Grit Stone Grind, Dark Peak National Park
By Julian Thomas
This is a massive one-day loop taking in some of the most spectacular scenery that the Dark Peak has to offer. Be warned though this is not an easy route. You will all need to be fit, well equipped, have loads of stamina and at least your fair share of luck. If in doubt, turn this into a weekend ride and add a couple side excursions if you feel you need more distance. I doubt if I would plan to do it in one day again! Throughout the ride you will come across terrain littered with large football sized stone blocks which I think are a grit stone. They make off road hill climbing almost impossible and severely restrict your speed when downhilling. They can make some sections a bit of a grind, never the less this is prime MTB’er country and you will have to go a very long way to find a better epic day ride!
Route Notes
Maps recommended for the route are either OS Outdoor Leisure 1 (The Peak District – Dark Peak Area) 1:25,000 or OS Landranger 110 (Sheffield & Huddersfield Area).
I started off from a car park near Flouch crossroads on the East side of the Pennines to minimise the driving required from my base in Leeds. However there are many alternative start/finish points, so pick your point to suit.
From Flouch there is a surprisingly gentle uphill section to cross to the West side of the Pennines. In August when I did this trip the heather was in full bloom and the honey scent wafting off the moors was intoxicating. However I imagine this climb will be pretty bleak in less pleasant weather conditions. Coming off the moor at the West portal of the disused Woodhead Tunnel the route follows the Longdendale Trail, which is a disused railway line and allows a good average speed to be maintained all the way to Padfield. From there to the South side of Glossop is a road section with a final long pull out of Glossop (on the A624 - sorry) to really get you warmed up. After that things start to get more interesting as you skirt Kinder Reservoir and Kinder Scout and then drop down into Edale via the legendary Jacobs Ladder.
The route doesn’t hang about in the valley bottom, but takes you up onto Rushup Edge and along the southern rim of Edale to Hollins Cross before plunging (almost literally) back into Edale and out again over the northern hills into the Derwent Valley. There is a short tarmac breather around the perimeters of Derwent and Howden reservoirs before you get back onto the rough stuff to cross open moor via Cut Gate and Mickleden Edge and so complete the ride back at the start point.
Route Details
- Start and Finish – Free Car Park near Flouch Cross Roads on the A616 (SE 201011)
Take the footpath exit at the SE end of the car park and go straight across the A616 and into the woods. You will come to a crossroads in the track which is a bit confusing when compared with the map, but you want the one that goes straight ahead and bends to the right leaving a dry stone wall on your left. Follow it down then up out of the woods and eventually onto the A628. Turn left on the road for about 500 yards and look out for the Snow Road track, which is on your right through a gate just after the pub.
- The Snow Road (SE 177012) to the Longdendale Trail at Woodhead (SK 114999)
Leave the A628 onto the Snow Road (deep ruts here make pedalling difficult and the narrow ridges between need good balance to ride) and gently climb up the hill parallel to the road. When you exit the Snow Road back onto the A628, turn right and look out for a track on your left through a gate (do not take the bridleway on your right). This may not be strictly legal but is used by many MTB’ers and Red-Sox. It will take you over the top of the Pennine ridge via Lady Cross and down to Longside End where you will cross the A628 again. Follow the signed track that is part of the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT). Follow the TPT onto the Longdendale Trail (also part of the TPT) at Woodhead. You will cross the A628 (at the bottom of a very steep section of track so take care) yet again just before joining the Longdendale Trail at the Woodhead Tunnel portal.
- Longdendale Trail at Woodhead (SK 114999) to Padfield Station (SK 024961)
At the disused Woodhead Station it’s a straight run down the Longdendale Trail all the way to Padfield (approx. 8 miles). As you come off the trail you will be less than a mile from the rail station which is a good alternative start/finish point if you prefer to connect using the train.
- Padfield Station (SK 024961) to Tom Hey’s Farm (SK 035894)
This is a road section with many route alternatives. Whichever you choose you need to come out of Glossop on the A624 and lookout for the bridleway on your left, some distance after the brow of the long uphill section.
- Tom Hey’s Farm (SK 035894) to Kinder Reservoir (SK 054882)
This is a great section of single track with a steep up hill from Tom Hey’s Farm rewarded by stunning views from the shoulder of Middle Moor and a steep technical down hill to the reservoir. The Bridleway is signed off the A624 at Tom Hey’s and the track is easy to follow up to Middle Moor if steep in part. The bridleway down to the Kinder dam is also signed. You will be advised to check your brakes before starting the descent, whilst not over long it is savagely steep and even on the border of rideable. Those football sized loose grit stone rocks mentioned earlier make for hard work on the brake pads.
- Kinder Reservoir (SK 054882) to Jacob’s Ladder (SK 086862)
Pass in front of the dam on a good track and a signed bridleway on the left. Then start the long climb out of the valley up to Broad Clough. The trail follows to the right of a small copse of trees and then bears right, away from the trees up onto the moors becoming slightly indistinct through fields. Just head for the long wall in front of you when you reach the brow and you cannot go far wrong. At the wall (SK 066872) you will pick up a much more distinct bridleway turning into good single track as you skirt around Kinderlow End to a bridleway tee junction (SK 067861). Turn left and follow the trail, you will know when you get to the top of Jacob’s Ladder, because you probably consider getting off and walking!
- Jacob’s Ladder (SK 086862) to Barber Booth (SK 113847)
Jacob’s Ladder starts off with a short (15 yards) rocky ‘cliff’ (I walked this section but most would take it on I think) followed by a very technical steep descent to a fork in the path. I rode to the fork where I pirouetted over the bars in front of about 15 Red-Sox having trapped my front wheel in a drainage channel. It was so comical I had to laugh myself!
