MEDIUM ROUTE EDALE, PEAK DISTRICT
STATS: 20.7KM (12.9 MILES) CLIMBING 830M (2,723FT) TIME 1HR 30MINS TO 2HRS 30MINS
Route summary: A great rocky ride around the Peak District, which, while the rest of this area can suffer badly in the wet, holds up well in the worst weather
Start/Finish: Edale car park, near the station (postcode S33 7ZL, grid ref SK 142/853)
1 Turn right out of Edale car park and keep ahead down the valley to Barber Booth. Stay left, then bear o right onto Chapel Gate bridleway when the road bears left and steeply uphill.
2 There’s a tough, technical climb to the top. When you get there, bear right at the junction, descend and stay alongside the road to join the Roych Clough bridleway. Follow this track for 6km and make a right turn on a (signed) bridleway between the walls, just at the end of a straight and smooth section before the main track bears sharply left.
3 Follow this down a steep, rocky section to the bottom and follow the farm track sharply right. Climb Coldwell Clough, which gets rougher and tougher as you go, with some big, loose stones, until you finally reach the top and Jacob’s Ladder.
4 Descend this classic Peak District trail, with varying terrain and tight corners, until it runs out. Cross a bridge and continue down the valley. Follow this track to Barber Booth and join the road going left. Follow it back to Edale to finish.
LOCATION The Dark Peak has millstone grit covering underlying limestone, which gets saturated in the wet. Its steep terrain provides technical riding that’s hard on bike and body.
GETTING THERE Edale is south of the A57. Aim for Castleton/Hope and then follow signs for Barber Booth and Edale.
FACILITIES Stay at the Rambler Inn (01433 670268, www.theramblerinn.com), The Old Nags Head (01433 670291, www.the-old-nags-head.co.uk), Fieldhead Campsite (01433 670386) or Newfold Farm (01433 670372). Penny Pot cafe at Edale Station (01433 670293), Coopers Cafe (01433 670401) and two pubs in Edale provide refreshments. For bike stu , try 18 Bikes in Hope (01433 621111, www.18bikes.co.uk).
MAPS & BOOKS OS Landranger 110: She eld & Huddersfield. Peak District Mountain Biking by Jon Barton (Vertebrate Publishing).
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