See info below on the Divide (250km, purple line) and Millstone (150km, orange line) routes, including a description of the route(s) and details of surfaces and way-types.
Both routes are composed by two loops forming a figure of eight. The routes start and finish in Edale, at the centre of the 8.
The northern loop is to be completed first, and ridden anti-clockwise, followed by the southern loop which is ridden clockwise.
Note: routes are NOT waymarked and you will need a GPS device/phone to navigate the course.
The Divide
250km & 5500m+ / 155miles & 18000ft+
Starting in the heart of the Peak District, the Divide will take you to the northernmost part of the National Park and have you crossing its entire length riding south on a mix of bridleways, trails and quiet lanes. By the time you reach the finish line in Edale you will have observed the landscape and terrain changing around you multiple times.
You will start by riding North-East and making your way into the higher gritstone uplands, where the riding gets bumpy and pace slow(er). On the first part of the route you will roll on some quality gravel riding past the reservoirs in the Upper Derwent Valley, enjoying views of the Derwent dam.
The first milestone of the day will be reaching Langsett reservoir. It doesn’t look far on the map but don’t underestimate the terrain! From there, a mix of smooth forestry roads, tarmac and rocky trails will keep you on your toes until you reach another reservoir (Digley). You will have some climbing to do to get to the next valley, but it will be worth it for the downhill down to Marsden. Stop here to resupply, and admire some of the largest mills in Yorkshire.
After Marsden the Divide will take you on the Tame Valley Loop and to the ancient village of Hayfield, one of the gateways to the High Peak. Some rocky and steep trails stand between you and Edale, but the first loop of the route is almost over!
The northern loop will take you back in the Edale area, where there are multiple campsites and accomodation options, and some riders might decide to travel light and use those. Others might decide to venture into the White Peak on the first day and bivvy/camp along the route.
After riding past the famous Mam Tor (Mother Hill) the route will take you East, towards Higger Tor and then South into the White Peak. Mam Tor is also known as the Shivering Mountain and you will soon understand why as your tyres roll on the remains of a road originally open to vehicles and connecting Manchester and Sheffield.
The National Park has two very different sides and that will become more apparent as you criss-cross between the Dark and White Peak. You will come across cement works and quarries, limestone caves and green lush valleys. Don’t get too comfortable though, as there is still some moorland to get through before reaching the picturesque village of Hathersage. You will then get a taste of the champagne gravel you were waiting for, before reaching Curbar Edge and its peat moorland and gritstone rocks. Take a moment to enjoy the views and the sculptured features of the Edge.
Riding south past Chatsworth Park - another great place for a pit-stop - you will follow the route into Matlock and join the High Peak Trail to ride back into the Peak District along quiet lanes and repurposed railway lines. Please be mindful of other users as these are popular amongst locals and can be busy at times.
More smooth gravel trails and quiet roads will take you back north up to Blackwell Mill at the end of the Monsal trail. Some steep single track - probably a push on tired legs - and you will be rolling towards the finish line, and soon start seeing Mam Tor in the distance.
A few more bumpy sections and you will reach the finish back in Edale: you’ve earnt that drink!
Some thoughts about the route:
The southern loop is slightly longer than the northern loop. The overall amount of climbing is approximately evenly split between the two. We recommend taking climbing and not just miles/km into account when planning the ride and the speed you will be travelling at.
Although the southern loop is longer (distance-wise) we would anticipate people to take roughly the same time to complete each loop. One should expect to be slower on the norther loop, and on average faster on the southern loop (although fatigue might kick in at some point!)
Conquering the northern loop is in our opinion the main challenge of the route, where mountain biking skills (and a front suspension) will come in handy. Depending on the weather, you might want some knobbly tyres, but in normal conditions wide fast rolling tyres is all you will need. In this part of the route a MTB will be an advantage, especially when descending. Gravel riders might want to consider using 650b wheels or, depending on their skills and “resilience” opt for as wide tyres as possible. In any case fear not, walking is 100% permitted and a great way to slow down and admire the landscape.
The southern loop is where a gravel bike will be ideal, allowing you to get your head down and crunch the miles if that’s your thing (be mindful of other users though!). The gentle, rolling limestone countryside will help you make good progress, and reward you for your efforts on the first day!
Depending on your fitness and confidence on the bike, you should expect to spend plenty of time on the saddle. Prepare accordingly.
