Peak District: Matlock Station to Bakewell
I caught the train from Beeston to Matlock at 5.48am on Saturday 25 November 2023. I arrived at 7.03am and cycled from there to Hassop Station Cafe, which is the start point for Monsal Trail parkrun.
The ride is 9.4 miles. It is mostly flat with the exception one big hill in the second half of the ride. The first half is on smooth surfaces but the hill is on bridleway and not suitable for road bikes.
It is an out and back ride, so simply reverse the route to get home.
Find out more about my adventure in my blog post.
The route
Start point: Matlock Railway Station, DE4 3NA
End point: Hassop Station Cafe, DE45 1NW
Distance: 9.44 miles
The route starts with a small section on the roadside shared cycle path. It soon drops down onto a cycle path next to the railway, part of the White Peak Loop. It reaches Darley Dale and after 100m or so on the road takes you through Whitworth Park. At the far end of the park you continue on a dedicated cycle path to Rowlsey, which includes a nice boardwalk section. So far the route has all been flat. This is about to change!
After a minute or two on the road in Rowsley (which includes a right turn off the main road) you start to ascend. The tarmac surface gives way to a gravel bridleway and you keep following it upwards until you reach the summit of the hill where there is a handy bench for a rest. From there it is downhill on a muddy track with a few gates, which passes through a farm. You pass under the Monsal Trail and then turn immediately right to push your bike up the footpath to join it. Ride along the trail for a couple of miles until you reach the parkrun start at Hassop Station Cafe.
Some of the photos below were taken on the way out (cold and frosty) and some on the way back (sunny and bright) but I’ve largely put them in the order they’d be in if you were just going one way on the route.
