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Mam Tor

Cavedale and Dirtlow rake

Cavedale and Dirtlow rake

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Dropping into Cavedale as the sunset, after the long climb up Pindale and Dirtlow rake. 36 riders on a Wednesday evening ride what could go wrong?

Great group ride made up of CABG collective joined by the Rother Valley Riders 👌

Cavedale is arguably one of the toughest trails in the Peak District a mainly dry limestone rocky riverbed. That drops steeply down into the back of Castleton.

If you fancy a go check out our Caves and Castles route on our website 👍

Route 9 – Caves and Castles

 

Bike Garage – Adventure starts heres

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Summertime in the Peak District 🌞

I have been fortunate to live in the Peak District for almost all of my life. Cycling in these hills since the introduction of the first modern mountain bikes. Experience an unforgettable adventure on the best trails with our hire fleet and local knowledge.

With a wide variety of routes to cater for all abilities, an extensive range of hire bikes and direct access to 170 miles worth of guided trails from the shop.

Bike Garage - Adventure starts here

Route 9 – Caves and Castles

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Route 9 – Caves and Castles
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Route 9 – Caves and Castles
Route 9 – Caves and Castles
Route 9 – Caves and Castles
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Route 9 – Caves and Castles
Route 9 – Caves and Castles
Mam Tor
GPX File
Komoot Route

Caves and Castles

Difficulty: Challenging

Length: 24 Miles (38km)

Elevation Gain: 4,500ft (1370m)

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 very technical boulder fields of Cavedale. Make sure you have your climbing legs as this route climbs almost 4,500ft (1,370m) over 24 miles (38km).

Route Profile

route-7-hope-valley-and-hucklow

Route Summary

Starting at the Bike Garage cross over the road to Shatton Lane.  Follow this quiet lane before taking the first left. Follow this lane for 0.3 miles until you get to a gate, through this gate is a bridleway through a field that has a short steep climb followed by a quick descent before getting to the next road. From here follow this road up to the next bridleway on your right, this bridleway takes you up towards the start of the first climb of the day up to Shatton Mast.

Gate - Track towards the mast
Gate – Track towards the mast

Once through this gate you follow the bridleway for just under one mile through the open moorland before joining the top of Shatton Lane where it becomes a wide gravel trail. Continue following this lane past the mast, through a few gates then around to the top of the Bradwell descent.

The Bradwell descent is a brilliant little singletrack, it is just shy of half a mile (0.8km) descending roughly 350ft (106m). It can be a little slippery if there has been some rain down and keep an eye out for other trail users. After dropping down to Bradwell it is time to climb back up to the top of cavedale. This is the second climb of the day, it is a long one at 3 miles (5km) and climbing 810ft (245m) so settle in and get ready for the upcoming Cavedale descent.

Cavedale
Cavedale
Cavedale
Cavedale

Cavedale is a very popular descent with all trail users. It starts out at a gentle gradient through open fields before dropping into a very tough, technical boulder field. Lasting approximately 1.3 miles (2km) and descending 675ft (205m) you will come across a wide range of trail surfaces that will test your technical skills and brakes! If you are descending Cavedale on the weekend  you should anticipate other users to be on the trail, it is a very popular one for walkers. Once you have reached the bottom of the descent you will find yourself in Castleton where you will work your way towards the Old Mam Tor road, also known as the broken road. This is a 0.6 mile (1km) section of abandoned road due to historical landslides giving it a very post-apocalyptic feel. This climb will take you up towards the next descend of the day, Greenhills.

Mam Tor - Greenlands
Mam Tor – Greenlands
Hollins Cross - Edale
Hollins Cross – Edale
Back Tor
Back Tor

 

By now you are 13 miles (21km) into the ride – over halfway! The next descent is a Peak District classic, Greenlands. This is a brilliant 0.5-mile (0.8km) descent down the grassy slopes of Mam Tor. It is a mix of wide sections and deep rutted lines so be sure to keep an eye on your line! After reaching the end of this descent it is back up the great ridgeline to Hollins Cross, a 0.6 mile (1km) climb covering more rutted sections and some natural steps towards the top – Kudos if you are able to clean it. Once at Hollins Cross it is a turn to the left, dropping down to Back Tor farm. This is a similar descent to Greenhills dropping 450ft (137m) over 0.6 miles (1km) to the Edale road where you take a right and follow the road for 0.8 miles (1.3km) before taking a left through a date to start climbing the bridleway towards Jaggers Clough.

