Mid September trip to Peak District

When?

15-17 September. Leaving Friday 15 after work ~5pm.

Where?

Peak District

Lud’s Church

Forgive me for starting off this motorcycling route with a two-mile walk, but hey, there’s nothing like a wander to get you raring to go on the bike. Besides that fact, Lud’s Church is reward enough for the short trek, as it’s one of the most mystifying and enchanting places I’ve come across.

Created by a huge landslip, Lud’s Church is a remarkable and impressive chasm between vertical rock walls that is over 100m long and 18m deep.

It is said that the mossy walls of Lud’s Church have acted as a safe hiding place for such legendary figures as Robin Hood and Friar Tuck, while Bonnie Prince Charlie is also believed to have hidden here to evade authorities. Called such because it was a secret place of worship for the Lollards during the 15th century, this place is well worth the calories expended to reach.

Cat and Fiddle

The A357, more commonly known as the Cat and Fiddle, needs little introduction to most bikers, and while the thrilling road between Buxton and Macclesfield was lined with average speed cameras in 2010 (50mph limit) it still provides a fantastic ride for motorcyclists willing to stay within the law.

Known for the impressive views of the surrounding national park and Greater Manchester conurbation, along with numerous twists and turns, the Cat and Fiddle has become one of the UK’s most popular motorcycling roads.

Heights of Abraham

The Heights of Abraham is a remarkable historic park and garden on the summit of Masson Hill that’s reached via a cable car from the valley floor in Matlock Bath.

There’s plenty to do here if you have the time to spare, including guided tours around the impressive cavern systems that have been used for mining lead from since the Roman times, as well as the spectacular viewpoint of the Tinker’s Shaft, from which you can look over the dramatic Derwent Valley below you.

Chatsworth House

Home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth House is a wonderful stately home set amongst 1,000 acres of stunning parkland that offers a full day of playing around if culture’s your cup of tea.

We’ve not got that long to spare if we’re to finish this ride in a day, so explore the grounds a bit, and we’ll be on our merry way.

Monsal Head

Largely reputed to be one of the best views in the Peak District (and that’s saying something), Monsal Head is easily reached from our route. From the carpark, you have commanding views of the lush, green Monsal Dale below you, which is perfectly accompanied by a beautiful Victorian viaduct.

Spend a few moments to soak in the picture-perfect view before hopping back on your bike and heading to the slightly less romantic Eyam Plague Village.

Eyam Plague Village

One of the best things about riding in the UK is the sheer volume of historical landmarks you’ll pass, and there are so many on this route that it’s hard to choose any one over the other.

Eyam Plague Village is one of the most interesting (and topical), though. Back in 1655, when bubonic plague was running riot across Europe, villagers in Eyam chose to isolate themselves from the rest of the country after falling ill, rather than infect anyone in the neighbouring towns and villages.

A quarantine was set up around the village and the boundaries can still be seen today.

Peak Cavern

“Dare you take a walk into the notorious ‘Devil’s Arse’?” reads the sales pitch on the Peak Cavern website, before going on to describe the amazing experienced you can have there.

No, this isn’t some strange demonic fetish club, it’s one of the Peak District’s most fascinating and impressive cave systems, known also as the Devil’s Arse due to the noises that come out of it when flood water is draining away!

Hilarious name aside, Peak Cavern has the largest cave entrance in Britain, and it was home to some of England’s last remaining troglodytes, who moved out in 1915.

Winnats Pass

We covered Winnats Pass in our top eight scenic rides in the UK, and as you ride out of Castleton on this route you’ll see why.

It’s a relatively short ride at 4.3 miles, but it’s an absolute beauty of a road that slices through the heart of a dramatic valley with almost vertical rock walls rising from the side of the tarmac.

The road is steep in places, and it’s often busy, but don’t let that put you off experiencing this gem.

Snake Pass

As we near the end of the ride, our route takes you down a road that needs little introduction – Snake Pass. Taking you from the market town of Glossop to Ladybower Reservoir, this incredible 14-mile long stretch of tarmac offers some of the most engaging riding of the journey so far.

It rises immediately out of Glossop onto a high moorland plateau, where the views are magnificent, before twisting and turning its way along a wooded valley, finally spitting you out (no doubt grinning from ear to ear), by Ladybower Reservoir.

Be sensible as it’s a popular motorcyclist’s haunt and police patrol it frequently.

Derwent Reservoir

Just before you reach the end of Snake Pass, you’ll see a road on your left that follows a body of water away from Ladybower Reservoir.

Follow the easy-to-ride gravel road that skirts the shores of Derwent Reservoir and you’ll reach a dead end after a few miles. Why have we taken you up here?

Because it’s an incredible part of the Peak District from both a scenic and historical point of view, for it is where the 617 squadron practiced their low-level flying for their Dam Buster raids in Nazi Germany during World War Two.

Little John’s Grave

Our route reaches its terminus in Hathersage, a small village roughly 10 miles south-west of Sheffield. On first inspection, the place merely looks like a pretty Peak District village, though it’s actually where Little John, of Robin Hood fame, is buried if you believe the stories.

You’ll even find a grave bearing his name, though the original headstone is too weathered and worn to be legible (so in reality, it could be anyone).

Enter the following waypoints into your SatNav:

Bosley
Lud’s Church
SK17 6TT
Rainow
Fernilee
Buxton
The Heights of Abraham
Chatsworth
Bakewell
DE45 1NL
Eyam
Edale
Hope
Hayfield
Glossop
Derwent
Hathersage

links:

Ultimate motorcycling route Peak District web archive
ABR Issue 44 Route Files: The Peak District Discovery Route

Who?

Dmitry 100%
Ivy 100%
Sam 100%
Yury 100%
Alex 100%
Harry 50% (brewing)

How?

We will be staing at The Bull i' th' Thorn camp side.

Address: Ashbourne Road, Hurdlow, Derbyshire, England, SK17 9QQ
Phone: +44 1298 83718
Campside phone: 07508125513

We are going to stay in 2 Bell tents for two nights 15-17 Sept. That gives us a room for 8 people.

We can arrive anytime, there are only 4 bell tents at Highland area, they will have "Dmitry" name. We can just crash into them.

Each tent will have fire place and benches, and some dry wood, we can always buy more.

Bell tents are off the ground on a wooden platform. I think it's gonna be well isolated, and warm to sleep in it.

There are no beds provided, please bring your sleeping bag.

There is a Pub in the camp side (just wanted to mention it)

At the moment one Bell tent has been booked for the first night, and verbally agreed to extend it for the second night. Will need to pay for one more night at the camp. And another bell tent has been booked for both nights.

each bell tent is £60 per night, shared with 4 people. That makes it £240 in total. The amount will be split equally between people.

There still an option to book a pitch for own tent, it's £30 per night. A pitch can be shared between two bikes/tents.