Peak district road trip
Discussion
In a couple weeks I'm heading up to the peak district to drop off a relative one Friday night and see a couple others the following morning. What its left me with is half a day (from about midday until the sun sets) to blast round the peak district and stopping off at as many picture spots as I can.
What I'm asking from you guys its to guide me around the must drive must see places. I'll be setting off from the Peak Wildlife centre and essentially zig zag my way up through the peaks before i head back to my hotel.
Cheers! Can't wait to hear from you!
What I'm asking from you guys its to guide me around the must drive must see places. I'll be setting off from the Peak Wildlife centre and essentially zig zag my way up through the peaks before i head back to my hotel.
Cheers! Can't wait to hear from you!
Where is your hotel? The Peak District is vast and surrounded by big towns and cities so usually very busy and driving can be frustrating. I’ve had some good drives on the Snake and Woodhead Passes in the past but not driven those for a long time now. It would be worth trying the Snake and you can detour down the Derwent Dams which is great for scenery. Also Alport Castles, Bamford Edge and Win Hill are nearby if you feel like walking up to viewpoints. You could also drive to Mam Tor and down to Edale which is a classic scenic road.
There’s some great bits of countryside around Buxton but the roads aren’t what you’d want to bomb around, but Chrome Hill, Parkhouse Hill offer great views
There’s some great bits of countryside around Buxton but the roads aren’t what you’d want to bomb around, but Chrome Hill, Parkhouse Hill offer great views
LightningBlue said:
Where is your hotel? The Peak District is vast and surrounded by big towns and cities so usually very busy and driving can be frustrating. I’ve had some good drives on the Snake and Woodhead Passes in the past but not driven those for a long time now. It would be worth trying the Snake and you can detour down the Derwent Dams which is great for scenery. Also Alport Castles, Bamford Edge and Win Hill are nearby if you feel like walking up to viewpoints. You could also drive to Mam Tor and down to Edale which is a classic scenic road.
There’s some great bits of countryside around Buxton but the roads aren’t what you’d want to bomb around, but Chrome Hill, Parkhouse Hill offer great views
Cheers I’ll have to take a look.There’s some great bits of countryside around Buxton but the roads aren’t what you’d want to bomb around, but Chrome Hill, Parkhouse Hill offer great views
I’ll be starting the fun part of the day after I leave the Peak wildlife centre. Hotel for Saturday night is by Baslow
Most of your direct route is South of the bits I know reasonably well, but Ashford in the Water is pretty.
If you head further north, Hope valley is nice, Castleton is a nice village and Mam Tor plus Winnats Pass are worth a look for spectacle, plus the old collapsed road at Mam Tor is interesting. For driving enjoyment in the afternoon it's a bit of a lottery, the road surfaces have never been great and are now worse than ever, and even when you're not stuck in traffic, making progress without knowing the roads can be tricky bordering on dangerous.
I'd probably look at something like Bakewell/Ashford, Hathersage, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Glossop, Snake Pass to Ladybower then either back via Bamford or carry on on the A57 towards Sheffield and head back south from there. Have a look at route options, but while there are fun sections there aren't many all-round great roads, and even the Snake has been neutered a bit by the traffic lights that mean you'll most likely be collected up in a queue.
If you head further north, Hope valley is nice, Castleton is a nice village and Mam Tor plus Winnats Pass are worth a look for spectacle, plus the old collapsed road at Mam Tor is interesting. For driving enjoyment in the afternoon it's a bit of a lottery, the road surfaces have never been great and are now worse than ever, and even when you're not stuck in traffic, making progress without knowing the roads can be tricky bordering on dangerous.
I'd probably look at something like Bakewell/Ashford, Hathersage, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Glossop, Snake Pass to Ladybower then either back via Bamford or carry on on the A57 towards Sheffield and head back south from there. Have a look at route options, but while there are fun sections there aren't many all-round great roads, and even the Snake has been neutered a bit by the traffic lights that mean you'll most likely be collected up in a queue.
E63eeeeee... said:
Reading that back, I sound a bit negative. It's a beautiful part of the world, and there's definitely scope for a very enjoyable afternoon of driving and seeing stuff.