NOTE: map below is based on draft route and may be subject to changes
The Millstone
150km & 3000m+ / 95miles & 10000ft+
This route features some fantastic re-developed railway lines, testament to the Peak District importance during the Industrial Revolution. At that time the Peak District was criss-crossed by railway lines, in operation until the 20th century, until they were closed leaving a legacy of railway track beds.
Starting in the heart of the Peak District, the Millstone will see you reaching the northernmost part of the National Park and crossing its entire length riding into the gentle hills of the White Peak. By the time you reach the finish line in Edale you will have observed the landscape and terrain changing around you multiple times.
You will start by riding North-East and making your way into the higher gritstone uplands, where the riding gets bumpy and pace slow(er). On the first part of the route you will roll on some quality gravel riding past the reservoirs in the Upper Derwent Valley, enjoying views of the Derwent dam.
The first milestone of the day will be reaching Langsett reservoir. It doesn’t look far on the map but don’t underestimate the terrain! From there, you will be following the river Don until Winscar Reservoir. Riding on a mix of tarmac a bridleway will take you to the Woodhead Tunnels, part of the railway line that used to link the cities of Manchester and Sheffield. When opened in 1845, the Woodhead tunnel was one of the world's longest railway tunnels and the first trans-Pennine tunnel.
Following the route of the former railway, you will cycle along the Longdendale Trail and cut across the whole National Park to reach its boundary and the village of Hadfield.
After Hadfield the Divide will take you on the Tame Valley Loop and ultimately to the ancient village of Hayfield, one of the gateways to the High Peak. Some rocky and steep trails and bridleways stand between you and Edale, but the first loop of the route is almost over!
Completed the northern loop, you will be back in the Edale area. There are multiple campsites around the centre of the Peak District, and some riders might decide to travel light and use those. Others might decide to venture into the White Peak on the first day and bivvy/camp along the route.
After riding past the famous Mam Tor (Mother Hill) the route will take you East, towards Higger Tor and then South into the White Peak. Mam Tor is also known as the Shivering Mountain and you will soon understand why as your tyres roll on the remains of a road originally open to vehicles and connecting Manchester and Sheffield.
The National Park has two very different sides and that will become more apparent as you criss-cross between the Dark and White Peak. You will come across cement works and quarries, limestone caves and green lush valleys. Don’t get too comfortable though, as there is still some moorland to get through before reaching the picturesque village of Hathersage. You will then get a taste of the champagne gravel you were waiting for, before reaching Curbar Edge and its peat moorland and gritstone rocks. Take a moment to enjoy the views and the sculptured features of the Edge.
You will be riding south into Baslow - another great place for a pit-stop - before reaching the Monsal Trail. On this former railway line you will have the opportunity to cycle over the Headstone Viaduct and admire the views of the valley. Depending on time, you might want to do a little detour to Bakewell to try a slice of the staple tart before you hit more smooth trails to take you to the finish line.
Please be mindful of other users as the Monsal trail is popular amongst locals and can be busy at times.
After reaching Blackwell Mill you will be back on some steep single track - probably a push on tired legs - and rolling towards the finish line on gravel trails. It will only be a matter of time before you start seeing Mam Tor in the distance.
A few more bumpy sections and you will reach the finish back in Edale: you’ve earnt that drink!
Some thoughts about the route:
The southern loop is slightly longer than the northern loop. The overall amount of climbing is approximately evenly split between the two. We recommend taking climbing and not just miles/km into account when planning the ride and the speed you will be travelling at.
Although the southern loop is longer (distance-wise) we would anticipate people to take roughly the same time to complete each loop. One should expect to be slower on the norther loop, and on average faster on the southern loop (although fatigue might kick in at some point!)
The first part of the northern loop is in our opinion where the main challenge of the route is, where mountain biking skills (and a front suspension) will come in handy. Depending on the weather, you might want some knobbly tyres, but in normal conditions wide fast rolling tyres is all you will need. In this part of the route a MTB will be an advantage, especially when descending. Gravel riders might want to consider using 650b wheels or, depending on their skills and “resilience” opt for as wide tyres as possible. In any case fear not, walking is 100% permitted and a great way to slow down and admire the landscape.
The route features some long stretches along repurposed railway lines and non-technical terrain which is ideal for gravel bikes. They might allow you to get your head down and crunch the miles if that’s your thing (be mindful of other users though!). However, the route features some big climbs where mountain biking gears will be appreciated, especially on tired legs.
Depending on your fitness and confidence on the bike, you should expect to spend plenty of time on the saddle. Prepare accordingly.
NOTE: map below is based on draft route and may be subject to changes
