White Peak Cycle Routes

Hiking Trail Cycling Trail

Difficulty:  Medium

The White Peak is an area of the Peak District National Park and gets its name from the limestone rocks in this area of the peaks.

The Peak District authority have put together a set of cycle routes across the area. You can download a map here of the White Peak Cycle Routes.

A lot of the routes are off the road along trails, though some do go onto minor roads for sections.

There are toilets, parking, and information centres along the routes.

The routes also intersect, so you can either pick one or create a circular route.

The Manifold Track

This runs along the former Leek and Manifold Valley light railway line, which closed in 1934.

As an old railway line, you get to cycle through a hundred-metre long tunnel!

Parking is available at Waterhouses, but also along other sections of the route (Hulme End and Wetton Mill).

This route does travel along a minor road for sections and is a total of 9 miles.

The High Peak Trail

This is a 17.5-mile trail between Dowlow (near Buxton) and High Peak Junction (near Cromford) and is also along the path of an old railway line - one of the first in the world.

Parking is available at the start (High Peak Junction) and along the route.

There are no roads along this route, though be prepared for some steep ascents and descents - it is known as the Peak District for a reason ;-)

You could create a circular route past Carsington Water through to the Tissington Trail and then back down the High Peak Trail. This will take in some minor roads. Though these roads can be very steep. See our review of the circular route.

Carsington Water

This is a 2-mile long reservoir that has an 8-mile circuit around it - all traffic-free.

There are a few places to park along the route, with the largest at the main Carsington Water visitor centre (DE6 1ST), where you can find a children's play area and cafe.

We were surprised at how large the play area was when we visited. Plenty of places for picnics.

The Tissington Trail

The Tissington Trail is along the route of another railway line and is completely off the roads.

This is another chance to cycle through a tunnel. This one though is 600 metres long!

Parking is available along the route and at the start in Ashbourne.