Cycle the Peak District

Welcome to the Peak District and the charming village of Bamford. Today is arrival day and there are no activities planned until a welcome meeting at 6 pm. Unpack your bags and make yourself comfortable, secure in the knowledge that you will spend the next three nights in the same accommodation, with no need to repack until you leave. Surrounded by high moorland and flanked by the fast flowing River Derwent, the small, friendly village of Bamford has ample local attractions to keep you busy, including the nearby Peveril Castle which dates from the start of the last millennium, and of course the nearby Ladybower Reservoir just north of town. If you’re feeling energetic why not hike up to Bamford Edge, a rocky overhang offering sweeping views of the valley and reservoir. Or simply unwind with a walk through the village after a meal at a local teahouse. After the group meeting there’s the option of heading out for a meal with your group.

After fuelling up with breakfast this morning, get a bike fitting with the group followed by a short test ride to make sure everything on your 'hybrid-style' bike is working properly. Today’s ride is an excellent introduction to cycling in the Peak District, a short but at times hilly ride that takes you out of Bamford and through classic rolling scenery to reach the Ladybower Reservoir, one of the largest in Britain. Take a rest and enjoy the views over the water, paying special attention to the what the locals call ‘the plughole’, a mesmerising sight when the reservoir is full. Follow the eastern contours round the lake then turn back towards the Great Ridge, enjoying stunning views of the so-called Shivering Mountain, the brooding Mam Tor and nearby Man Nick. Then switch to your lowest gear for the famed Winnats Pass as it winds its way through the limestone gorge. From here it’s all downhill towards a well-earned brew at the end of the day. (B)

Today features a longer ride, once again heading up towards the serene Ladybower Reservoir before a thrilling descent of Whinstone Lee Tor. Continue on quiet farm tracks in a loop of the Dale Dike Reservoir and the Strines Moor, enjoying endless views of the peaks, before heading back towards the west side of the Ladybower Reservoir and the small village of Fairhomes. Enjoy a good rest before it’s back on the bike and a relatively flat ride all the way back to the Hope Valley. Revive yourself with a refreshing brew in Bamford village`s local pub, Derbyshire’s first community owned pub. Sample the wares of the local Intrepid Brewery then back to your home base for the evening. (B)

Today you head east, with a couple of steep climbs to test the legs, but the views of Stanage Edge, the Dark Peak moorlands and the Hope Valley are well worth the effort. From here its (mostly) downhill to the shores of the Redmires Upper Reservoir and along the peaceful Carr Bridge singletrack. Here you’ll rest up before truly getting off the beaten track and into the brooding moors, before arriving at the National Trust Longshaw Estate. This is 1600 acres of moor and extensive woods with dramatic views over the Derwent Valley. One last uphill awaits to the spectacular boulder-strewn Burbage Moor (keep an eye out for the woolly cows), then it’s a final ride into Bamford where your Peak District cycling adventure comes to an end. (B)