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Cycle and escape in one of the UK's most dramatic landscapes

Cycle through Britain’s first National Park and explore the forested hills, sprawling heather moors and jagged rock formations that make the Peak District so truly spectacular. This four-day Intrepid Cycling experience offers a comfortable yet active way to get away from it all. Base yourself in the charming country town of Castleton and cycle your way over the scenic Winnats Pass, past the idyllic Laybower Reservoir and the National Trust Longshaw Estate, with ample time to meet the locals and discover friendly local pubs along the way. A countryside cycling escape awaits.

Start
Castleton, United Kingdom
Finish
Castleton, United Kingdom
Destination
United Kingdom
Style
Original
Theme
Active Adventures, Cycling, Intrepid Retreats
Code
BMLX
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 4, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Cycle in one of the UK's most dramatic landscapes, the famed Peak District National Park – there are few better views than from handlebar height.

  • Marvel at 'the Shivering Mountain’, the brooding Mam Tor, and conquer the challenging Winnats Pass on a steep but stunning ride.

  • Enjoy the famous Peak District hospitality in the many small cafes and shops, and be sure to try one of the area’s famous puddings.

  • Indulge in a cool brew from the Intrepid Brewery at local pub as a refreshing reward for a day in the saddle.

  • Enjoy the ease of leaving your cycling shoes at the same comfortable, conveniently located accommodation each night.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip is new to our range this year. And while we have thoroughly researched every detail of the logistics, new destinations can sometimes throw us some unexpected surprises. More often than not, it’ll be a great surprise. But every now and again there might be a hiccup. We like to think that’s what puts the ‘adventure’ in ‘adventure travel’.

  • Please ensure you consult your local government’s advice regarding domestic travel prior to booking this trip.

  • To complete this trip it is important that you are both confident and competent in riding a bicycle.

  • While the cycling distances on this trip are relatively short the stunning the terrain is naturally hilly so you’ll need a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy the trip.

  • On this trip we have a single leader that rides with the group.

  • As our riding is done on a mix of sealed roads and gravel cycle paths/tracks a good level of cycling skills is required.

  • There’s the possibility of a few hiccups along the way – a puncture here and there – but there’s no doubt this is an incredibly rewarding adventure.

  • As accommodation on this trip is multi-share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same gender. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it while you can. If you’d prefer not to share, a single room supplement is available at an additional charge. Please ask your travel consultant for more details, and please note that in some hotels a single supplement exclusion applies where single rooms are not available.

Map of Cycle the Peak District including United Kingdom
BMLX_UK_england_peak-district_winding-road
BMLX_UK_england_peak-district_serpantine-road
BMLX_UK_england_peak-district_Ladybower-Reservoir

Itinerary
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Welcome to the Peak District and the charming village of Castleton. 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. While small, the friendly village of Castleton has ample local attractions to keep you busy, including the Peveril Castle and the peaceful century St Edmund's Church, which both date from the start of the last millennium. 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.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Castleton - Treak Cliff Cavern & Blue John Stone Tour - GBP13
  • Castleton - Speedwell Cavern - GBP13
  • Castleton - Peveril Castle - GBP8
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
There is no included cycling today. If you have the time today, there are also plenty of activities nearby. Uncover the secrets of Derbyshire’s Blue John stone on a tour of the Treak Cliff Cavern, board a boat that takes you through the workings of a 230-year-old lead mine and the huge natural chamber, the Bottomless-Pit Cavern at Speedwell Cavern, or if you are feeling more active try the Ridge Walk Mam Tor to Losehill.

After fuelling up with breakfast this morning, get a bike fitting with the group followed by a short test ride to make sure everything 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 Castleton 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.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s riding distance is approximately 35 kilometres/22 miles, mostly undulating with two significant (short but steep) climbs, with approximately 990 metre/3250 feet of elevation gain.

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 of Castleton, just a couple of miles away.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s riding distance is approximately 48 kilometres/30 miles, mostly undulating with three significant (short but steep) climbs, with approximately 740 metre/2425 feet of elevation gain.

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 Castleton where your Peak District cycling adventure comes to an end.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s riding distance is approximately 41 kilometres/30 miles, mostly undulating with three significant (short but steep) climbs, with approximately 850 metre/2800 feet of elevation gain.

Please note that accommodation is not included tonight so you will need to arrive at breakfast with your main bags already packed. These can be left at the guesthouse. If you require additional accommodation (or want to reserve your room for the main part of the day) please enquire at time of booking.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

3 breakfasts

Transport

Bicycle

Accommodation

Guesthouse (3 nights)

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Cycle the Peak District trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A Single Supplement may be available on this trip, please ask your booking agent for more information.
2. Bicycle hire is included in your trip price. Please advise your height at time of booking so as we can organise a suitable sized bike.
3. Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. We are unable to hire bike helmets locally so please ensure you bring your own bike helmet from home.
4. On this trip we have a single leader that rides with the group.
5. As we always start and return to the same accommodation each day this trip does not have a support vehicle.
6. Accommodation is not included on day 4 of this trip and you will need to check out before commencing the final ride. If you require additional accommodation (or want to reserve your room for the main part of the day) please enquire at time of booking.
7. Due to Covid-19 restrictions some of the local attractions may be temporarily closed, running reduced hours, or require booking ahead. Please check their websites for up-to-date opening hours.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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