Haha no worries. I know the area a little bit but not well enough. I’ll have my GF in the car as well so will basically doing a point to point of scenic places and stop off joined by some nice roads. It won’t be a door handle to door handle kind of drive. Just spirited The way I see the Peak District is it’s a fantastic place to enjoy the outdoors but it’s usually so busy it’s hard to have much fun in the car. Have a look at M Drives on YouTube though, he did a recent video in the Peak District which could be helpful. Like anywhere you really need to be out very early in the morning or late evening, but this is magnified in the Peak District.
There was a couple of articles in the local Derby paper about a week ago about how the number of visitors nowadays to the Peak District is becoming a huge problem.
People are parking their cars anywhere and to local police are getting some of them towed off.
I live fairly local to the Peak District but for the last few years I've given it a miss due to traffic.
People are parking their cars anywhere and to local police are getting some of them towed off.
I live fairly local to the Peak District but for the last few years I've given it a miss due to traffic.
Sadly I have to agree. I've lived in Chesterfield for 15 years and head somewhere other than the Peaks for enjoyable motoring. Hordes of holiday makers plus bikers, cyclists and walkers aren't conducive to spirited driving and the police are very active, especially on the better known routes. On top of all that, many of the roads are very poorly maintained.
If for driving, you start near leek. Make sure you do the road up past the mermaid, it's ace!
You could.leave.wildlife and do that, thenrejoin main road, turn right towards longnor, monyash and then left round the back of flagg, drop into buxton.
Take long hill over towards whaley bridge, then head past chapel en le frith towards winnats. Pause at the bit with the blue john cavern - it's a stump of a road that ends in a not quite cwr park. The road subsided years ago and it's a nice view / something slightly different.
Then down winnats (up is better but both breathtaking), and on to wherever is recommended by the northern peaks people on here! If you're going far enough, the Holmschleife from woodhead to hole moss is bloody marvellous bot for driving and for views.
You could.leave.wildlife and do that, thenrejoin main road, turn right towards longnor, monyash and then left round the back of flagg, drop into buxton.
Take long hill over towards whaley bridge, then head past chapel en le frith towards winnats. Pause at the bit with the blue john cavern - it's a stump of a road that ends in a not quite cwr park. The road subsided years ago and it's a nice view / something slightly different.
Then down winnats (up is better but both breathtaking), and on to wherever is recommended by the northern peaks people on here! If you're going far enough, the Holmschleife from woodhead to hole moss is bloody marvellous bot for driving and for views.
This:
Best time to do it is off-peak hours (pun unintended) on weekdays (0900-1500) during spring and autumn. I suspect weekends and bank holidays will have walkers and cyclists.
Some Gump said:
You could.leave.wildlife and do that, thenrejoin main road, turn right towards longnor, monyash and then left round the back of flagg, drop into buxton.
Take long hill over towards whaley bridge, then head past chapel en le frith
They're the roads I frequent.Take long hill over towards whaley bridge, then head past chapel en le frith
Best time to do it is off-peak hours (pun unintended) on weekdays (0900-1500) during spring and autumn. I suspect weekends and bank holidays will have walkers and cyclists.
entropy said:
This:
Best time to do it is off-peak hours (pun unintended) on weekdays (0900-1500) during spring and autumn. I suspect weekends and bank holidays will have walkers and cyclists.
That ticks a lot of the boxes where I go, although I do it on a motorbike. Whichever road you choose in/out of Longnor is a cracker to be honest which is where I tend to start my rides into the Peaks.Some Gump said:
You could.leave.wildlife and do that, thenrejoin main road, turn right towards longnor, monyash and then left round the back of flagg, drop into buxton.
Take long hill over towards whaley bridge, then head past chapel en le frith
They're the roads I frequent.Take long hill over towards whaley bridge, then head past chapel en le frith
Best time to do it is off-peak hours (pun unintended) on weekdays (0900-1500) during spring and autumn. I suspect weekends and bank holidays will have walkers and cyclists.
Long time favourite route crossing Peak District, South to North or N>S
Start Ashbourne market place, head north A515.
Right onto B5056 at Bentley Brook Inn.
Follow B5056 through Longcliffe, Grangemouth all the way to the junction with A6 near Rowsley.
A short diversion possible, keep on A515 at Bentley Brook Inn, few miles north right towards Tissington.
