Cycle in the Peak District and explore one of England's most varied and rewarding cycling landscapes, from the gentle canal towpaths and rolling farmland around Chesterfield to the dramatic gritstone moorland of the Dark Peak and the limestone dales and old railway trails of the White Peak. Easily accessible from both Sheffield and Manchester, the Peak District National Park offers an outstanding range of cycling for riders of all abilities.

Suitable for cyclists of all abilities, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook describes 20 graded day rides and a challenging 5-day Tour de Peak District of 250km (155 miles). Day routes range from 13 to 58km (8–36 miles), are ideal for gravel or hybrid bikes, and can be adapted for road bikes, with starting points in charming Derbyshire towns including Ashbourne, Matlock, Bakewell, and Buxton.

• Choose from 20 graded day rides in and around the Peak District National Park, with circular routes centred on Ashbourne, Matlock, Bakewell, Buxton, and more, taking in Derwent Reservoir, Tissington, the Roaches, Mam Tor, and the canals and bridleways of Chesterfield.
• Tackle the 5-day Tour de Peak District, a challenging 250km (155-mile) circumnavigation of the National Park starting and finishing in Matlock, taking in the Dark Peak moorland, the Cheshire fringe, and the limestone dales of the White Peak.
• Select routes suited to your ability using clear grading across easy, moderate, and hard categories, taking account of distance, hills, terrain, and road confidence required, with road alternatives provided for all off-road sections on moderate and harder routes.
• Navigate with confidence using 1:100,000 mapping and elevation profiles included for every route, alongside GPX files available to download for the full route and day rides.
• Plan your Peak District cycling with practical advice on bike setup and choice, cycling technique, what to wear and take, accommodation on the Tour de Peak District, and food and drink in the charming market towns and villages of the National Park.
• Deepen your experience of the region with introductory sections on the geology, wildlife, plants and flowers, history, and cultural highlights of the Peak District, one of Britain's most visited and best-loved National Parks.

Explore the lanes, tracks, and moorland of the Peak District with confidence using this trusted Cicerone guidebook. From a gentle loop around Carsington Reservoir to the full Tour de Peak District challenge, this is the essential companion for cycling in one of England's most accessible and rewarding National Parks.

Cycling in the Peak District – Quick Facts

Location: England – Peak District National Park, Derbyshire; easily accessible from Sheffield and Manchester
Routes covered: 20 graded day rides (13–58km/8–36 miles) plus the 5-day Tour de Peak District (250km/155 miles)
Typical duration: Day rides completable in a single day; Tour de Peak District takes 5 days
Difficulty: Graded from easy to hard; suitable for cyclists of all abilities; average fitness and reasonable road confidence required; technical mountain bike skills not essential
Bike type: Ideal for gravel or hybrid bikes; routes can be adapted for road bikes; road alternatives provided for all off-road sections
Key centres: Ashbourne, Matlock, Bakewell, Buxton, Chesterfield, Leek, Tideswell, Macclesfield, Holmfirth, Marsden
Highlights: Derwent Reservoir, Tissington Trail, Monsal Trail, the Roaches, Mam Tor, Morridge, Shatton Moor, Lyme Park, Carsington Reservoir, the canals of Chesterfield
Navigation/mapping: 1:100,000 mapping and elevation profiles included for every route; GPX files available to download
Accommodation & logistics: Tour de Peak District accommodation table included; practical notes on getting there, food and drink, and cycle maintenance
Best time to go: Late spring to mid-autumn; routes graded assuming dry conditions

Author Highlight

“Cycling, however, is the perfect way to experience the countryside: fast enough to cover a good distance over the ground, yet slow enough to really enjoy the sights, sounds and (mostly!) the smells. From the pungent aroma of wild garlic, the swathes of bluebells that carpet the floor of many woodlands in spring, the haunting cry of the curlew or joyful tweet of the skylark, to the purple blush of vetch in summer or flowering moorland heather in early autumn: on a bicycle the variety of the landscape can be appreciated in both detail and grander scale.”

- Chiz Dakin, author of Cycling in the Peak District

Map key
Overview map
Preface to the 2nd edition

Introduction
Geology
Wildlife
Plants and flowers
History
Art, culture and local festivities
When to go
Getting there
Getting around
Accommodation
Food and drink
Money
Bike setup/Choice of bike
Cycling technique
What to wear
What to take
Maps
Waymarking and access
Emergencies and first aid
Using this guide

Day rides
Route 1    Ashopton loop via Derwent Reservoir
Route 1a    Ladybower west and Thornhill extensions
Route 2    Rail Trails loop from Friden
Route 3    Chesterfield loop via Transpennine Trail
Route 4    Carsington Reservoir loop
Route 5    Middlewood loop via Lyme Park
Route 6    Ashbourne loop via Hognaston
Route 7    Chesterfield loop via Holymoorside and Leash Fen
Route 8    Tissington loop via Elton
Route 9    Wirksworth loop via Hartington
Route 10    Bakewell loop via Hartington
Route 11    Buxton loop via Bakewell (White Peak loop)
Route 12    Waterhouses loop via Morridge and Longnor
Route 13    Penistone loop via Holmfirth
Route 14    Tideswell loop via Peak Forest
Route 15    Leek loop via the Roaches
Route 16    Grindleford loop via Edale
Route 17    Tideswell loop via Mam Tor
Route 18    Middlewood loop via Pym Chair
Route 19    Marsden loop via Saddleworth Moor
Route 20    Macclesfield loop via the Roaches

Tour de Peak District
Day 1    Matlock to Dungworth
Day 2    Dungworth to Marsden
Day 3    Marsden to New Mills (main route)
Day 3a    Marsden to Whaley Bridge (road route)
Day 4    New Mills (or Whaley Bridge) to Blackshaw Moor
Day 5    Blackshaw Moor to Matlock

Appendix A    Route summary table and distance chart
Appendix B    TdPD table of accommodation
Appendix C    Accommodation on the TdPD
Appendix D    Cycle maintenance
 

Seasons

Best in the drier months - later spring to mid-autumn; difficulty grades and route description all assume dry conditions

Centres

Macclesfield, Middlewood, Ashbourne, Waterhouses, Leek, Tideswell, Bamford, Buxton, Whaley Bridge, Marsden, Holmfirth, Penistone

Difficulty

Routes are graded from easy to hard taking account of distance, hills, terrain and A-road riding. While technical mountain-bike skills are not essential, some short sections of easy to moderately-technical off-road may be encountered. For moderate and harder routes, there are road alternatives for all of these off-road sections, and you can choose which option best suits your individual preferences (and bike!) on a section by section basis. Average fitness and reasonable road-confidence is required.

Must See

A gentle short route around the canals and bridleways of Chesterfield; a moderate ride along Morridge; a tough ascent of the old Mam Tor road then on tracks over Shatton Moor; the 5-day Tour de Peak District

July 2024

TdPD diversion Darley Dale to Beeley Moor

July 2021

2021 reprint route updates

May 2018

Update

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