August 2026

For full navigation data download the GPX file and watch the Strava fly through. Then watch our ride video for a highlights preview of the route.

Route information

Langsett to Slippery Stones 0 - 10km

From Langsett car park head towards the reservoir on the bridleway through the woods. Turn left to the dam and then follow the road across it. Keep on the road as it turns right through Upper Midhope. At the sharp road turn (1.9km) head straight on down the bridleway onto Thickwoods lane, climbing up the rocky track through the trees. Emerging onto the moor, don’t go through the gate but take the singletrack to the left, climbing gradually up onto the beautiful moorland of Mickleden Edge. This was the site of fake ‘Starfish’ fires designed to draw German bombers away from their targets in Sheffield. These days it’s an SSI on account of it’s rare blanket bogs which have been partially armoured with stone flags to protect them. You’ll also see grouse, curlew and even goshawks up here depending on the season. There’s plenty of little tech challenges and random sniper rocks to keep you entertained as you wind your way up to the highest point of the whole route at 527m.

You get to cash in 350m of that elevation in the next 2km of glorious descending though. Starting with some rock and rut work past the top cairns and then fast natural and rock flagged singletrack to the lip of the Derwent Valley.

As you drop into the steeper, rockier singletrack section make sure you take the left fork where the trail splits both times as the straight on (steeper) options are actually footpath. The bridlepath is still a fun rock run with a couple of tight corners before you literally splash out through the ford at the bottom. Follow the singletrack along to the where the valley widens, crossing the footbridge and then forking right across the old pack horse bridge to the far side of the valley.

Slippery Stones to Hope 10 - 26.5km

Entertain fellow riders with the fun fact that the old bridge was actually moved up to Slippery Stones rather than being lost when the dams were put in further down as you follow the forest road south alongside Howden Reservoir. Watch out for other cyclists wobbling the other way as this is a popular loop with families hiring bikes from Fairholmes. If you’re riding at the weekend, double back onto the loose rock bridleway climb at 17.3km. Unfortunately it’s closed for forestry work during the week at the moment so we had to divert to the less interesting (but easier) fireroad climb up from Derwent Dam.

Once you’re up then follow the track past Lockerbrook outdoor centre, going straight across through the gate at the ridgeline cross roads. This short but super fun descents starts with a several rough open switchbacks and then drops into a loose rock woodland chute past Hagg Farm. Don’t get too carried away though as there’s a gate at the bottom that leads straight onto the A57 Snake Pass main road.

Drop down again over the bridge and follow the valley south. Tech climb fiends will want to pit themselves against the infamous ‘Beast’ that boulders its way up through the woods which is obviously the way we’ve taken the GPS. More sensible souls will take the more civilised, smooth climb purpose built by local mountain bikers just to the south though.

Once you’ve topped out at Hope Cross counter along the grassy and then rocky double track that follows the line of the old Roman road to Matlock. Be a loyal legionary and stay right when the track forks to follow the amusingly rocky sunken road that been descending into the valley for nearly 2000 years at least. Don’t get too carried away with your charge though as there are a couple of gates to watch out for and often walkers too. The Edale road can also be busy with tourists so watch out for meandering motorists as you head into Hope.

Hope to Mam Tor 26.5 - 35km

From Hope head south on the road towards and then past the cement works. Go straight on at the sharp right turn following the loose, rocky challenge climb through the woods and then the disused quarry. Things get less gruelling as you claw out of the quarry area but there’s still an emotionally significant rocky/gravel drag all the way up Dirtlow Rake.

Once you’re up the top it’s a fast gravel gallop along old drove roads with fantastic views over Castleton to your right and the towering hill fort of Mam Tor to the north. The next section of road is always busy with parked/faffing traffic and obviously we can’t condone using the stone surfaced footpath straight across to avoid the traffic. We’ve ahem ‘heard’ it’s very good though.

Follow the road past Mam Tor car park then hook hard right through the woods on the road climb to Mam Nick.

Mam Tor to Hope Cross 35 - 45.5km

As you drop down the road from Mam Nick, get ready to peel right onto the singletrack bridleway that goes through a gate and then curves up around the flank of Mam Tor. Be sure to check out the views across Edale to Kinder Scout and the massive earth rampart of the fort above that protected hundreds of houses in its Iron Age heyday.

