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Home , Black Rocks (Derbyshire), Carsington, Carsington Water, Cromford, Derbyshire, High Peak Junction

Cycling from Middleton Top Exploring the

and Trail Choosing a route Middleton Top Cycle Hire, There are plenty of cycle routes to choose from whether Middleton Top Countryside Centre, you are planning a short ride or a longer, more challenging outing. (Most cyclists will cover approximately 6 miles in an hour. So a 3 hour Middleton by , bike hire should allow time to get to , or Friden, and back again). . DE4 4LS • High Peak Trail - a 17.5 mile trail between Dowlow (at the end, only 6 miles Tel: 01629 533294 short of the town) and (close to ) • National Cycle Network Route 547 - joins the High Peak Trail with the along approximately 10 miles of country roads. There is an additional route around Water of about 8 miles • Tissington Trail - joins the High Peak Trail at Parsley Hay and runs 13 miles south to Ashbourne. When starting your route To Pennine from Middleton Top, cyclists are advised to travel west towards Parsley Hay due to a To Buxton Bridleway series of very steep inclines to the east, which are better enjoyed on foot. (6 miles) To High Peak Trail - The Cromford and High Peak Railway was one of the first 1.5 A5055 railways in the world. It was built between 1825 and 1830 to link the Hurdlow Canal at Bridge (north of Buxton) to the - a distance of 33 miles. The railway itself was designed like a canal. On the flat sections the A515 waggons were pulled by horses. Large steam powered beam engines in engine houses pulled the waggons up the steep inclines using cables (on a canal the inclines would have been negotiated by using locks). 2 Parsley Hay At Middleton Top the engine house with its massive beam engine is open to visitors at weekends during the summer months. Call 01629 533298 or visit Newhaven www.derbyshire.gov.uk/countryside for more information. The railway was adapted over the years but finally closed completely in 1967. The section south 2.5 2 of Buxton was then converted into the High Peak Trail. Tissington Trail - This was Hartington Station Friden one of the last of the Victorian A6 to railways - it opened in 1899 - Matlock supplying milk to London. Several quarries opened along Newhaven the track to send limestone to A6 2.5 A5012 industrial areas. The trail was Biggin 548 4 created after the railway’s Minninglow closure in 1967. The signal box at Hartington Station has 5 Cromford High Peak been preserved, whilst at it’s Wharf southern end the trail enters Junction & A5012 Cromford a 600 metre long tunnel that B5056 A6 emerges near the centre of Middleton Top Canal Countryside Ashbourne. 1.5 6.5 H Centre ig h Alsop Pe 1 A6 to ak Trail T Hopton B5023 is s 547 2 Tunnel & KEY in 3 B5035 g B5056 Trail ton Hopton Wirksworth Tr a Sheepwash 1 National cycle route number i l - This 2 Other off-road routes A515 2 547 5 mile long reservoir, managed by Routes using minor roads Water, was opened Tunnel Tissington 4 in 1992 as an emergency reserve Carsington of water for Derby and the East Steep descent 1.5 Water . A complete circuit of Very steep descent To 2 Thorpe B5035 the reservoir is over 8 miles long Car park with picnic site Ilam and cyclists will cross the dam Toilet Millfields and pass through the villages Information point 2 of Carsington and Hopton. Cycle hire Tunnel There are various wildlife viewing points around the shore. A large, 2.5 Distances shown in miles Mapleton Lane modern Visitor Centre includes a between black circles 0.25 Ashbourne children’s play area, watersports 2.5 centre, restaurant and shops. To Derby Want to explore more of Derbyshire? Code of conduct for cyclists See our full colour leaflet Cycle Derbyshire for • Always give way to walkers and horse riders. guidance and advice on making the most of • Dismount down inclines. the cycle routes around the county. Cycle Hire customers: If you experience problems please call 01629 533294. www.derbyshire.gov.uk/countryside © Crown copyright and database rights 2017. 100023251.