The Peak District has many charms, and for cycling and biking enthusiasts, the area offers exciting and unique local tracks and trails with interesting rides set amongst the beauty of the surrounding countryside. Our self-catering cottage at Croft Meadows Farm is perfectly placed for your next biking adventure. Below we explore a couple of options for biking and cycling aficionados.
@Peakmountainbiking.co.uk
Manifold Trail
This two-hour trail is 9 miles long (14.5km) and is ideal if you’re looking for a quick ride through the countryside. The path is based on the old Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway, which closed in 1934. The trail is mostly off-road with gentle gradients, but has a good tarmac surface on the route. Although it is a relatively short ride, this child-friendly trail packs a decent amount of natural beauty into a quick trip. The picturesque valleys along the Hamps and Manifold Rivers by the sleepy hamlet of Ecton pass beneath the famous Thor’s Cave from its position in the overhanging limestone spur. This section of the trail offers dramatic views of rocky outcrops and beautiful wooded slopes. The trail also passes by the Wetton Mill, an old corn mill that closed in 1857. If you look closely, you can still see the bridge built in 1805 by the fifth Duke of Devonshire and the dammed millpond. The rest of trail offers stunning views, worth taking a moment to enjoy. Toward the end, the Brown End Quarry Nature Reserve at Waterhouses is a former limestone quarry with vertical exposures that include sea beds over 350 million years old.
@viewranger.com
Stanage Plantation
For the more advanced rider, the Stanage Plantation starts at the top of the Long Causeway, then moves into a short rutted section, which is often muddy, before turning into a tight switchback bridleway. Though this can make for quite a technical ride, with a little bit of care, reasonably skilled riders can manage. Made of large gritstone slabs, the bridleway offers good grip in all seasons. Following the switchback, the bridleway becomes flatter as it moves downhill through the Stanage Edge and into Stanage Plantation. Enjoy watching the rock climbers and sloping mountains with rocky outcroppings and bubbling streams.
@ridesheffield.org.uk
Whether you’re looking for a gentle cycle along the beautiful pathways of the Manifold Valley or a thrilling mountain bike ride down the steep trails of Stanage Plantation, our holiday cottage peak district provides the perfect base for a fun-filled family friendly holiday.