Ten Great Peak District MTB Trails – Lovers Leap

Route details

Starting in the depths of Stoney Middleton head West in the direction of Eyam, and shortly you will come to your first climb of the day. This is no lung buster, but it’ll certainly warm you up, so dress down as you leave your parked car. If you have the time, take a look around Eyam – it’s a great little village with a story to tell. If you have a lock for your bike, maybe have a wander around the local church too – it’ll be worth your time. From the village head up past the Riley Graves until you see a permissive bridleway dropping down through the woods on your right. (For mountain bikers there’s an added bonus in these woods too …) From these woods enjoy a technical down hill which will spit you out to the road below. Right turn to the bend, and then another rocky downhill back to Stoney Middleton.

Turn left onto the main road and then right, steeply up Middleton Lane. About a mile later, at the top you’ll turn left up Black Harry Lane which in reality is a trail. This will lead you steadily up to a junction of bridleways, and veering leftwards you continue up to High Rake. At the top turn right and shortly later left down a gravely bridleway. You’ll quickly pick up speed – so watch out for any walkers coming the other way. Follow this down hill to Rowland, and then country lanes to Hassop. In Hassop bypass Home Farm on your left down another bridleway to the A619. Follow this westwards towards Great Longstone. Escape from the road at the roundabout, (Hassop Station Cafe and bike hire) and get yourself onto the Monsal Trail. Cruise along here for just about a mile and exit at Thornbridge Hall.

and then through Great Longstone and up up up Moor road back to High Rake. From the top, take a quick left turn down a bridleway and down to the junction of bridleways. Follow Coombs Dale sublimely back down to Stoney Middleton and your waiting car.