PEAK DISTRICT BIKE PACKING

The weekend starts at Langsett on the very edge of the Peak District National Park. We spend the next two days riding a number of the most iconic mountain bike trails the Dark Peak has to offer. From the get go we head up Cut Gate which climbs steadily until we pass close to the summit of Margery Hill at 546m. 

 

The upland landscape characterised by extensive moorlands, steep-sided valleys, and gritstone replaces the limestone of Day One. It's a region of high, exposed moorland with a landscape sculpted by hard gritstone interspersed with softer shales, leading to a unique topography of broad valleys and narrow rocky clough's.   The descent is short and steep in places a typical Peak District descent.​

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On arriving at the bottom of the descent we meet the River Derwent which feeds the reservoirs of the Derwent Valley. The valley has a long history before the valley was flooded, more information can be found HERE. We follow the off road track along the side of the reservoir passing Derwent Dam which was made famous as the training area for the Dambusters and the very popular Dambusters film.

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Before reaching the Snake Pass road the route takes us up onto Derwent Edge where we traverse the edge before taking a well earned rest at the view point of Winstone Lee Tor.  The descent is wide open trail gently descending down to Cutthroat Bridge where we turn back on ourselves and continue descending to the Snake Pass Inn.

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A short pedal on the road until we ride across the lower dam and join the Derwent Valley Heritage Way which leads us steadily down the valley to our over night spot.​

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The first night is spent at Heather Hill Farm Campsite where we will have camp set up and food cooking ready for hungry bike packers.

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​Day two starts with a 5km pedal along the road to Cafe Adventure for a hearty breakfast to see us through the day on our return leg of the adventure.

The first climb of the day leads us up the Roman Road heading towards Hope Cross with views of Lose Hill, Hollins Cross and in the far distance the Iron Age hillfort of Mam Tor. As we head towards our first technical descent of the day the undulating trail runs parallel with the Snake Road below us which will will shortly cross and climb again heading towards Lockerbook Farm.

The Lockerbook descent or Screaming Mile is a less technical descent but instead is a much faster descent  taking us down to the shores of Derwent reservoir where we join a tarmac road.  The road follows the tree lines shores of the reservoir for a n umber of kilometres before we reach the climb back up to Doctors Gate.

The final descent is around 4.5km leading us back to Langsett Reservoir and a drink at the local pub​.