Cycling from Middleton Top Exploring the High Peak Trail and Tissington Trail Choosing a route Middleton Top Countryside Centre, There are plenty of cycle routes to choose from whether you are planning a short ride or a longer, more challenging outing. Middleton by Wirksworth, Matlock, (Most cyclists will cover approximately 6 miles in an hour. So a 3 hour Derbyshire. DE4 4LS bike hire should allow time to get to Minninglow, or Friden, and back again). Tel: 01629 823204 • High Peak Trail - a 17.5 mile trail between Dowlow (at the Buxton end, only 6 miles short of the town) and High Peak Junction (close to Cromford) • National Cycle Network Route 54 - joins the High Peak Trail with the Tissington Trail along approximately 10 miles of country roads. There is an additional route around Carsington 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 Bakewell High Peak Trail - The Cromford and High Peak Railway was one of the first 1.5 5 05 A5 Monyash railways in the world. It was built between 1825 and 1830 to link the Peak Forest Hurdlow Canal at Whaley Bridge (north of Buxton) to the Cromford Canal - a distance of 33 miles. The railway itself was designed like a canal. On the flat sections the A 5 1 waggons were pulled by horses. Large steam powered beam engines in engine 5 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 823204 or visit Newhaven Tunnel 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 Winster the track to send limestone to 012 A 2.5 A5 industrial areas. The trail was Biggin 6 Matlock Bath 4 created after the railway’s Minninglow closure in 1967. The signal box at Hartington Station has 5 Cromford been preserved, whilst at it’s High Peak 2 Wharf 6 01 Junction & southern end the trail enters 5 5 0 A 5 Cromford a 600 metre long tunnel that B A emerges near the centre of Middleton Top 6 Canal Countryside Ashbourne. 1.5 6.5 H Centre ig Black Rocks h 3 Alsop Pe 1 2 A6 to Parwich ak Trail 0 5 T Hopton B Ambergate is 6 Brassington s 5 2 Tunnel & Derby KEY 0 in 3 5 B5035 g B Trail ton Hopton Wirksworth Tr a Sheepwash 1 National cycle route number i l Bradbourne Carsington Water - This 2 Other off-road routes A 2 5 5 mile long reservoir, managed by 1 Routes using minor roads 5 Severn Trent Water, was opened Tunnel Tissington 4 in 1992 as an emergency reserve Carsington of water for Derby and the East Steep descent 1.5 5 Water Midlands. A complete circuit of Very steep descent To 03 2 Thorpe B5 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 823204. www.derbyshire.gov.uk/countryside © Crown copyright and database rights 2013. Ordnance Survey 100023251..