Looking back at a mid-summer trip

It was a pretty wild and woolly affair, coinciding with the arrival of storm Desmond.

I encountered flooded roads twice and battled wind and rain. On reflection, I decided that there were better days to write about, and so looked back over my cycling year.

I’ll tell you about a Peak District trip, a week or so after mid-summer. Four of us assembled for two nights at The Royal Hotel, Dungworth, just west of Sheffield, for what has become a regular annual break.

The pub has three letting rooms adjacent to the car park at the rear. Substantial meals are served for about £8. Beer comes from Bradfield Brewery, literally across the valley.

After several beers and a good nights sleep, the next day started with a large cooked breakfast (well, it’s not a race is it?) and we set off at about 10am.

Left out of the pub car park, then first right, onto Syke House Lane, signed Glossop 20 miles. Climb steadily for a quarter mile, then right at T-junction, still in direction of Glossop. After a mile, left at next T-junction, direction Stannington. Follow bends to left then right and take next minor road on right, Flash Lane (south).

Regular readers know my affinity to narrow roads with gravel or grass down the centre. Ride with caution. Keeping left, descend to a T-junction at a hamlet marked on the OS map as rails. Here, right and steep downhill to cross the main A6101. Straight on to meet the A57, where right and then immediately left again to leave the main road. A steep climb follows.

At the top, right at cross road and after one and a half miles take a left where a dead end is indicated ahead. Take next right onto Roper Hill (unsigned). This brings you to cross roads at village of Ringinglow. Right here, then in just less than two miles watch for car parking on left.

Shortly after, take the unsigned fork off to the right. Enjoy the fast descent, but slow on approaching Hathersage, as the road narrows. Halt at A6187 and right onto Main Road, Hathersage. Take B6001 on left, signed Bakewell. Climb, but watch for car park sign on left. Turn here and you’ll soon find Hathersage swimming pool on right. Nice cafe for morning coffee.

Retrace to B6001 and continue as before in direction of Bakewell. Under rail bridge, cross river, then first right (just before The Plough) signed Abney. As this is the Peak District, another long climb follows. However, it’s a nice quiet road. Through hamlet of Abney and pass gliding field on right. We are at about 400 metres now. Descend to give way at unsigned junction where bear left (east) and follow the line of the ridge known as Eyam Edge.

Good views of the valley below, off to the right. Give way again where a road from the valley comes up to join from the right. Keep left and you’ll soon spot the white painted gable wall of The Barrel ahead. Timothy Taylors Landlord on hand pump and a wide selection of meals.

After lunch, retrace for one mile, back to the junction below the gliding club. Here, keep left, following the woodland contour, and descend into Great Hucklow. Go straight through village, passing The Queen Anne pub on the left. Beyond village take a right at crossroad (unsigned, but you’ll see a subsequent junction with B6049 ahead).

Here turn left onto B6049, but quickly right off it again at a white painted house on the corner. Look for the sign saying windmill. Follow this road as it curves right (turning northwards now). Give way, and right at unsigned junction.

Keep straight ahead now for one and a half miles. Where you see a blue “Restricted Width” sign ahead ahead, the road swings right for Bradwell. Descend with care into Bradwell village. Watch for a give way when entering built up area. The road splits just after. Keep to the lower (left) side. At a later fork, just keep following the general rule of losing height.

Eventually arrive at a junction in village centre, with phone box and public toilets facing you. This is where we discovered that Mike had a puncture, so a short halt was called. If not stopping, just take first left at this junction (Bridge Street).

The road narrows and becomes one way, as you approach traffic lights. Left at lights, to join the B6049 (unsigned).

Pass the village shop and Post Office on left. In a mile meet the A6187 at a staggered junction. Take the minor road opposite (slightly left) signed for Aston. Climb to Aston where right at T-junction. Pass unsuitable for motors sign. Excellent. Do watch for sand and gravel along here. Approach T-junction, where take a left. Descend to follow river (on your right). At sharp right angle bend, turn to cross bridge over river and climb up to A6013. Turn left in direction of Sheffield.

This is a busy road, but you soon come to a shared path on the left. Enjoy the views of Ladybower Reservoir.

Meet the A57at lights, turning right in direction of Sheffield. We pulled into the Ladybower Inn for a pot of tea on the terrace.

The busiest part of the whole route follows, which is a one and a half mile steady climb up the A57. Our group fragmented as everyone found their own pace. You’ll soon catch sight of the turn-off in the distance. Turn off left here, signed Strines Moor. In half a mile, take the first on the right, which is signposted back to Dungworth. Enjoy the extensive views as you cover these last few miles. Spot (but don’t follow) a sign to Bradfield, which is where the local beer is brewed. Entering Dungworth, turn right at T-junction, which brings you back to the Royal Hotel. We stayed for our second night to enjoy a few more Bradfield beers.

Date of ride

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

The maps

Ordnance Survey Landranger. Numbers 110, Sheffield & Huddersfield 119, Buxton & Matlock

The pubs

Royal Hotel, Dungworth, SHEFFIELD Tel. 0114 2851213 www.royalhotel-dungworth.com The Barrel Inn, Bretton, Near Eyam, Hope Valley S32 5QD Tel. 01433 630856 www.thebarrelinn.co.uk

The bike

1976 Jack Taylor, Tour of Britain model. Hand built in Stockton on Tees Distance 37 miles.

Car parking

Free on street parking at Dungworth village (if not staying at pub)