the high plateau of Abney and Shatton Moors (Route 17)
Getting around
In the first edition of this guidebook, railway stations were used as starting points wherever possible. However, due to a crackdown on non-rail user car parking at stations, some routes were left without any parking nearby, making access for everyone (however they get to the start) more problematic and a few route changes necessary (unfortunately less helpful to rail users).
If driving, a cycle rack on the back of the car, or an estate car (which can take bikes in the back) is useful for transporting bikes, especially if carrying more than one.
Trains
Readers who are accustomed to efficient and user-friendly facilities for taking cycles on trains in other countries should beware of Britain’s notoriously inconsistent and often user-hostile offerings! You may encounter the following issues:
there are several different train operating companies, who often have different and conflicting policies regarding cycles
a single rail route may be used by two or more companies with different policies
cycles are commonly limited to two per train
tandems are very rarely carried at all
cycles often need to be reserved in advance onto specific trains
internet and telephone services for general ticket sales are still frequently unable to perform cycle reservations – you may need to visit a station in person, with the ticket you bought online, to make a cycle reservation
some services, by contrast, are non-reservable, the spaces being filled on a first-come, first-served basis
a non-reservable first stage of your journey may jeopardise later connections requiring a reservation
even with a reservation, there is no guarantee the train service will take your bike on the day
oh, and by the way, don’t even think about taking a bike onto a bus!
However, having painted this grim picture, you will in practice find that long journeys can be successfully completed with a little patience, and that the strict company policies are implemented much more leniently by their staff on the ground.
www.cyclestreets.net is a useful website for planning otherwise fiddly urban routes from railway stations to the start (or middle) of routes where linking directions are not given specifically.
View over rolling dales near Royal Cottage (Route 15)
Parking
Visitors to the UK should be aware that parking in urban areas is strictly controlled. This can include:
time-limited free parking (on-street or designated car parks)
pay-and-display machine ticketed parking (on-street or designated car parks) at rates of up to £20 a day in urban areas
complete parking restrictions denoted by yellow lines or signs only.
In all cases, the precise governing rules may be discovered only by reading obscure signs, and these rules may change in a very short distance! Failing to follow the rules can be an expensive mistake, punished by fixed fines or extortionate clamping/tow-away operators.
However, it is often possible to find free on-street parking close to many routes – just ensure that your vehicle is parked with consideration for those who live nearby (and have to put up with visitors invading their world every summer) and doesn’t block any entranceway, driveway, road etc. Remember that farmers often need spontaneous access to apparently overgrown field entrances, and that agricultural vehicles may need a wide turning circle close to and opposite gates.
Car crime, usually meaning vehicle break-ins in pursuit of valuables, can be a minor problem, best avoided by following sound advice:
avoid leaving valuables (or simple evidence of a lot of luggage) on show
car crime is generally worse closer to larger towns
isolated locations can be risky – but remember to park considerately
‘safe’ daytime locations may become much worse overnight.
View along Ladybower Reservoir from Bridge End car park (Route 1)
Accommodation
It should be noted that although accommodation is widely available throughout the Peak District, many accommodation providers assume arrival by car, which isn’t always helpful for cyclists. More remote villages may have no or just one option for accommodation, but searching a few kilometres off-route can yield some pleasant options. See Appendix C for details.
Always check that any accommodation has a secure place for your cycle(s) overnight when booking and that there is somewhere near enough to eat/drink in the evening. Pubs with rooms often provide the most convenient option for both of these (they usually have a cellar or other secure storage place for bikes).
Single-base trip to the Peak District?
Good bases of a reasonable size from which to explore the Peak District are (roughly south to north):
Ashbourne (Routes 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, TdPD)
Wirksworth or Matlock (Routes 4, 6, 8, 9, TdPD)
Hartington (Routes 8, 9, 10, 12, 15)
Chesterfield (Routes 3, 7, 10, 11)
Bakewell (Routes 10, 11, 14, 16, 17)
Hathersage (Routes 1, 11, 14, 16, 17, TdPD)
Buxton (Routes 1, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, TdPD)
Macclesfield, New Mills or Whaley Bridge (Routes 5, 11, 18, 20, TdPD)
Glossop (Routes 5, 11, 18, 19, TdPD)
Marsden, Meltham or Holmfirth (Routes 13, 19, TdPD)
Smaller villages with charm and more than one B&B or pub accommodation, plus a reasonable place to eat out in the evening (usually a pub), include: Monyash, Tideswell, Longnor, Litton, Bradwell (a quieter alternative to Castleton) and Edale.
Typical Peak District view of a small farm shed and tree in a hay meadow (Route 10)
Food and drink
As is to be expected of such a diverse region covering a number of counties, the Peak District has several distinct regional specialities, many of which are only
