CYCLING IN THE PEAK DISTRICT
by Chiz Dakin
2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY
About the Author
Chiz Dakin’s cycle touring adventures almost happened by accident, when after a local photography trip by bike she realised that she’d done 50 miles in a single day with a reasonably heavy load. This led to the disconnected logic that if she could do that once, she was now ready to tackle multi-day cycle touring, and two weeks later set out on the Land’s End to John o’ Groats route.
Since then she’s done several other multi-day trips including a pioneering Welsh coast cycle route (600 miles and 16km of ascent) but still maintains that you don’t need to be seriously fit or fast to enjoy long multi-day routes. (She certainly makes no claim to being either!) She has previously won an Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild award for her photography.
Other Cicerone guides by the author
Cycling in the Cotswolds
Outdoor Photography (with Jon Sparks)
© Chiz Dakin 2017
Second edition 2017
ISBN: 978 1 85284 878 1
First edition 2011
Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.
Acknowledgements
To Reuben, for your patience, support and love. Without you, this book may not have made it off the starting line and your ongoing encouragement and critical opinion has been a constant rock of support.
‘1st edition thanks’ to Cycling UK (CTC at the time) and Sustrans for their help over a footpaths issue; Alastair (Yorkshire Water) for aiding concession to cycles on the Ewden track; Rob and Emily (NT) for help with making routes through Bobus Moor/Lyme Park practical and Andy, John and various members of Oread Mountaineering Club for route testing/being photo models.
For the 2nd edition, thanks also to Craig (NT W Yorks/Marsden Moor) for renewing the NT concession to responsible cyclists across Bobus Moor after the PBW link wasn’t developed as originally planned; to NT Lyme Park for opening up the Cage Hill route to cyclists; to the Canal and River Trust for welcoming cyclists to canal towpaths (and dropping that irritating permit!) and to Georgia and the staff at Cicerone who have been so patient with me during editing and for their work on the new (and hopefully easier to use) maps.
And finally to Rob – for ‘JFDI!’
Updates to this Guide
While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/878/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.
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Front cover: Crossing the Ogden Brook near Tintwistle on the Tour de Peak District (Day 3)
CONTENTS
Art, culture and local festivities
Route 1 Ashopton loop via Derwent Reservoir
Route 1a Ladybower west and Thornhill extensions
Route 2 Rail Trails loop from Friden
Route 3 Chesterfield loop via Transpennine Trail