Seven secret climbs from the Hope Valley
Road Cycling Collection by Lizzy Banks
14
Tours
17:02 h
197 mi
22,025 ft
Here are seven testing climbs and seven matching routes for your ultimate guide to a week of the best road (and a smidge of gravel) riding in the Hope Valley. The Peak District is famous for a reason, but getting away from the crowds and finding the best hidden gems can be a challenge if you're new to the area. This Collection is the ultimate guide to the Hope Valley's secret spots and helps you to explore the amazingly beautiful riding in the area but steer clear of the busy tourist hotspots.
Each secret climb has two routes, one for the main climb itself, and the second being a circular loop helping you discover what's beyond the Hope Valley too. The seven circular routes range from 30-50 kilometres (19-31 miles) all starting and finishing in the Hope Valley. As ever with komoot, it's so easy to adjust the route to change your starting point, make it shorter, longer or add in another Highlight. Just click the 'Replan this tour' tab to customise the routes to your heart's content!
If you're spending your holiday in the Hope Valley, this Collection gives you a ride for every day of the week, exploring the best bits but without the hassle of the busy roads and the traffic. This Collection is also a great guide for locals, as it's all too easy to get complacent with what's on your doorstep and forget that there's always more to explore.
This is predominantly a road cycling Collection but of course it can be ridden on any bike. Climb and Route 3 has a number of gravel sections so gravel or mountain bikes are in order for that one. It is *possible* to ride it on a road bike (I've done it) but I definitely wouldn't recommend it!
All of the routes are jam-packed with great options of places for pit stops. One of the beauties of the Peak District is the abundance of villages and lovely cafes, post office shops or community shops all providing excellent refreshments. Cafe recommendations are in the details for each of the routes but most villages have a few to choose from and generally it's hard to go wrong!
For the route planners amongst you, I have included tours for the climbs only too, to make them easy to find and plan in to your own adventure.
On The Map
Tours & Highlights
- 01:5125.1 mi13.5 mph2,025 ft2,025 ftIntermediateIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Starting and finishing in the beautiful village of Hathersage, there are plenty of options for a pre and post ride coffee with Coleman's Deli being the Hathersage haunt of many a local bike rider seeking an energising slice of cake!
Heading out of the village after only a few minutes the the route takes…
by Lizzy Banks
- 00:294.25 mi8.7 mph800 ft50 ftEasyEasy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
Climb number 1 is my all-time favourite, Abney!
Climbing from just outside of Hathersage, this gorgeous road takes you from one of the most well known places in the Peak to one of the least known but most beautiful.
The Abney Valley is truly stunning and a real secret gem of the Hope Valley. Just over…
by Lizzy Banks
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Abney Climb
Road Cycling Highlight (Segment)
Quite possibly the best road climb in the Peak District. This beautiful and quiet climb starts from just outside Hathersage and winds its way up to the top where there are amazing views towards Stanage edge and of the Gliding club. This climb is usually very quiet and is one of those amazing spots where you could just be a million miles from anywhere! At the time of writing (June 2021) this road has just reopened after being closed for a long period due to a landslide.
Tip by Lizzy Banks
- 02:3635.0 mi13.5 mph3,425 ft3,475 ftExpertExpert road ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
As routes go, this one is pretty hilly. It's brilliant, but it's hilly, so don't say I didn't warn you ;)
Starting in the holiday hotspot of Castleton the route immediately leaves the tourists behind and goes straight up the secret climb of Pindale. A steep hairpin about halfway up is the perfect place…
by Lizzy Banks
- 00:324.37 mi8.1 mph1,000 ft225 ftIntermediateIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
The start of this climb is right in the village of Castleton and it begins to climb up in to the woods straight away. It's very steep in the first part through the woods and at the hairpin where there are amazing views of the cement works and the Hope Valley.
The road then climbs alongside Pindale Quarry…
by Lizzy Banks
Pindale Quarry Climb and Views
Road Cycling Highlight
An amazing climb accompanied by some beautiful views. The climb starts in the village of Castleton although there is another road from Hope that joins a short way in too. It's very steep at the start through the trees and up to the hairpin where there are amazing views over the Hope Valley and Cement works as well as back towards Winnatt's pass and Mam Tor.
Tip by Lizzy Banks
- 02:4825.5 mi9.1 mph2,725 ft2,725 ftExpertExpert gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may require you to push your bike.
If you brought your adventure bike on holiday with you then this has got to be a bucket list ride for you! Starting once again in the hotspot of Hathersage this ride starts with a nice gentle warm up along the flat valley road towards Hope which has a nicely sized cycle lane.
After the left turn at the…
by Lizzy Banks
- 00:251.75 mi4.3 mph675 ft0 ftIntermediateIntermediate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
A brilliant gravel climb from Brough up the ridge above Bradwell. Suitable for all gravel and mountain bikes, the gravel on the steeper sections can be a bit rockier and loose, depending on the seasons, but once it flattens out it gets nice a smooth and is super fun to ride along.
