Top Peak District MTB Winter Routes
Our favourite Peak District Winter Routes
Given the often rocky nature of the trails in the north of the Peak District, the rocky trails of the Dark Peak are a safe bet for winter rides. Conversely, the White Peak in the south can be treacherous, with limestone becoming slippery in the wet and trails often turning muddy and soft. For more enjoyable winter adventure, we recommend sticking to the northern trails, where the Gritstone offers excellent traction in the wet.
We have picked out a number of the Peak District MTB Winter Routes from our online guides. Click the link to view each guide in full, including the GPX file, Elevation profile, full written guide, and link to the Komoot guide.
Stanage and Lady Cannings Explorer – Route 5
Difficulty: Medium
Length: 19.5 miles
Elevation: 2000ft
This reliable 19.5-mile route features a climb of just over 2,000 feet, offering stunning views of Stanage Edge and the enjoyment of Lady Cannings, not to mention the opportunity to indulge in some lovely ice cream from Thorpe Farm.
This ride caters to everyone, whether you’re looking for a shorter winter option. Or take a leisurely day enjoying the various pub stops along the way. With a mix of quiet lanes and wider, less technical gravel trails plus the trails at Lady Cannings, this route offers an excellent option for any weather conditions.
Chinley to Bamford A to B – Route 8
Difficulty: Challenging
Length: 19 Miles (30.5km)
Elevation Gain: 3,200ft (975m)
This is a different type of ride involving a short 20 minute train journey for 2+ hours of riding, taking in the highest point in the peak district and a good portion of the peak district all weather route. With the option for two coffee stops and roughly 2,500ft of descending there is something here for everyone to enjoy!
A twist on the classic PDMTB all weather loop. Using the train to Chinley and then a ride back over doing Jacobs Ladder and the kinder loop, before climbing Jagger Clough and descending the Beast.
Lords and Ladies – Route 11
Difficulty: Medium
Length: 21 miles
A middle distance, medium technical loop linking lanes, off-road tracks, & Bridleways along the south of the Hope Valley before climbing up onto Mam Tor and Lords Seat. Before dropping down Chapel Gate into the Edale Valley.
This is a great route for those looking for a varied route that covers a good variety of trails and landscapes. It is shorter than some of the other routes and less technical.
Grindleford, Eyam and Edges – Route 10
Difficulty: Medium
Length: 27 miles
Elevation: 3375 ft
A longer but less technical loop linking lanes and light off-road tracks into the White Peak. Before looping back around and returning along Curber and Froggatt Edge. With the mixture of road and light off-road, this would make a good option for a winter loop to get some miles in the legs.
If you’re looking for more inspiration, be sure to visit our routes page.