 on the broken road GR132838 8x6.jpg "Col (flattyres) riding a drop on the broken road GR132838")
This is a 28.3 mile mountain bike route that starts from the top end of the Ladybower Reservoir in the Peak District. It heads out though Hope valley and returns via Edale valley following some of the best trails the Dark Peak has to offer. With adrenaline inducing descents and tricky, technical climbs this ride will push the limit of your skills and stamina.
1. Start from the car park at the Upper Derwent Information Centre (GR172893). At exit of the car park turn right to the roundabout behind the Information Centre and take the second exit, a gated road on the left of the entrance to the Information Centre. The road passes underneath the Derwent dam before bearing right and climbing to a junction. At the junction, at the top of the climb, go straight on to keep the Ladybower Reservoir on the right.
2. After the lane becomes a gravel track bear right over Mill Brook then go up a short climb to a gated junction (GR184887). Go through the small gate on the left and climb the flagstone covered trail. Go through a gate at the buildings turn right through the next gate and drop a short way to a stream. Cross the stream then go up a steep rocky climb, which will be a push for most. After a gate the trail becomes ridable again. Follow the trail left at the trees continue climbing the rocky and rutted trail through two more gates. After the second gate turn right and traverse the hillside before a final climb kick up to the junction at the Whinstone Lee Tor (GR198874).
3. Turn 90deg left and take the second track for a wide, fast rocky track. Keep your eyes peeled for walkers but they are normally easy to negotiate as the track contains multiple lines. Eventually the trail bears right then left and drops into Highshaw Clough, where the track becomes quite rocky and bears right to a junction with a singletrack trail climbing off to the right (GR213875). If you end up by the main road you have missed the junction but it’s not too far back up the trail. Follow the singletrack off to the right. It soon bears right for a flat section of double track. Follow the track through a couple of gates and down a fun rocky descent that ends at the Ladybower Inn on the main road (GR205865).
4. Go straight ahead on the A57 and descend to the junction with the traffic lights. Turn left onto the A6013 and follow the cycle path, on the right, to the Ladybower dam. Dismount and cross over the dam, the next parts are concessional and the only thing asked is that dam is not ridden. At the junction on the far side of the dam (GR197854) turn right and follow the track along the edge of the reservoir. The tarmac gives way to gravel and bears left, still by the reservoir, before coming to a junction a with singletrack trail on the left, approx ¾ mile from the dam, at a crest in the track by a small area of grass on the left (GR188860).
5. Turn left and climb the singletrack into the trees. Stay on this track as it climbs through the forest. It goes up one particularly long and steep climb in the middle before turning into double track, just before reaching an open junction with a gated track on the left in a cleared area of the forest. Turn left through the gate and climb the rocky track. After a while turn left back into the trees then bear right to a gate at the top of the hill on the edge of the forest (GR173861).
6. After the gate follow the track straight ahead then turn right onto a wide grassy track. Descend this rutted track along the ridge, keeping the trees on the right. After some distance, at a forked junction, bear left and follow the wide rutted track down to a gate and junction with a gritstone trail (GR169862). Don't go through the gate but turn hard left onto the gritstone Roman Road. The trail follows the line of the hill before a good rocky downhill that ends at a gate. Go through the gate and descend the tarmac lane. Follow the lane right at Fullwood Stile farm and descend to a junction at the bottom (GR168845). Turn left and follow the road into Hope to a junction with the A6187 (GR172835).
7. Turn right follow the A6187 out of Hope (about 50m down the road on the right is the Woodbine Cafe, a good bike friendly place to refuel). Continue along the A6187 through Castleton and climb to the junction near the Speedwell Cavern, on the other side of the village (GR144828). Bear right and continue along the road to go towards Mam Tor and beneath Treak Cavern. Eventually climb steeply up the old subsided road to a gate on the left (GR132839).
8. Go through the gate and follow the broken road below Mam Tor, on the right. Because of the subsidence that gives the road it’s name there are a few big drops to have a go at, if that's your kind of thing, if not you can go round them. Climb the road to a gate at the top. After the gate continue climbing, past the Blue John mine on the left, to a junction at the top (GR128830).
