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CYCLING AND CYCLE HIRE
- DERBYSHIRE/PEAK DISTRICT
THE FEATURE
There is no
better way of exploring the beautiful countryside of Derbyshire and the Peak
District, than by bicycle. The area has a number of disused railway trails,
that provide miles of mostly flat, traffic free routes for walkers,
cyclists and horse riders.
Cycle Hire
Centres, conveniently located next to the trails provide well maintained
bikes to suit individual needs, including
cycles
suitable for use by people with disabilities. There are picnic sites,
refreshments and toilets at all the centres. Car parking is also available
and every centre is accessible by bus.
In addition to
the trails, there are a wealth of quiet minor roads suitable for exploration
on bikes, in Derbyshire and the Peak District. Also, there is plenty of
off-road action for both inexperienced and experienced mountain bikers.
The trails are
very busy during the peak summer holiday period with cyclists, walkers and
sometimes horse riders and it is important at all times to follow the
cyclists code.
GOOD CYCLISTS CODE
1. Keep to the
left and give way when approaching all other users.
2. Please use
your bell or give a warning so that other trail users know you are approaching.
3. On no account
should you race along the trails.
4. Only
designated routes should be used.
All the
following trails are serviced by Cycle Hire Centres.
1. The High Peak Trail at
17.5 miles is the longest of the trails and links with the Tissington Trail
at Parsley Hay.
2. Starting in the Staffordshire village of Waterhouses, the
Manifold Track runs for nine miles along the valley once served by the Leek
and Manifold Light Railway.
3. A Cycle Hire
Centre at Fairholmes, caters for the area around Derwent and Ladybower
Reservoirs.
There are a
number of other trails in the area, that are not serviced by Cycle Hire
Centres, including the Monsal Trail, Longdendale Trail and Middlewood Way.
For more detailed
information contact the Cycle Hire Centres listed, or the nearest Tourist
Information Centre.
The hire cycles used on the trails are replaced
every year to maintain the latest standard of comfort, safety, durability
and performance. However, if you have any problems with your hired cycle, or
uncertainties about the route you have to follow all you have to do is to
ask for assistance.
Having been in
existence for a number of years, the trails now form a wonderful habitat for
wildlife. They are popular with all ages and provide the disabled and less
fit with an opportunity to enjoy the countryside.
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Courtesy
www.peak-tours.com.
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NEW PROJECTS
The BESST project is helping to create new links between trails
and businesses throughout the area are joining the scheme to
improve the cycling experience for visitors.
With over 70 miles of cycling in the White Peak alone you may
well want to consider staying overnight or even arrange a
touring holiday.
In
order to help you quickly to find the information you want why
not visit the following features to get a real flavour of what
the area offers.
Other Useful Websites:
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www.visitpeakdistrict.com |
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk |
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www.derbyshire.gov.uk |
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www.sustrans.org.uk |
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www.peak-tours.com |
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www.derbyshire-peakdistrict.co.uk
is an independent, not for profit website.
No
recommendation of any establishment is implied by inclusion on this
website.
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MAIN CYCLE HIRE CENTRES
Ashbourne
(Tel 01335 343156) to the north of the town centre on the Tissington Trail,
just off the road to Mapleton.
Carsington (Tel 01629 540478) at
Carsington Water Reservoir.
Derwent
(Tel 01433 651261) off the A57, at Fairholmes Car Park, in the Derwent
Valley.
Middleton Top
(Tel 01629 823204) on the
High Peak Trail near Middleton-by-Wirksworth, off the B5035.
Parsley Hay (Tel 01298 84493) at the junction
of the High Peak and Tissington Trails, off the A515 Ashbourne to Buxton
road.
Waterhouses (Tel 01538 308609) behind the
Crown Hotel near the centre of the village, on the A523 between Ashbourne
and Leek.Also Brown End Farm (Tel 01538 308313)
HORSE RIDING
The Pennine Bridleway National Trail starts at
Middleton Top, passing through various villages to Hayfield. For more
information:
www.nationaltrail.co.uk/penninebridleway
Middleton Top Shop
IMAGES
All the images
on this page have been kindly supplied by Derbyshire County Council.
TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES
The main Tourist
Information Centres in Derbyshire, listed below can help you plan a day trip
or holiday.
Ashbourne:
Tel. 01335
343666.
Bakewell:
Tel: 01629
813227.
Buxton:
Tel. 01298
25106.
Chesterfield:
Tel. 01246
345777/8.
Derby:
Tel. 01332
255802.
Glossop:
Tel. 01457
855920.
Leek:
Tel. 01538 483741.
Matlock:
Tel. 01629
583388.
Matlock Bath:
Tel. 01629
55082.
Ripley:
Tel. 01773
841488.
MIND YOUR BIKE
According
to research published by Direct Line, the UK insurer, more than 1,000
bicycles, worth an estimated £250,000, are now stolen each day in the UK.
Most bikes are stolen because their owners fail to lock them securely.
THE CROMFORD AND HIGH PEAK RAILWAY
The
construction of the Cromford and High Peak Railway was considered to be an
engineering masterpiece which later attracted railway enthusiasts , not only
from this country, but all over the world.
Middleton
Top Engine House still remains with its Butterley beam-engine which used to
wind the haulage cables up Middleton Incline. It can be inspected by the
public and seen in motion on set days during the summer.
The railway
track has been converted into the High Peak Trail. It runs from High
Peak Juction on the Cromford Canal to Dowlow near Buxton, a total distance
of seventeen and a half miles .
Middleton
Top where there is a visitor centre and cycle hire shop is an ideal place to
commence an exploration of the High Peak Trail.
Read the
the following features to obtain more information.
THE DISCOVER DERBYSHIRE AND
THE PEAK DISTRICT GUIDE
Provides a
wide range of features with heritage trails and
detailed countryside walks, through some of the most scenically
attractive countryside in the UK.
1. To return to
the main site click the link below.
Return to the Home
Page
2.
To return to the contents page of the main website click the link below.
Return to the Contents
Page
DISCOVER DERBY
A special
new sub-section has been added to this website, based on the
Discover Derby Supplement, published by the Derby Evening Telegraph
during March 2005. The most recent additions are:
Click
below for details.
Discover Derby
All details on this
page were correct at the time of publication, but changes may be made
without
notification.
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