The bridleway is the right fork and the left is the footpath. Don’t even think about using the footpath, as the Ramblers Brigade will lynch you. The bridleway takes you on a zigzag descent to meet up with the footpath at the bottom of the Ladder. It is rideable but only just and it is not fast. Most of the time you will be hanging onto your brakes so as to manoeuvre around those loose blocks of grit stone. Come off here and you are at high risk of bone breakage! I can only class it as a loose rocky descent - treacherous variety.
Your prize for keeping everything together to the bottom of the ‘Ladder’ is a superb blast down the River Noe valley on a good, slightly technical track to Upper Booth and then onto tarmac for the short stretch to the tee junction in Barber Booth. Watch out for ‘snake bites’ on those open cross drains!
- Barber Booth (SK 113847) to Lord’s Seat (SK 112834)
At Barber Booth you could turn left and take the road to Nether Booth Farm. But don’t or you will miss out on some of the most breath taking views and single track sections in the Peak District. TURN RIGHT and follow the road for about 300 yards to a bridleway on the right. You will see the route of the bridleway up the escarpment, and yes it is a savage climb, but it is not too long a walk – honest. This Chapel Gate Track and joins the Rushup Edge bridleway at a tee junction at the top of the climb. Turn left onto Rushup Edge and follow it to Lord’s Seat.
Lord’s Seat is spectacular. On your left – Edale. On your right - long distance view towards Castleton and Hope. Straight-ahead (and best of all) - the most spectacular ridge you can imagine, and you are about to ride along the top of it! If you have never experienced that single-track feeling then, you will now. If you don’t, then give your bike to the next Red-Sox that happens along, you simply don’t deserve to ride it!
- Lord’s Seat (SK 112834) to Nether Booth Farm (SK 143862)
No words can fully describe the ridge ride from Lord’s Seat to Hollins Cross (SK 136846) on a sunny day. It is simply outstanding! The way is obvious, crossing a minor road en route. At Hollins Cross take the Bridleway back down into Edale, you cannot miss it - honest. If you did happen to miss it by any chance, you could either retrace your tracks, or take the footpath at Backtor Nook, as I understand one unfortunate MTB’er may have done recently (too busy gorping at the view I guess!).
The bridleway takes you back down into Edale to meet the road from Barber Booth. Turn right onto the road, pass beneath the railway and you will arrive at Nether Booth Farm.
- Nether Booth Farm (SK 143862) to Derwent Reservoir (SK 167911)
At Nether Booth if you don’t stop at the Farm café, continue a little further along the road and look for the Bridleway sign on the left-hand side of the road. Keep your eyes peeled as it is well concealed in the roadside hedge. Follow the bridleway around the back of Clough Farm (SK 146866) and then up the farm track to Backside Wood and down into Jaggers Clough and through the ford. A gate just before the ford stops any spectacular crossings!
There is only one track to follow out of the ford and up hill to a bridleway crossroads near Crookstone Barn (SK 160876). Go straight across and onto the ever steepening track leading down into the River Ashop valley. Speed is again very restricted by the boulder strewn track. Cross the river via the bridge and then climb out of the valley on the same bridleway. You will cross the A57 and continue up a short tarmac stretch towards Hagg Farm (SK 162889). Look for a farm gate on the right, pass through it and climb up the track to the very top at another bridleway crossroads. Here again it is straight across to follow the track down hill for almost a mile and a half until you find yourself on the very quiet road on the West side of Derwent Reservoir.
- Derwent Reservoir (SK 167911) to Slippery Stones (SK 169952)
This section is simple and mostly tarmac. Turn left onto the road at the reservoir and follow it past the West side of both Derwent and Howden reservoirs. At the head of Howden Reservoir you can pass through the obvious gate and follow the wide track to the bridge at Slippery Stones.
- Slippery Stones (SK 169952) to Finish Car Park (SE 201011)
Cross the bridge at Slippery Stones and bear left with the track towards Cranberry Clough, the bridleway signs will keep you on route. You will walk up Cranberry Clough and then grind up the moor to reach Howden Edge. Then follows a great single track across the top of Midhope Moors on Cut Gate Path and Mickleden Edge. The track gets better and better as it reaches Langsett Reservoir. There is then a very short climb into the woods and back to the very first bridleway crossroads you left so long ago. Turn right and spin back into the car park.
My Ride Details
Watering Holes
There is sufficient watering holes available (Padfield, Glossop, Barber Booth, Derwent Reservoir) but make sure to top up with fluids at every opportunity as they are well spaced out.
I used the Farm Café at Nether Booth Farm which is good quality and cheap even though the portions were a bit small for a hungry MTB’er.
There is also a good café at the Derwent Reservoir visitor centre, which is a bit off the route at the dam, but you could always take the track up the East side of the reservoirs to reach Slippery Stones if do need to make the detour.
You will also pass several pubs, so there is no need to go hungry or thirsty!
Accommodation
B&B's can be found in Glossop, Hadfield or Padfield
THere are also several YHA Hostels in easy reach of this ride, namely Crowden, Edale or Langsett
Getting There
By Car - If you use Flouch as your start/finish point then you need junction 37 on the M1, follow the A628 through Penistone to Flouch crossroads (roundabout) and turn left onto the A616 for about a quarter of a mile to find the car park.
By Train - There are stations on or near the route at Penistone, Padfield and Edale. Check times and bike space before you travel.
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