up Brough Lane which starts as tarmac but quickly becomes a rough track. Once at the top take a few minutes to get your breath back and enjoy the views across the Hope Valley to Bamford and Stanage edge. From here the track leads you around the head of the valley to pick up the bridleway down to Offerton Hall and an easy return to the beginning. Looking for more of a challenge? Try riding the circuit in the opposite direction and instead of coming down Brough Lane drop down the Bradwell Edge bridleway, head through the cement works, up Pin Dale and Dirtlow Rake and then back down Cave Dale. A couple of those descents should get the heart racing!
As the name suggests this is definitely a step up in difficulty but with a confident approach it is possible to tame the Beast, at least some of the time! A short section of road riding along quiet back lanes leads quickly to bridleway at Aston and a climb up towards Hope Brink. It’s worth taking the time to enjoy the views across to Mam Tor here as they are spectacular and you are going to need to concentrate on the trail soon. A relatively short climb over some loose and rocky terrain takes you to the highest point of the ride at Hope Cross and the start of The Beast itself. A great descent, it is both rocky and loose so is never the same ride twice, you’ll need good bike control and bags of confidence to get down successfully. From the bottom the fire-track around Ladybower reservoir and the Thornhill trail take you easily back to the beginning, grinning all the way.
Chinley A to B
Fancy something slightly different? Why not take advantage of the nearby Bamford train station (literally a one-minute ride away) to do a linear route. A twenty-minute journey will take you to Chinley on the far side of the Kinder plateau, now all you have to do is get back again! The main event is the long ascent up to Edale Cross followed by the much quicker descent down the steep drop of Jacob’s Ladder. Fortunately, Edale village offers the opportunity of refreshments (and even the option of jumping back on the train if your legs will take you no further) while you decide which way to take back to Bamford. Our favourite would involve climbing back up to Hollins Cross to sample the delights of the Great Ridge but, as you’ve probably realised by now, that’s not your only choice so why not grab the map or ask us for suggestions and then plan your own adventure.
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