Don’t go on the warpath between Mam Tor and Hollins Cross though as while the singletrack into flag stone track is potentially really quick it’s likely to be busy with walkers. The singletrack descent from Hollins Cross is less likely to be crowded though, allowing you to enjoy the natural multi strand mirth all the way down to the road at Greenlands.

You’ve now got a couple of km or rolling road to get some snacks in before you duck into the tunnel of low trees that mark the start of the gradual climb up to Jaggers Clough. This isn’t the rowdy, rocky descent it used to be but ironically the loose gravel sanitisation has made it dangerously slippery so watch out anyway.

The climb out of Jaggers is still tech enough to be fun though and then you’re back to Hope Cross crossroads.

Hope Cross to Fairholmes 45.5 - 53.5km

You could retrace the outward leg straight down ‘The Beast’ at this point too, but for the sake of a longer descent and an easier climb out the far side we’re following the Roman Road as it heads north west towards Glossop. While it might not be as steep and blocky as ‘The Beast’ the loose Roman rock descent of ‘Potato Alley’ is a still a serious descent and added another smashed rim to its resume on our recce ride.

Presuming you get to Rowlee Bridge with your wheels more intact than Ryan’s were, it’s a short steep Tarmac climb up to Snake Pass. Again, be very careful crossing the main road as it’s a favourite speed run of motorbikes and the local fast and furious kids. You can burn rubber yourself on the road and then gravel climb up past Rowlee Farm before contouring along to Hagg crossroads again.

Carry straight on along the ridgeline for a km before dropping left into the forest at the gate. Relative to the other descents you’ve done this is relatively mellow in terms of rock size and frequency but it does chunk up just as it gets steeper and twistier at the bottom.

Turn right at the road alongside Ladybower and tap up to Fairholmes for a brew and a bun before tackling the final furlong.

Fairholmes to Langsett 53.5 - 71km

Once you’ve refuelled, allow your designated Dambusters expert to tell you how Derwent Dam was used as a training target for 617 Squadron’s ‘Bouncing Bomb’ mission in WW2. Bonus points are also on offer if they mention the fact that the heavily modified Lancasters used even had their guns replaced by broomsticks to save weight as you pedal past the huge watery wall.

Then it’s 7km of gently rising and falling back road and gravel back up to the head of Howden Reservoir Slippery Stones. This would be blissful in most circumstances but in this case it’s definitely tempered by how you’re feeling about clawing your way back up that 350m to the top of Cut Gate.

TBH with 60km in your legs most riders will probably just get off and push the first 100m of vert anyway, as even if you make it up to the first switchback it’s very tight to clean and a b*stard of a section afterwards. Once you’re up to the break of slope though it’s all crawlable. Now is the perfect time to really appreciate the beautiful moorland landscape in a way you couldn’t bombing down it several hours before.

However much it grinds, you’ll soon forget the pain as you head into one of the best natural descents in the UK. This heavenly 5km accelerates from wide open rock dodging plateau across the top, into a seemingly endless ribbon of singletrack back down Mickleden Edge. Even the short rise of Hingcliff Hill can’t kill the vibes before the final run back down to the far end of Langsett. The woods at the bottom mean you’re re-entering ‘TikTok adventurer zone’ though so go steady round the last couple of blind, loose corners.

Once you’ve finished with the high fives, fist bumps and glory stories, empty your legs on the final cobble ramp away from the first trickles of the river Don. Then afterglow your way back through the woods to the car park content in the satisfaction of having ticked off a proper Peak District classic.

Check in every month for a new MTB or gravel route as we build up our collection of classics across the UK, and if you see us out filming be sure to come and say hello. We’re a brand built on the love of riding and your feedback from the trails is vital to making the product the best it can be. we’d love to hear if you do it on our socials @POLARISBIKEWEAR.

For now though, have a cracking time whatever and wherever you’re riding.

We’re also planning to extend our monthly ride menu right around the country this year, so please let us know if there are any other classic routes or local undiscovered gems you’d like to see us cover here.