Carry on through Tissington to join the B5056 shortly after crossing Tissington Ford.
Left onto B5056 and then as above.
It used all to be 60mph NSL, suspect that it's now affected by the lower limits infecting PD generally.
Once you get to A6 multiple choices. Can go right to Rowsley then left through Chatsworth Estate to Baslow and beyond. Or can head up the hairpins onto Beeley Moor and towards Chesterfield. I was usually heading towards Sheffield and Chesterfield, but lots of options towards the west.
Start Ashbourne market place, head north A515.
Right onto B5056 at Bentley Brook Inn.
Follow B5056 through Longcliffe, Grangemouth all the way to the junction with A6 near Rowsley.
A short diversion possible, keep on A515 at Bentley Brook Inn, few miles north right towards Tissington.
Carry on through Tissington to join the B5056 shortly after crossing Tissington Ford.
Left onto B5056 and then as above.
It used all to be 60mph NSL, suspect that it's now affected by the lower limits infecting PD generally.
Once you get to A6 multiple choices. Can go right to Rowsley then left through Chatsworth Estate to Baslow and beyond. Or can head up the hairpins onto Beeley Moor and towards Chesterfield. I was usually heading towards Sheffield and Chesterfield, but lots of options towards the west.
FiF said:
Long time favourite route crossing Peak District, South to North or N>S
Start Ashbourne market place, head north A515.
Right onto B5056 at Bentley Brook Inn.
Follow B5056 through Longcliffe, Grangemouth all the way to the junction with A6 near Rowsley.
A short diversion possible, keep on A515 at Bentley Brook Inn, few miles north right towards Tissington.
Carry on through Tissington to join the B5056 shortly after crossing Tissington Ford.
Left onto B5056 and then as above.
It used all to be 60mph NSL, suspect that it's now affected by the lower limits infecting PD generally.
Once you get to A6 multiple choices. Can go right to Rowsley then left through Chatsworth Estate to Baslow and beyond. Or can head up the hairpins onto Beeley Moor and towards Chesterfield. I was usually heading towards Sheffield and Chesterfield, but lots of options towards the west.
Will map this out TYStart Ashbourne market place, head north A515.
Right onto B5056 at Bentley Brook Inn.
Follow B5056 through Longcliffe, Grangemouth all the way to the junction with A6 near Rowsley.
A short diversion possible, keep on A515 at Bentley Brook Inn, few miles north right towards Tissington.
Carry on through Tissington to join the B5056 shortly after crossing Tissington Ford.
Left onto B5056 and then as above.
It used all to be 60mph NSL, suspect that it's now affected by the lower limits infecting PD generally.
Once you get to A6 multiple choices. Can go right to Rowsley then left through Chatsworth Estate to Baslow and beyond. Or can head up the hairpins onto Beeley Moor and towards Chesterfield. I was usually heading towards Sheffield and Chesterfield, but lots of options towards the west.
Realise this trip has already happened but might be useful for future reference.
I've done Woodhead and Snake 100's of times. Did Woodhead 10 times a week for a couple of years.
Was out on a ride with a mate on Friday and took in the usual sights but we also went a couple of roads I'd not done before.
The Mortimer Road from Midhopestones to Snake Pass. Stunning views, some of the best in the Peaks. Super tight and twisty though so speeds are low. Saw a guy having a blast in a Bugeye Sprite but the guy in the E63, not so much.
The A6024 from Woodhead Reservoir to Holmfirth. Quiet despite it being 1600 on a Friday. Open, wide (relatively) and flowing A road. Nice stop at the top. Not very long unfortunately.
I've done Woodhead and Snake 100's of times. Did Woodhead 10 times a week for a couple of years.
Was out on a ride with a mate on Friday and took in the usual sights but we also went a couple of roads I'd not done before.
The Mortimer Road from Midhopestones to Snake Pass. Stunning views, some of the best in the Peaks. Super tight and twisty though so speeds are low. Saw a guy having a blast in a Bugeye Sprite but the guy in the E63, not so much.
The A6024 from Woodhead Reservoir to Holmfirth. Quiet despite it being 1600 on a Friday. Open, wide (relatively) and flowing A road. Nice stop at the top. Not very long unfortunately.
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