Elmin Pits Climb
Elmin Pits Climb

The climb up from Jaggers Clough to Hope Cross is a steep one, ideal if you have hired an e-bike, it is popular in both directions so once again, keep an eye on other trail users. Once at Hope Cross continue straight to The Beast. This is another Peak District classic, it is 0.3 miles (0.5km) starting with a rocky descent into the woods before becoming much more boulder covered twisting down the hill side. Keep an eye out for the gate on the right at the second major left bend, you are going through here onto the fire track that runs along the south side of the Derwent reservoir. Follow this fire track for 0.4 miles (0.6km) and turn right after the gate to start climbing up Elmin Pits, this climb takes you back up just south east of Hope Cross putting you on for the final descent of the day.

Run for home, Aston BW
Run for home, Aston BW

Turn left at the top of Elmin Pits and follow the top of the ridge towards Win Hill for 1.1 miles (1.7km), keeping an eye out for the bridleway dropping to the right you take this down to Aston. This is the last descent of the route and is a fast flowy way to finish the day. You descend for roughly one mile (1.6km) dropping 365ft (111m) providing a really good finish to this ride with brilliant views over the Peak District. Once you hit the road at the bottom turn left and follow it through to Thornhill, when you see the red phone box turn right, drop down the hill and turn left onto Water Lane. From here follow the lane for 0.4 miles (0.6km), turn right onto the Bamford Recreational Ground and follow the trail back to the Bike Garage.

With this you are done, you will have covered 24 miles and roughly 4,500ft of climbing through six brilliant descents.

Want to explore this route?  Book your bikes online now!
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Trail Preview | Mam Tor Ridge & Back Tor

Trail Preview | Mam Tor Ridge & Back Tor

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Mam Tor is the second-highest hill in the Peak District and the bridleway goes around the hilltop and leads onto a fast, rutted trail down the ridge to Hollins Cross.

Where we then drop down into Edale below Back Tor. Starting from the round stone pillar and heads down the right fork on the Edale side, between two stone posts. The first 100m of the track is on top of an old collapsed wall which lots of embedded, angular, polished stones. It curves right around the hill, flattens out and turns into singletrack with small gulleys before a gate.

Filmed on a Wednesday evening on one of our shop rides, this week starting from Cafe Adventure in Hope.

Trail Preview | Rake & Bake Wharncliffe Woods

Bike Garage – Trek Rail, Ride Further & Explore more

Bike Garage – Trek Rail, Ride Further & Explore more

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Our premium electric mountain bikes help you to go further and faster so you experience even more of the Peak District’s amazing local trails in one session.

Trek Rail ebikes give variable levels of electrical assistance to the rider’s pedalling to aid with climbing uphill. With their high-performance full suspension, they’re more than ready to tackle the most rugged of descents.

Our bike hire customers typically get 25 to 55 miles in one ride. With the Trek Rail from Bike Garage you’re free to ride further and explore more!

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Bike Garage – Gateway To Your Adventure – Mountain Biking Peak District

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The Bike Garage is an independent family-owned bike shop which set out in 2010 with one mission: Help people get out on bikes more and experience our amazing local countryside. Every year, our cycle hire helps people from all over the world of any skill level experience an unforgettable adventure riding in the Peak District.

Jump on a train in Sheffield station. Or arrive via car and begin your adventure. With tailored route information and trails for all levels. We offer a range of high-quality Trek bikes, in a range of frame sizes. The bikes are intended for off-road use on the bridleways, singletrack and trails in the Peak District. Offering Hardtail, Full suspension and Electric mountain bikes.

The video feature some of our favourite local trail including Mam Tor, Lady Cannings Blue Steel flow trail, Hope Cross aka The Beast and Whinstone lee tor as well as others.

We were extremely proud to have been voted best cycle hire in the Peak District By Tripadvisor travel blog in 2018. Feel free to browse our site to see more about what I do or book your cycle hire. If you can’t find what you need, feel free to get in touch!

Hope to see you in the shop soon! – James, Owner

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Hollins Cross on Mam Tor

Hollins Cross on Mam Tor. Run by a local mountain biker with over 20 years experience.

Hollins Cross on Mam Tor
View of Mam Tor of Edale
Trail Map in the Bike Garage
Blue Steel