The 25 Best Derbyshire Cycling Routes
Steven Barke
May 20, 2022
The Derbyshire countryside has long been accepted as one of God's greatest creations, mixing rolling hills, gritstone cliff edges, expanses of heather, idyllic waterways and dense woodland, to provide a network of cycling routes as diverse, breath-taking and challenging as anywhere in the world.
Linking historic landmarks such as Bakewell, Hathersage and Matlock, we have gathered together 25 of the best cycling routes around the Hope Valley, Peak District and the vast Ladybower reservoir, to bring you a comprehensive list of routes to suit a variety of fitness levels, cycling experience and appetites for adventure!
Starting with the shorter routes and building upwards, don't make the mistake of thinking that the shorter routes are necessarily the easier ones. Derbyshire has some punishing inclines and some treacherous terrains, so read the descriptions carefully before choosing the route for you. But if you prefer road to off-road, or stopping off for a pint in a pretty village to the mud and adrenalin rush of a steep rural trail, there will be something here for you.
Here are the 25 Best Cycling Routes in Derbyshire…
| No. | Name of route | Length of route | Ideal for? | Info | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Edge Loop | 3 miles | Families and novice off-roaders | An easy off-road route through the Longshaw Estate, which is perfect for a sunny day and some fresh air | Route link |
| 2 | Along the Derwent Valley | 5 miles | Families and novice off-roaders | Follow this flat off-road trail from Matlock station and along the disused railway line to Rowsley and back again. Ideal for introducing the young ones to cycling, history and adventure | Route link |
| 3 | Hassop to Monsal Head | 7 miles | Budding all-round cyclists | Taking in the stunning view at Monsal Head, this is a great trail for budding cyclists wanting to gain experience of road and off-road, with a 70/30 split and not many gradients | Route link |
| 4 | Bird Hide | 7.12 miles | Families and novice off-roaders | Pretty flat and simple mainly off-road trail along Carsington waters, ideal for the family to undertake when the weather suits | Route link |
| 5 | Carsington Loop | 7.5 miles | Families and part-time cyclists | Flat and simple, this is an off-road route around Carsington reservoir, with enough scenery and fresh air to blow away the cobwebs | Route link |
| 6 | Tissington Loop | 9 miles | Families and novice cyclists | Taking in the pubs, shops and cafes of Ashbourne and Tissington, this is half and half road and trail, and a pretty easy route which starts and ends in Ashbourne | Route link |
| 7 | High Peak Trail | 9 miles | Experienced hill climbers and anyone wanting to push themselves | With a 60/40 road/off-road split this is a challenging route that offers a bit of everything; scenery, history and some difficult hills | Route link |
| 8 | Hope Valley to Stanage Edge | 13 miles | King of the mountains road cyclists | The stunning landscapes of Stanage Edge stand out here, while you also pass through Bamford on a 100% on-road route which is tough-going even if you like hills | Route link |
| 9 | Longdendale Trail | 13 miles | Improving cyclists looking to test themselves | An off-road and relatively flat trail along the disused Woodhead railway line, which still offers some stunning views along the way | Route link |
| 10 | Abney and Eyam Loop | 14 miles | Improving road cyclists looking to test themselves | A lovely and moderately hilly route around Hathersage and Grindleford which is all on-road | Route link |
| 11 | Stanton Moor Circular | 14 miles | Fit, experienced road cyclists | Experience the unique village of Matlock on this hilly on-road route, which offers some very testing climbs which are rewarded by stunning views over the Wye Valley | Route link |
| 12 | Ashbourne & Villages | 15 miles | Fit, experienced road cyclists | Lots of countryside and pretty villages here, but starting and ending in Ashbourne, this almost completely on-road route has some difficult hills included | Route link |
| 13 | Up Hill & Down Dale | 15 miles | Fit, experienced hill-climbers | As the name suggests this is a challenging on-road route around Matlock which takes in some steep gradients and some amazing views | Route link |
| 14 | The Carsington Loop | 17 miles | An experienced all-rounder | A lovely waterside trail around Carsington Water, which is about a 60/40 split of road and off-road | Route link |
| 15 | Hope Valley to Great Hucklow | 17.5 miles | Road cycling enthusiasts | Starting and ending in Hathersage, this is a long road route to Castleton and back, with some tough gradients involved also | Route link |
| 16 | Chatsworth Loop | 18 miles | Fit, experienced road cyclist | Although this route takes in the lovely Chatsworth estate and passes through quintessential Derbyshire villages such as Bakewell, Baslow and Hessop, there are some challenging hills involved | Route link |
| 17 | Monsal Trail | 18 miles | Families wanting to cycle off-road | This is a simple off-road route on a straight line, so families can go as far as they want and then head back. It is 100% traffic-free but not hilly | Route link |
| 18 | Limestone Loop | 18 miles | Fit road-cycling enthusiast | A scenic route around Bakewell which takes in plenty of limestone landscape, this is all on-road and has plenty of challenging hills | Route link |
| 19 | Wheston & Tideswell Loop | 20 miles | All-round enthusiasts looking to move up a gear | There's a great mix of hills, trails and villages on this to challenge all abilities, but it's 65/35 on-road/trail and the length can be a challenge for some | Route link |
| 20 | Manifold Valley | 21 miles | Fit, experienced cyclists | Starting and ending in Parsley Hay this is a tough, hilly route taking in plenty of typical limestone countryside, and splits road and trail almost 50/50 | Route link |
| 21 | Ladybower Overflow l | 22.9 miles | Fit, experienced cyclists | Possibly the ultimate test in Derbyshire, presenting hills and distance together, this is mainly off-road and involves heady heights and steep descents | Route link |
| 22 | Ladybower Overflow ll | 26.4 miles | Expert all-round cyclists | This is one for the experts in terms of a variety of surfaces, some difficult hills and plenty of mileage, but taking in both Ladybower and Derwent reservoirs it is scenic in the extreme | Route link |
| 23 | Trails Triangle | 28 miles | Off-road enthusiast | Moderately hilly and 80% off-road, but the main challenge here is length. You pass through some lovely pubs and cafes in Carsington, and you might be in need of a break to be honest | Route link |
| 24 | Ashbourne Tunnel | 31.5 miles | Fit, experienced cyclists | This is 90% off-road but it is all good surfaces to cycle on and with a few hills this is a long and challenging route which involves a bit of everything | Route link |
| 25 | Winnats Pass | 31.7 miles | Fit, experienced road cyclists | The quintessential tour of the Peak District. This is all on-road and relatively easy to cycle, but the length requires good fitness levels | Route link |
At Spencers Solicitors, we support the benefits of getting out and about and exploring the local area by cycling, plus we encourage all road users to stay as safe as possible. Enjoying cycling is not without its challenges when riding alongside other vehicles, but hopefully these Derbyshire cycling routes we have compiled will help you to explore some beautiful areas off the beaten track.
About the author
Steve is our resident cycling expert and solicitor who qualified in 1998 and has over 30 years experience in representing clients throughout the UK who have suffered catastrophic, complex serious injuries including amputations; whole body burns, and long term disabling psychological conditions as a result of serious workplace and road traffic accidents, in particular, catastrophic injuries in the steelworks and factories of South Wales; Kent and the Midlands.
In addition he has been an advocate at inquests representing families of loved ones who have died as a result of accidents. Steve goes that extra mile for clients exhibiting excellent client care.
Posted in: Personal Injury
