Pennine Bridleway Bike Tour

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Arrival Ravenstonedale - Transfer to New Mills

   If arriving by car, the meet-up point for this trip is the village of Ravenstonedale, where you'll also end the journey a few days later and where you’ll be able to leave your vehicle for the duration of the trip. The planned arrival time is mid-afternoon, allowing sufficient time to reach the town of New Mills in Derbyshire’s High Peak early evening. For those wishing to travel by train, you may either arrive in Oxenholme in which case you will be collected en route from Ravenstonedale or directly into New Mills in Derbyshire and meet at the accommodation which is a short taxi journey from the train station.
   
   After checking in, you will have the chance to get to know your guides and your fellow riders a little more during the evening meal and during which you’ll discuss the riding days to come.
   
   

   • Local accommodation
2. Day 2Middleton Top to New Mills

   No need to unpack as you’ll be back here later but following breakfast, you'll load up for the transfer (1hr) from New Mills to Middleton Top. Situated close to Wirksworth and Matlock, Middleton Top puts you in the very heart of the White Peak and it is a gentle start to your journey as you head out along the High Peak Trail. This is classic Derbyshire scenery of expansive views, rolling hills, dry-stone walls, and pretty villages and is the perfect arena to make sure bikes as well as legs and lungs are working well!
   
   It’s not long before you'll dive down off the high plateau into the beautiful deep Dales which are typical of the area and continue northwards on sections of the Limestone Way to the Peak Forest. Soon after, the gentle undulations of the White Peak give way to the rugged, rocky Dark Peak and you'll enjoy some fabulous flowing tracks on your way to the village of New Mills where you'll stay for your second evening.
   

   • 38.5 miles
   • 2,952.8 ft
     2,952.8 ft
   • Local accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
3. Day 3New Mills to Grains Bar

   With Greater Manchester to the west and Saddleworth Moor to the east, you'll weave your way through the stark post-industrial landscape of the Southern Pennines. Whilst not as pretty as yesterday, what it lacks in beauty is made up for with the riding, from rocky trails to testing singletrack and restful former rail tracks that have been converted and are perfect for biking.
   
   After passing a series of reservoirs and skirting the village of Uppermill, your final few miles of the day take you to Grains Bar for the evening.
   

   • 32.3 miles
   • 4,396.3 ft
     4,396.3 ft
   • Local accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
4. Day 4Grains Bar to Hebden Bridge

   Continuing north today you'll have a couple of cheeky climbs to tackle before a longer downhill to Hollingworth Lake. From here the scenery and the tracks open up to more flowing moorland sections. Ever close to the heritage of the industrial north, you'll drop down to summit to cross the Rochdale Canal for the first time before regaining height to Bottomley.
   
   You'll soon skirt past the prominent Stoodley Pike on the High Moor track before plunging deep into the Upper Calder Valley and your overnight stop in the vibrant Hebden Bridge. Blessed with some wonderful eateries and pubs, you’ll be spoiled for choice in this lovely slice of Yorkshire.
   

   • 19.9 miles
   • 2,378.6 ft
     2,378.6 ft
   • Local accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
5. Day 5Hebden Bridge to Kelbrook

   The route out of Hebden Bridge sees you on a superb woodland track climbing through Heptonstall Woods to warm up your legs before a series of tracks sees you working your way around to Gorple Reservoir where you'll meet with the support van for refreshments. From here you are practically off-road for the rest of the day on cleverly sculpted tracks, some of which have been purposely built for the Pennine Bridleway.
   
   After a break, you'll cross the Widdop Reservoir Dam and climb onto Black Moor where you are treated to one of the best descents of the trip! Open, flowing, a bit rough at times with a few spicy water-bar humps to tempt you airborne.
   
   Fantastic tracks through stark yet beautiful moorland just keep on coming and by the time you meet the van again at the top of Thursden Wood you’ll be ready for a well-deserved lunch-stop.
   
   It’s a relatively easy start to the afternoon on the Bronte Way down to the picturesque Wycoller Valley where the support van will reappear at the country park should you need a snack or three.
   
   With the open moorlands now behind, you'll follow a series of tracks through more mixed farmlands to Kelbrook and your overnight stop. You’ll be in a superb country pub with top-notch food and a fine selection of beer and wine – it’s a great place to relax and reflect on the riding so far.
   

   • 24.2 miles
   • 3,149.6 ft
     3,149.6 ft
   • Local accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
6. Day 6Kelbrook to Settle

   Alas, there’s no time to visit Hope Cycle Components just down the road in Barnoldswick as you transition from the rugged Northern Pennines to the spectacular Yorkshire Dales.
   
   You'll start by winding up to Weets Hill to gain your first views north to the Yorkshire Dales and then spend the rest of the morning riding through scenic undulating pastureland. That said, you'll still manage to pick up some tasty tracks as you pass through Gisburn Park heading into the Dales.
   
   Time, weather and legs permitting, you'll finish the day’s cycling with the Settle Loop. This 10-mile loop out towards Malham Tarn is a mini adventure in itself & a fitting end to a great day’s riding.
   

   • 31.1 miles
   • 2,919.9 ft
     2,919.9 ft
   • Local accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
7. Day 7Settle to Ravenstonedale

   Without a doubt, we’ve saved the best till last! Today’s ride is largely within the spectacular Yorkshire Dales National Park with its iconic limestone scenery, stone-built villages and drystone walls. It’s also home to some of the UK’s best mountain biking and its remotest moorland trails.
   
   After a few miles on the road to get out of Settle, you'll hit the trails again with a pushup Giggleswick Scar. The panoramas open up as you descend down to Feizer, Austwick, and on towards Ingleborough.
   
   Whilst there are a few challenging climbs to reach the limestone pavements (which skirt around the flanks of Ingleborough), the views across to Pen-y-ghent from here are superb and a handsome reward for all the hard work. But if that’s not enough, the descent down to your first van stop will plonk a smile on your face!
   
   Snack break over, you'll cross the Carlisle to Settle railway rolling over the River Ribble on an elaborate wooden bridge built especially for the Pennine Bridleway. From here, you'll head up to the Cam High Road following an old Roman Road from Cam End where you can see the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct. On leaving the Cam Road, you'll have a lovely flowing descent down to lunch at Newby Head Moss.
   
   Whilst never too far from civilisation, the next section of trail has that beautiful and remote feel to it as you work your way up and around Widdale Fell and on towards Garsdale Station and the final afternoon van stop of the trip in what is one of the best locations on the trip.
   
   Not long to go now but you’ve guessed it …you’ve a climb back up onto the fellside to reach the undulating track which leads you on to the final big downhill of the trip. Your last miles take you on a mix of track and bits of road as you work your way alongside the River Eden past Pendragon Castle and on into the market square in Kirkby Stephen where your epic ride ends! Time to celebrate the end of your journey with a evening in Ravenstonedale.
   

   • 41 miles
   • 4,330.7 ft
     4,330.7 ft
   • Local accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
8. Day 8Depart Ravenstonedale

   After breakfast, you'll return to your vehicle, and for those catching the train you'll be transferred to Penrith station for trains departing from 10:30 onwards.
   
   

   • Breakfast