UKC

Looking at the forecast it seems a days cragging in the peak at the end of the week might be optimistic. Going to chuck the roadies in and then to try and keep up with the the OH on her fancy new steed. So : 60 to 80 km , couple of climbs , good cafe roughly in the middle, please . Will be driving to the start so start point not important . Personally I'd prefer mtb but hey ho , give and take and all that.

In reply to mike123:

Spoiled for choice really. How about this: Park in Hathersage, out to Edale and over Mam Nick. Down Winnats to Castleton and up Dirtlow Rake to Little Hucklow. Cafe stop in Tideswell. Litton, down Cressbrook dale and up Monsal Head. Great Longstone, up Moor Road, turn right and cross the A623 again to go through Foolow and then up over Abney past the gliding club to end up back in Hathersage. Bottom end of your distance but takes in some great climbs. 60km 1250m. I'll email you a rough Strava route if you want.

In reply to danm:
Thanks .Sounds good . Our lass is the strava junky , so yes please to a link . What's the cafe situation in tideswell , any choice ?

In reply to danm:

Nice route - Moor Road at Great Longstone is a beautiful road. But up Mam Nick and down Winnats ? I'd do it the other way round, particularly if there is a risk of wet roads, although whilst Winnats is the harder and more iconic climb, I do prefer Mam Nick and tellytubby land. It's just I have nightmares about coming down Winnats.

And if the OP finds himself back at Hathersage with some energy left, can I suggest taking Jaggers/Coggers/Birley Lane up to Stanage (past the campsite) - a glorious golden climb with a great view of the crag to take your mind off the suffering, then a nice fast descent past Higgar and Millstone

In reply to mike123:

I've done variations of this route several times, starting and finishing in Stoney Middleton

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6743106

Mam Nick and Rowsley Bar are the main climbs, cafe in Monyash.

In reply to mike123:

Just noticed, my route should go through Barber Booth then over Mam Nick

In reply to Chris the Tall:

I know what you mean, I ride down Winnats really slowly whatever the weather anyway. An alternative is to skip the descent and head over to Peak Forest and go into Tideswell that way. I really like the hill up out of Castleton though!

In reply to mike123:
This link should work: https://t.co/KvwHNdqgSz

Hat Dudes route is a great one as well, White and Dark Peak is always nice.

In reply to danm:

Yep, I would go up either Mam Nick or Winnats (depending on the wind - Winnats in a strong headwind is no fun) and then through Perryfoot, Peak Forest and Hargatewell to Tideswell

Actually, here is a ride I did last year, designed to take in some of the steepest climbs in the peak - Winnats, Monsal Head and Curbar Gap - https://www.strava.com/activities/137831250

In reply to mike123:

I did this 75 plus mile ride from my daughters house earlier this year, I actually started in Wadsley, but Dam Flask would make a good start finish point.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6743165

In reply to danm:

The road is past the gliding club is currently closed (at least has been recently) on the Foolow side. You can easily get past it by carrying your bike for a short distance along the verge, but it's worth knowing about. The road between Abney and Hathersage is glorious though. Amazing how isolated it feels in spite of being in the middle of the Peak.

In reply to Chris the Tall:

If you like that then try the Derwent Mousetrap. Froggatt, Curbar Gap, Sir William, Grindleford, Abney then Jaggers/North Lees all in quick succession. No flat at all really. https://www.strava.com/activities/72629305

In reply to danm:

Looks nasty - just realised I've not done William Hill straight up from Grindleford - have done it from Hathersage on an MTB and was pretty knackered - so that's one to do next time I'm feeling masochistic.