9. Turn right and climb the road past a car park on the right to a junction with a lane on the right just after. Turn sharp right and climb the steep lane to a gated track on the left (GR124834), just before the road bears left to the crest at Mam Nick. Go through the gate and follow the steep gravel track to where it splits at the ridge. Take the left hand track and follow the bridleway through a gate to follow the grassy singletrack along the ridge of Rushup Edge, on the right. It is quite easy going for a while until the next gate where the trail kicks up again for a short, sharp climb to the top of the hill. After the summit descend gently along the boggy trail that follows the drystone wall on the right. Go through the gate at the bottom of the field then turn right immediately and go through the next gate. Directly after the gate turn left on the gritstone trail for a fast flowing descent to a three way junction (GR099829).
10. Turn right and follow the main trail to the top of the Chapel Gate descent. The descent starts out covered in loose rocks before bearing right and transforming into a bouldery jumble. The boulder field then turns left and becomes steeper before reaching a gate at the halfway point. After the gate trail becomes even more technical with bigger boulders and drops. There is an easier line on the left most of the way down. At the end of the boulders, where the trail flattens off, go straight on through a gate and follow the rutted track to a junction with a road (GR113842).
11. Turn left and descend the road to a junction at the bottom. Go straight ahead along the road to Edale that immediately bears right. After roughly 1mile, at the bottom of a small dip in the road, turn right down the lane directly before the 30 limit signs at the edge of Edale (GR123851). If you reach the junction in Edale you've gone too far. Climb the lane into the trees and follow it through a sharp left hand bend. The lane then bears right. Just after the right hand bend take the second track on the left, roughly 30m after the first (GR125845).
12. Go through the gate on the left then turn left again on the track directly after. Follow the singletrack that traverses the hill side, with Edale Valley on the left. After two gates the trail kicks up and becomes increasingly difficult as it gains height. The trail eventually bears right for the final steep and technical rocky, climb up a wide gritstone track to Hollins Cross (GR136845).
13. On the ridge at Hollins Cross take the next track on the left to descend back into Edale valley. After a rocky and grassy start the trail bears right to a gate. After the gate traverse the hillside for a while before descending through a number of bends. The trail finishes at a gate by a house on the left. Once through the gate go straight on down the lane then, after crossing a bridge, bear left and climb to a junction with the road that runs along the bottom of the valley (GR137855).
14. Turn right and follow the road under a railway bridge, then through Nether Booth. Not long after leaving the village turn left though a small gate to climb a singletrack trail between the bushes and trees (GR145864). At Clough farm bear right through the gate then take the track on the left that climbs across the side of the hill. Go left through the gate at the top and descend to the stream crossing at Jaggers Clough. After the stream climb the steep, loose track to the crossroad junction at Hope Cross (GR160876).
15. Go straight across the junction and descend The Beast. This descent starts out fast but soon becomes rocky and technical just before reaching a small gate. After the gate the technical level of the trail makes a huge jump as it becomes a jumble boulders and stepped bedrock. The big rocks continue until a junction 3/4 of the way down. Turn hard left before the gate and descend to a small bridge, on the right. Go across the bridge then up a very steep gravel track to the A57 (GR162886). Go across the A57 and climb the lane on the other side to a junction at the the Hagg Farm outdoor education centre. Go straight on through the gate for a tough rocky climb. On the way up it goes through a gate and a number of hairpins before reaching a gated junction at the top (GR163890).
16. Go through the gate and up the rocky trail straight ahead. At the wide track a short distance later go straight on to go past Lockerbrook farm. Just after the farm go straight on through a gate for a final rocky climb to the top of the hill. From the top keep following the trail ahead for a fast descent through Nabs Wood that finishes at a lane on the banks of the Derwent reservoir (GR167910). Turn right and descend the road to the roundabout by the Derwent Information Centre (GR167910). Take the second exit to the car park and the end of the ride.
Comments
Ladybower Loop
I completed this loop during 2010 and it is superb!
You need to be fit, have a good quality bike (certainly not a £69 superkmarket special) and carry enough food and drink to sustain you for a days riding, plus mechanical aptitute and tools for trail side repairs!
Beware that wet weather can cause traction problems on the wet rocks and I have been told by locals that Chapels Gate has been bulldozed flat by the HSE Police. Otherwise a cracking location.
Harvey 6th Dec 2011
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