may not ride on a footpath, yet some newer cycleways use footpaths (and are marked as footpaths too!) and many urban footpaths have become shared pedestrian/cyclist routes. In practice, if there is a sign that indicates cycles are allowed, then you should be OK. With other paths (such as the linking track across from the top of Dirtlow Rake to the country lane), where the rights are either unclear, lost in time or in the process of change, they might be commonly used by cycles, and cyclists are not usually seen as a problem by the landowner, and are tacitly or even (rarely!) enthusiastically encouraged. However, you should always approach such areas – which are marked in the route descriptions – with caution, and if challenged be prepared to dismount or deviate.
Pushing a bike on a footpath is another contested issue. There is no law prohibiting the pushing of a bike on a footpath, and occasionally this is the best alternative to a busy main road or ‘broken link’. The Ramblers Association claims that ‘a bike is not a natural accompaniment’ (on a footpath), and you may hear Rights of Way officers echoing this, but CyclingUK (formerly the CTC – Cyclist’s Touring Club) maintains that this claim has been made only in a Scottish, not English, legal case – and even then was only a comment, not a legal ruling. However, common sense must also apply – you should not try to push a bike over a narrow single-file footpath where this would clearly cause inconvenience to walkers, and no route in this book will suggest otherwise.
Signpost marking the Thornhill Trail (Route 1a)
Road names in brackets
Sadly, not all road names are signed on the ground. Where a road name appears in brackets in the route description, this is the name of the road as found on a map (eg Google maps) rather than a sign that is visible as you pass by.
Recent developments
Since 2000, councils have all been required to develop and implement rights of way improvement plans, with the result that cyclists are gaining greater access rights to trails and bridleways. Future potential developments include the long-awaited White Peak Loop (whose large gaps have been partially infilled, and which is now described as far as possible at the time of publication in Route 11) and completion of the Matlock to Rowsley cyclepath.
THE CANAL AND RIVER TRUST TOWPATH CODE
Since the publication of the first edition of this guidebook, many waterway towpaths have become the responsibility of the Canal and River Trust, who generally allow cyclists to use towpaths in accordance with their access code:
1. Share the space – towpaths are popular places to be enjoyed by everyone. Please be mindful of others, keep dogs under control, and clean up after them.
(‘Duck lanes’ occasionally appear to remind all users of narrow sections, but aren’t marked everywhere it’s narrow.)
2. Drop your pace – pedestrians have priority on our towpaths so cyclists need to be ready to slow down; if you’re in a hurry, consider using an alternative route for your journey.
Some sections are very narrow, with limited visibility – in particular where the towpath goes under bridges, and some get very busy, especially on sunny summer weekends and school holidays. There are also extra hazards such as mooring bollards (which aren’t always easy to see) and mooring lines, fishermen’s rods, and the ever-dreaded doggy trip-wire). Also, it’s polite to slow down around pedestrians and say thanks to them for moving out of your way – just as we expect vehicles to do to us when on the roads!
3. It’s a special place – our waterways are living history, with boats, working locks and low bridges so please give way to waterway users and be extra careful where visibility is limited.
On the track near Harden Moss (TdPD, Day 2)
Emergencies and first aid
In a life-threatening emergency:
first priority: ensure that you and the casualty are not in further danger
next: call for help (999 or 112)
then: try and give whatever first aid is practical.
It is definitely a life-threatening emergency if the casualty is not breathing or is unconscious/unresponsive to their name.
The number for the emergency services is 999, although 112, which is commonly used across Europe, will also get you through. This will put you through to a combined control centre for ambulance, police and fire brigade services. They will find it easier and quicker to get to the casualty if you can give them a good indication of whereabouts you are – a GPS location reading or a grid reference (in the OS maps format such as SK 123 456) can be very handy for this – and what the problem is (for example: fallen off bike, hit head on kerb and is unconscious).
If you suspect the casualty has back or neck injuries, do not move them unless their life is seriously threatened if they remain where they are: any movement may worsen the risk of paralysis. If you have no choice but to move them, it’s important to support their head (particularly) and back (nearly as important) fully while moving them – this may well require the help of more than one additional person.
If the emergency is serious but not life-threatening, call the NHS non-emergency number: 111.
For minor injuries the first aid kit (you did bring it, didn’t you?) will come in handy. If there’s gravel or any other object embedded in a cut that’s bleeding significantly, do not press on the foreign body directly, but press at the sides of the wound to try and stem the bleeding. Then pile wound dressing on top of wound dressing with a bandage until blood flow from the wound becomes minimal, and seek help.
Using this guide
A summary of route grade, length, ascent and types of terrain can be found in Appendix A to help with route choice and planning. This is repeated on a route-by-route basis in the information boxes at the start of each route with additional information on start/finish points, and how suitable the route is for road bikes (with an overview of any diversions necessary). The information boxes also include brief information on nearby parking facilities, cycle hire, refreshment opportunities and any specific warnings for that route. However, please be aware that refreshment providers come and go and may have limited opening hours – especially pubs during midweek afternoons: it is worth checking online before relying on any particular refreshment stop (see Food and Drink for a weblink to an online list).
On the Monsal Trail near Millersdale (Route 11)
What sort of routes?
The routes in this book are intended for anyone of average fitness or better. They fall between gentle former railway trails at the easiest end to easy technical mountain-biking/A-road moorland riding at the hardest end – using many of the region’s great variety of trails available to the cyclist. There are narrow, winding and often hilly country lanes, bridleways and byways that use former turnpikes and ancient jaggers’ (packhorse drovers’) paths over rougher terrain.
Riders will need traffic sense, as the routes do use the open road, but most of the routes are suitable for families with older children who have mastered the rules of the road sufficiently to be safe in traffic. The routes are progressive in difficulty: the earlier routes in the book are more suited
