Peak Gravel Overnighter 2024
“Just a bike ride with new mates”
The very first Peak Gravel Overnighter. After the buzz of the inaugural Tor Divide, we were itching to get another group out on the trails, but this time with a very different flavour. No racing, no tracking dots, no sleep deprivation. Just a friendly group expedition from Manchester city centre into the bridleways and rolling hills of the Peak District, open to absolutely anyone: seasoned ultra racers, first-time bikepackers, and everything in between.
The route threaded together everything from smooth canal towpaths to proper chunky bridleways, which meant nobody was on the "right" bike for long. That's exactly the point. Those are the rides where a gravel bike shows what it's really for, and where you find out what you (and your setup) can handle. With snack stops and photo pauses baked into the plan from the start, this was never about speed. It was about riding somewhere new together, and finishing the weekend with a few more mates than you started with.
Photo by W.Harris
Day One: Escaping the City
We gathered at Balance Brewing & Blending, fuelled by coffee and a frankly ridiculous spread of pastries. A quick headcount: 30 riders, all smiles. Gravel bikes, steel tourers, even a few fully loaded mountain bikes: a wonderfully mixed bunch weaving through Manchester's backstreets and out onto the canal.
The city skyline soon disappeared behind us as we climbed onto Werneth Low, with cracking views back over the sprawl we'd just escaped. The gravel ramped up as we crossed into the Peak District National Park, spitting us onto the rougher sections of the Pennine Bridleway.
Lunch was a well-earned café stop: toasties, cake, and plenty of kit chat. From there the group naturally split: some took the smoother line to camp, others dived deeper into the rocks and ruts. I may have slightly overhyped the "ford crossing" (it was barely a puddle), but nobody seemed to mind. The sun was still out and spirits were high.
Tents went up at our secluded camp spot, and we headed straight to the pub for food, pints, and trail tales. A proper end to a cracking day.
Photos by W.Harris
Photo by V.Stuart
Photo by V.Stuart
Day Two: Mam Tor and the Broken Road
Tents dripped with the remains of a midnight shower as riders slowly emerged into a grey morning. After breakfast at the local bakery, we regrouped for the highlight of the weekend: Mam Tor and the Broken Road.
Once a vital link between Manchester and Sheffield, the Broken Road has long since crumbled, leaving a surreal, scenic reminder that nature always wins. It's a brilliant spot for photos, and for a moment of quiet reflection before pointing the bikes home.
The return leg was gentler: disused railway lines and gravel paths, music to tired legs. But the weather had other ideas. Fog turned to drizzle, drizzle turned to proper rain. We sheltered at the Lyme Park café, peeled off soaked layers, and laughed at the absurdity of it all. Then we rolled back into Manchester: a little wetter, a lot muddier, and a whole lot happier.
What We Learned
I've rarely seen a group finish a ride so soaked and yet so full of joy. Big smiles, shining eyes, and that was before we cracked open Balance's finest brews. A few takeaways from year one:
Bikepacking isn't about the bike. We had riders from ten years old to sixty-something legends, on everything from carbon race machines to trusty steel steeds. What matters is showing up.
Embrace the unknown. The best moments came from the bits nobody could plan: the route split, the rain, the not-quite-a-ford.
Stops are part of the ride. Café breaks, photo pauses, and regroup moments turn a hard ride into a shared adventure.
Laugh when the heavens open. On your tent, on your helmet, it doesn't matter. If you can still laugh in those conditions, you're doing it right.
Photo by W.Harris
Photos by W.Harris
Looking Ahead
If this has you thinking "I'd love to try that", good news. The Peak Gravel Overnighter will be back, alongside the Tor Divide itself. Whatever the weather (and it will do its worst), we'd love to have you along.
Huge thanks to all the riders, volunteers, cafés, and pubs that made the first Overnighter one to remember. See you on the trails.
Photos courtesy of Will Harris (@wriharris)
Thanks to the following Sponsors for supporting the Peak Gravel Overnighter!!!
