Conquer the Peaks: The Best E-Bike Routes in the Peak District
Whether you’re a seasoned mountain biker looking to squeeze more laps into your day or a casual rider wanting to conquer the Peak District’s legendary climbs without the leg-burn, e-bikes are a total game-changer.
At Bike Garage, we’ve spent years mapping out the best trails in the Dark Peak. To help you plan your next adventure, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite routes—all of which are perfectly suited for e-bikes.
Here are the best e-bike routes in the Peak District to add to your bucket list.
1. The “Big Day Out”: Stanage and Lady Cannings Explorer
Distance: 19.5 Miles | Elevation: 2,000ft | Difficulty: Medium
This is a quintessential Peak District loop that showcases the area’s variety. You’ll tackle historic packhorse routes, cruise along the iconic Stanage Edge, and enjoy the flowy, purpose-built trails at Lady Cannings.
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The E-Bike Edge: The climb up to Stanage can be a slog on a traditional bike, but with a motor, you can focus on the incredible views over the Hope Valley rather than your heart rate.
2. The Epic Scenery: Lords and Ladies
Distance: 21 Miles | Elevation: 2,150ft | Difficulty: Medium
If you want height and drama, this is the one. This route links the south of the Hope Valley with the famous Great Ridge. You’ll climb up toward Mam Tor and Lords Seat before a thrilling descent down Chapel Gate into the Edale Valley.
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The E-Bike Edge: Reaching the ridge at Mam Tor usually requires a serious “granny gear” effort. On an e-bike, you’ll arrive at the top fresh and ready to enjoy one of the most technical and rewarding descents in the country.
3. The Family Favorite: Thornhill & Upper Derwent Valley
Distance: 2–23 Miles (Flexible) | Elevation: 1,475ft | Difficulty: Easy
Looking for something more relaxed? This traffic-free loop around the Ladybower, Derwent, and Howden reservoirs is stunning. It’s mostly flat with some gentle inclines, making it the perfect “intro to the Peaks” ride.
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The E-Bike Edge: Because you can cover ground so much faster with pedal assist, you can easily complete the full triple-reservoir loop and still have plenty of battery left for a detour to the local pub
Froggatt edge
4. For the Adventurer: Chinley to Bamford (A to B)
Distance: 19 Miles | Elevation: 3,200ft | Difficulty: Challenging
This is a unique “point-to-point” ride. Hop on a quick 20-minute train journey from Bamford to Chinley, then ride back across the highest points of the Peak District. This route takes in a huge portion of the Peak District’s all-weather trails.
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The E-Bike Edge: With over 3,000ft of climbing packed into 19 miles, this is a “Turbo Mode” kind of day. It’s a rugged, high-mountain experience that feels like a true expedition.
5. The Quick Blast: Shatton Mast
Distance: 7.2 Miles | Elevation: 850ft | Difficulty: Medium
Short on time? This route packs a punch. It features a great mix of singletrack and fast descents, all centered around the climb to the Shatton mast which offers 360-degree views of the National Park.
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The E-Bike Edge: This is the perfect route for a “power hour.” While others are still grinding up the first hill, you’ll be starting your second lap.
6. Full Day Epics: Caves and Castles
This is a demanding loop with six significant climbs followed by six brilliant descents. There is a mix of every trail here, from the fast-flowing open grass descents of Win Hill to the very technical boulder fields of Cavedale.
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This is a slightly more challenging ride that offers four brilliant descents ranging from wide grass routes to tight, exciting singletrack.
Ready to Ride?
Don’t have your own e-bike? No problem. You can hire a premium electric mountain bike directly from us at Bike Garage in Bamford.
Bonus Tip: Navigation in the Peaks can be tricky. We offer Wahoo GPS devices pre-loaded with all these routes (and more!) for hire, so you can focus on the trail ahead rather than staring at a map.
