Cycle The White Peak Loop in 2 days

Continue towards Rowsley, this pretty village has a luxury hotel, The Peacock, a pub, The Grouse and Claret and shops, restaurants and entertainment at Peak Village. Cross the River Derwent and turn right onto Church Lane past the Peacock. At the end of the Lane continue uphill on the public bridleway and follow the route through the Haddon estate, with far reaching views of the surrounding countryside. Over 900 years old, Haddon Hall is one of the country’s most elegant, historically important, and timeless stately homes.

Join Coombs Road until you reach the bottom of the Monsal Trail where there is a short push up to join the trail or carry straight on along Coombs Road into the heart of Bakewell. Bakewell is a pretty market town perhaps best known for its unique and delicious Pudding, but it has many other tempting treats to offer. Stay on the Monsal Trail and you’ll arrive at Hassop Station, this former railway station has been lovingly restored into a shop, café and a cycle hire - the perfect place to refuel and unwind.

The Monsal Trail will take you past the Thornbridge Hall estate, Thornbridge Hall is a Grade II listed stately home surrounded by 12 acres of quintessentially English gardens and a lovely café. Don’t forget your camera as you’ll want to take some pictures of the stunning views of the valley across the River Wye from Monsal Head Viaduct.

Continue to Millers Dale, a exceptionally beautiful section of the River Wye, here you find the Goods Shed a National Park Ranger Centre. Learn a little more about the old railway line and treat yourself to delicious refreshments. There is a Youth Hostel nearby at Ravenstor and in the village are a good walkers café and a craft centre specialising in woodturning. Continue to the end of the trail at Blackwell Mill where you will connect to the Pennine Bridleway National Trail towards Beech Croft Farm Campsite, a steep incline that will require a push. Stay on the Pennine Bridleway until you join the High Peak Trail at Dowlow.

Follow the High Peak Trail south towards Hurdlow. Worth a stop for a great pub meal is The Royal Oak at Hurdlow, or for ice cream fans Tagg Lane diary is a must stop on route at Monyash. Continue along the High Peak Trail to Parsley Hay, here you’ll find the Peak National Park Cycle Centre - here there is a small shop with a tempting selection of refreshments – including homemade cakes – as well as toilets (including disabled) and a picnic area.

Here you could also divert down the Tissington Trail to visit the pretty villages of Hartington and Tissington. Tissington is a perfect picture book village with beautiful cottages built around a noble old hall, fine church and duck pond. Home of the FitzHerbert family for over 400 years and it is their splendid Jacobean residence at the Hall.

Keep left when the trail forks and follow the High Peak Trail. Enjoy delightful views of the surrounding countryside from Middleton Top (link). The site has a gift shop, cycle hire, toilets and picnic area. The Middleton Top Engine House (link) is open to the public on certain weekends throughout the year. The National Stone Centre at Wirksworth, with a Discovery Centre, Rock Shop and café is worth a visit, as is the historic market town itself.

Continue along the trail to High Peak Junction and then join the narrow towpath that runs alongside the Cromford Canal. The nearby village of Cromford, is forever associated with Sir Richard Arkwright as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and forms part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

At Cromford Wharf cross over into Cromford Mills (link) which offers guided tours, a visitor centre with shops and a café. Rejoin the route through The Mills car park and along Church Walk to join the Derby Road (A6) for a short while passing Masson Mills, until you reach Matlock Bath. Matlock Bath has a long street lined with quirky shops, cafés, amusement arcades and fabulous fish & chips restaurants. Continue through Matlock Bath towards Matlock. Take the riverside path on the edge of Matlock, at Pic Tor and follow the riverside that runs through Hall Leys Park into Matlock town centre or take the cycle route across the bridge to Matlock Railway station.

Congratulations you have completed The White Peak Loop!

With so much to see and do along the way you may want to take your time and stay a little longer, here is a suggested longer 3 day itinerary

Day One from Matlock follow the White Peak Loop until you join the Monsal Trail, just before you reach Millers Dale take the B6049 into Tideswell. Potential stops on route – Haddon Hall, Bakewell, Hassop Station, Thornbridge Hall and Monsal Head – all worth a visit.

Day Two cycle from Tideswell to Newhaven. Follow directions backwards from Millers Dale to Parsley Hay, leaving the High Peak Trail just south of Parsley Hay to drop into Newhaven for the evening, alternative night stops are Hurdlow and Monyash. You could always divert to Earl Sterndale to enjoy stunning views Chrome Hill (often referred to as the Dragons Back).

Day Three from Newhaven to Matlock. Continue along the High Peak Trail to Wirksworth, here you can explore a bustling weekly market, a lively creative community, an art gallery, a boutique cinema, and a wealth of cafés, pubs and restaurants. Near by you’ll find The National Stone Centre, Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, and the StarDisc, a 21st Century stone circle star chart which sits high above the town.

From here drop back down to High Peak Junction and pick up the trail back along Cromford Canal and the River Derwent back to Matlock. There are plenty of places to stay on route, from camping to hostels and cosy inns.