The matching route…
by Lizzy Banks
Brough Lane
Mountain Biking Highlight
Absolute lung busting leg ruiner of a climb. Starts on draggy tarmac of fairly intense gradient and then switches to fire road style surface.
The middle section is brutally steep and really knocks the stuffing out of you but things ease off for the final stretch and the view back over the Hope Valley is a well-earned reward.Tip by Rix Hobbs
- 01:3621.7 mi13.6 mph2,325 ft2,325 ftIntermediateIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
This shorter loop is absolutely packed with the good stuff. Starting off in Hathersage you might want a pre-ride coffee as the route goes straight uphill via Coggers Lane. There are lots of hills out of Hathersage and it's all too easy to just go up the main road but this first climb is such a nice…
by Lizzy Banks
- 00:193.08 mi9.8 mph625 ft125 ftEasyEasy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
This climb is a really lovely way to get out of Hathersage and up to Stanage Edge without the bother of traffic or much risk of bumping in to anyone else!
Heading out of Hathersage through a housing area, you might wonder at first what this climb has to offer but as you climb it becomes quickly very clear…
by Lizzy Banks
Coggers Lane
Road Cycling Highlight
This climb is a really lovely way to get out of Hathersage and up to Stanage Edge without the bother of traffic or much risk of bumping in to anyone else!
Heading out of Hathersage through a housing area, you might wonder at first what this climb has to offer but as you climb it becomes quickly very clear.
The steepest section is at the bottom and after that it's much steadier as the views open up down towards the Hope Valley Cement Works and down the valley to the north towards Bamford and Ladybower Reservoir.
Around half way along this route the climbing is all done but the best bit is yet to come as the road rolls along in the shadow of Stanage Edge. It's a pretty lumpy road, a bit of a rollercoaster, and watch out for sheep! But whatever the weather it's always gorgeous.Tip by Lizzy Banks
- 01:3520.7 mi13.1 mph1,800 ft1,775 ftIntermediateIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
This tour is suitable for road bikes but the secret climb up the closed road does involve a very short section of hike-a-bike!
Starting the loop out of Castleton the route head's straight for the old main road up Mam Tor. This road was eventually abandoned in 1979 after repeatedly falling prey to landslides…
by Lizzy Banks
- 00:201.78 mi5.5 mph575 ftEasyEasy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
This is the old main road up Mam Tor which offered a less steep alternative to Winnatt's Pass. The road was badly affected by subsidence from very shortly after if was build and despite best attempts it repeatedly slid back down the hill.
Cycling up here Involves a very short amount of hike -a-bike…
by Lizzy Banks
The Shattered Road
Mountain Biking Highlight (Segment)
This was once the main road into Castleton which was built up onto the side of Mam Tor. Unfortunately due to the local geology the road began to subside almost as soon as it was built. Repeated shorings up didn't help, and eventually the road was abandoned in 1976. It presents an almost unique challenge for bikers in the UK; it really feels like you're navigating a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Until you spy the ice cream van at the top, at any rate.
Tip by Barney
- 02:0025.0 mi12.5 mph2,375 ft2,375 ftIntermediateIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Starting once again in Hathersage, this route quickly heads for a climb that's so secret that I didn't even know of its' delights until quite recently.
After the bridge over the Derwent, you'll be tempted to take the first right up my all time favourite climb of Abney, but hang fire because that's where…
by Lizzy Banks
- 00:202.40 mi7.4 mph650 ft25 ftEasyEasy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
A climb so secret that even I didn't realise it was there for a long time! But a climb worth knowing about as the views back towards Fiddler's Elbow, Higger Tor and Millstone are really quite fabulous.
Quite steep at the start, there is a nice flatter section that rolls through the woods before joining…
by Lizzy Banks
Leam climb
Road Cycling Highlight
A climb so secret that even I didn't realise it was there for a long time! But a climb worth knowing about as the views back towards Fiddler's Elbow, Higger Tor and Millstone are really quite fabulous.
Quite steep at the start, there is a nice flatter section that rolls through the woods before joining up with Sir William Hill to take you up to the top.Tip by Lizzy Banks
- 01:5625.1 mi12.9 mph2,575 ft2,575 ftIntermediateIntermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
This route starts and finishes at the Yorkshire Bridge Pub which is a really popular spot for cyclist and a brilliant spot to finish a ride!
The climb of New Road starts straight off the main road and heads uphill under the shadow of Bamford Edge. This climb is one of my favourites. I've been up it is…
by Lizzy Banks
- 00:161.82 mi6.8 mph425 ft50 ftEasyEasy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Another of my real favourites this lovely quiet climb takes you from the main road at Bamford up under the shadow of Bamford Edge.
Back towards where you have come from there are fine views of Winhill and Ladybower reservoir but up ahead as you continue to climb the view of Stanage Edge teases you before…
by Lizzy Banks
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Collection Stats
- Tours14
- Highlights7
- Distance197 mi
- Duration17:02 h
- Elevation22,025 ft
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