Map (zoom in for more detail)
Directions & GPX etc
Route directions PDF (right click to download)
GPX file (right click to download)
TCX file (right click to download)
FIT file (right click to download)
Glorious Bike Rides
Glorious Bike Rides
Route directions PDF (right click to download)
GPX file (right click to download)
TCX file (right click to download)
FIT file (right click to download)
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Excellent ride. Did it today, a bit hilly is an understatement! But then, it does say that in your description. Stopped at the Old School Tea Rooms at Cheddleton for a good lunch. Had a mooch round the water mill, really interesting place. Some incredible views, you would never think that you’re in the centre of England. There are views where all you can see is farmland, fields and forestry, for miles. The GPX route was spot on, and all of the route was rideable on a standard hybrid or mountain bike with road based tyres. I loved the canal stretch, and the last few miles back to Denstone to the car was flat, giving a well earned warm down after the hills. My Karoo registered 15 climbs of various lengths. Highly recommended.
Thank you Steven, that’s very helpful. Would you need some mildly knobbly tread for traction?
Thanks, that’s very helpful Steven. I’m wanting to ride it soon. Sounds like some wider, mildly treaded rubber is most suitable?
Hi Mark. As I recall, we rode it with standard road tyres, with light tread. We didn’t need gravel or mtb tyres at all.
ok thanks Steven, that’s helpful to know!
I’m sure a rider of your calibre and experience would be fine on any bike, Mark. But seeing as you’re the owner of a Fairlight Secan, it would be a perfect choice to ride this route, whether on knobblies or slicks. Can you sense my envy?
More seriously, the towpath is the usual affair of hard packed grit, mud the occasional puddle after rain, the odd tree root. The track through the woods of Dimmings Dale is rather wonderful, fine hardpacked gravel, with a dusting of leaf litter in autumn and winter. The railway path to Denstone is classic US style gravel.