This mountain bike route of 18.4 miles climbs through Macc Forest to the Cat and Fiddle pub before looping back through Three Shire Heads. The ride is a good taster of rocky Peak District riding, and includes some great descents.
1. Start from the car park at the far end of the Ridgegate Reservoir (GR961711). Turn left out of the car park and descend to a junction by the reservoir. Turn right and follow the lane, keeping the reservoir on the left, to a junction at the Leather’s Smithy pub. Turn right and climb the lane to a gate at the start of a wide gravel track on the left (GR959717). Go through the gate a climb the concessional bridleway into Macc Forest. Bear left and go past a gate on the right to a forked junction. Bear right and continue climbing to the next junction at a stone building. Turn right on the steep gravel track that immediately bears left and climbs to a gate at the edge of the forest. After the gate turn right for a short but steep climb to the next junction (GR962731).
2. Turn right and climb the gritstone trail along the edge of the forest, on the right. After reaching the crest enjoy the fast, rocky descent that finishes at a tarmac crossroad in a group of houses (GR974921). At the crossroad turn left then ride past the right hand side of a chapel and take the double track that heads of to the right. The track soon bears left down a steep descent. Take care with your speed, when the track bears right the ground turns from grassy double track to loose gravel with steps, which can be difficult to slow down on. At the junction with the lane at the bottom turn left. At the next junction turn left and climb a short way to the junction by the Stanley Arms (GR980724).
3. Turn right for a long climb to a junction with the A537. At this junction turn right and follow the main road all the way to the top, at the Cat and Fiddle pub (GR001719). Turn right, where the road turns left around the pub, to follow the straight gritstone trail across the moor. After reaching the top of the hill follow the track left and descend the fast Danebower Hollow bridleway. The track finishes at a gate at the A54 (GR010700). After the gate turn right and descend the main road to a junction just before it starts climbing again (GR005694).
4. Take the lane on the left and descend to a farm. On the tight left hand bend just before the farm go straight on through the two gates, set one after the other, to enter a field. Directly after the second gate turn left and descend the rocky track beside the fence. Turn left in the next field and descend the track along the banked edge of the field. In the bottom corner of the field turn right and follow the track along the line of the wall on the left, down to a gate. It is a good idea to ride just high and right of the track as it is usually very boggy. After the gate descend the rocky, singletrack trail along the right hand side of the valley to a junction at the bridge of Three Shire Heads (GR009685).
5. Go straight on, past the bridge, for a technical, rocky climb that bears right around the hill. It is possible to get up this climb but it's not easy. Go through the gate at the top of the climb then turn left and descend the steep lane. After a number of gates bear left then right over a bridge and climb to a farm. Follow the lane past the farm to a junction with a road (GR996665). Go straight ahead, down a short descent then up the following climb. Descend a very short distance from the top of the climb, to a small group of buildings, and turn right up the thin rocky track just before the house on the right (GR991663).
6. Climb a short way between the drystone walls to a couple of gates. Go through the gate straight ahead for a long gradual climb on rocky double track. Continue along this track over the crest of the hill then go down a short, rocky descent. This goes through a tight left hander before finishing at a junction with the A54 (GR984677). Turn right and climb the main road for about 1.5miles. Near the top of the climb follow the main road through a long left then right hand bend. After the right hand bend descend through a dip and climb to a junction with a track on the left, by a drystone wall that traverses the hillside (GR003692).
7. Turn left and go through the gate to follow the track by the drystone wall. The track soon gets looser and rockier as it descends into the valley ahead. At the halfway point go through a flat left hand bend to a gate. Go through the gate and on down the rockiest part of the descent. After leaving the trees go through a gate, then bear left through a ford before coming to a gated junction with a lane at the bottom (GR988697).
8. Turn right and follow the lane to a forked junction a short distance later. Take the right hand fork and continue straight on to the next junction. Turn right and follow the lane for about 1 mile, as it repeatedly crosses a stream along the bottom of the valley, to a crossroad (GR982713).
9. Turn left and climb the steep lane between the drystone walls to a junction at the top, on the edge of Macc Forest (GR978714). Turn left through the gate and follow the wide gravel concessional bridleway along the edge of the forest. Descend into the trees bearing right then follow the wide gravel track left for a climb. The track then bears right, goes through a dip then up a longer climb. After this climb descend a short way to a junction (GR967704).
10. Turn left for a steep switchback climb, at the top which is the start of the final descent. Follow the main trail, going straight on at all the junctions, for a fast, loose blast through a number of sweeping bends. This is a concessional track used by walkers and horse riders, so cover the brakes and be prepared to slow down. The descent finishes at a junction with a lane (GR959710). Turn right and follow the lane around the reservoir then descend left through a dip to a junction. Turn right and climb the lane to finish the ride at the car park, on the right, a short distance later.
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