The Pedal Peak District

New cycle touring routes

We have been busy researching and testing some great routes to help you discover or rediscover cycle touring in the Peak District. The nine cycle tours range from 7 to 28 miles long. Each route has been carefully researched to offer great cycling along quiet lanes and traffic-free trails, fantastic views, eating and drinking places plus some of the most attractive villages and market towns. Download your copy of Pedal the Peak District, with routes for regular cyclists of all abilities from gentle afternoon excursions to challenging multiday itineraries through some of the area’s most scenic countryside. It has been produced by the Peak District National Park Authority and Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, the area's official tourist board. For more information please go to www.visitpeakdistrict.co/cycleroutes.

There has also been a reprint of the Cycle Derbyshire leaflet which can be found at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/cycling.

Cycle Routes in the Peak District

The Peak District National Park has lots of off-road cycling trails and quiet country routes. There is bound to be something for you and your family to enjoy on your bikes in the beautiful surroundings of the national park countryside.

Here are some maps of the cycle trails available:

White Peak Cycle Trails

The White Peak is a spectacular landscape of open views across hills and dales, criss-crossed by drystone walls that enclose farmland. These trails are mainly flat routes with compacted stone surfaces and can be ridden on road as well as mountain bike tyres. Click here for a map showing all White Peak Cycle Trails.

• The High Peak Trail
  This is a mostly flat, linear route along the old Cromford to Buxton railway line which links up to the Tissington Trail.
  Click here to download a leaflet of the High Peak and Tissington Trails.
• The Monsal Trail
  The Monsal Trail follows the former Midland Railway Line for 8 ½ miles through the Peak District and at present a 4 mile section of it can be cycled. From the car park at Bakewell Station you can cycle south for 1 mile to Coombs Road viaduct or north for 3 miles to the closed Headstone tunnel, near Great Longstone. You can also get on the trail at the former station at Hassop. The Monsal Trail continues as a footpath although there are plans to extend the cycle route through to Buxton, reopening four closed tunnels, in 2011.
  Find information about the Monsail Trail here.
• Tissington Trail
  This is a linear route along the old Ashbourne to Buxton railway line which links up to the High Peak Trail.
  Click here to download a leaflet of the High Peak and Tissington Trails.

Dark Peak Cycle Trails

• Upper Derwent Valley
  This is a flat, circular route around Ladybower Reservoir in the north of the Peak District National Park. Unlike the White Peak Cycle Trails this route is undulating and consists of a rougher stone surface in places.
  Find all details about cycle routes in Upper Derwent Valley here.

Bradfield Explorer country roads route

• This is a 10 mile hilly route on quiet roads. Look out for mushrooms and moorland birds whilst exploring this hidden secret corner of the Peak District. Download the Bradfield Explorer route here.

For more ideas for cycle routes click here (external website, opens in new window). Each route contains GPS files, elevation profiles and maps with a photographic aerial view of the route.