entered the National Park on the A619 a lovely introduction to the Park, with the urban landscape gradually giving way to the hills As you enter , there’s a great big mill stone announcing the National Park border, and once you ride past that the scenery explodes into vast greenery with little dry-stone walls criss-crossing between the fields, first destination was Holmfirth, just north of the National Park, It was a weekday morning outside the holiday season, and traffic was very light, rode through Baslow, then headed towards Calver on the A623. At the traffic lights turned right to Grisedale and sailed through a couple of tasty bends up the little hill. From Grisedale to Hathersage the twisty B6001 runs through the woods, and gives you the first reminder that you need to keep your wits about you when riding through blind bends on undulating roads.
It's just a short hop from Hathersage on the A6187 to the first set of traffic lights and the junction for Bamford and the Ladybower Reservoir. On through the village, you’ll soon see the pleasant Yorkshire Bridge pub, and then the reservoir on your left. At the T-junction I turned right towards Sheffield on the A57. You go through some tight bends, and just after the road opens up to reveal more open moorland, there’s a turn to the left for the Mortimer Road, better known as the Strines.
The Strines is a hoot of a road, with some fast open sections mixed in with very tight corners (so tight that you may need to give way if there’s a vehicle going the other way)
From the Strines I navigated to the Carding Shed near Holmfirth.
The route over Holme Moss, with the A6024 a gently weaving ribbon, like a miniature Alpine pass. The effect is enhanced by the snow poles at the side of the road,
After a little right-left at the bottom of the hill, took the B6105 towards Glossop. This is another belter of a road, with ups and downs, lefts and rights coming at you all the way. The views are ace too as you are running between the hills and a succession of reservoirs.
In Glossop took a left at the traffic lights to head over the Snake Pass (A57), an iconic bikers’ route. The Snake is famous for a reason. It’s a stretch of road about 12 miles long that takes you up from Glossop through some fast bends and over the hills where the road crosses the Pennine Way long-distance walking route. From there, the road drops down into the forest and, true to its name, snakes down to the Ladybower Reservoir. Many have complained about the 50mph limit on the Snake, and sure enough, some of it feels like it could be ridden faster, but at the same time it’s lovely to just take your time and enjoy your surroundings rather than chase the apexes.
Reaching the Ladybower reservoir, took a right towards Bamford, then another right at the end of the road to head to Hope.
Back on the A6187 heading towards Castleton and Winnats Pass take your pick from Win and Lose Hills, Kinder, Mam Tor, and a whole host of other peaks further afield.
I continued my route a bit further through the Park. followed the road to Sparrowpit, where took a left turn on the A623. This took me back towards the heart of the Peaks. To be honest, apart from one lovely set of bends, this is not the most exciting road, but after about 6 miles, just before the Yonderman Café, took a right towards Monsal Head on the B6465. This is a fun little road cutting a wiggly line between hills and fields, and it takes you to the Monsal Head Hotel and viewpoint, where you can admire the view over the Monsal Dale with the old viaduct over the river pick a seat with a view.
So apart from I’m game on the thread who is actually game in a few weeks time pre Easter weather good not to busy.
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