Ten Great Peak District MTB Trails – Ringinglow & Devil’s Elbow

Route details

Starting from the Stony Ridge Car Park, head west along the A625 for just a couple of hundred meters or so, before turning right onto the Houndkirk Trail. Follow this big wide byway for around 2Km before you come to a junction in the trail, with the plantation up and to your left. Turn left uphill here. Shortly you will pass through a gate, and along the trail with the woods to your right. Look out for a wide gate to your right (wide enough to drive a truck through). Through this gate you have two technical trails to have a play on. The one to the right is slightly less technical of the two, and will take you 3 – 5 minutes to descend. The trail on the left is slightly faster and more technical, and if I am only going to do one trail, that’s my favourite of the two.

Once you have finished playing around in the plantation, follow the central trail down to the gate and car park at the bottom. Turn right, headed up hill back towards the Houndkirk Trail. About 100m after going through the gate, take the left turn at the junction (which you were at earlier on). This is Jumble Road, and has been the end to many a mountain-biker’s ride: take care! Through the gat at the bottom and onto the Sheephill Rd. Down this and right turn onto the A625.

About half a mile later, you will see a signposted bridleway to your left that leads down through the woods known as Blacka Moor: this is the start to the Devil’s Elbow. It starts off nicely enough, but don’t be fooled by first impressions. The pace will soon pick up, and quickly you will be faced by drop-offs and boulders aplenty. Hang on till the end, over the stream, right turn and ride back up to where you left your car. On the walk (you’ll be on an E-bike if you ride it) back up the hill, you can contemplate the merits of full-face helmets!