Toerfiets Collectie van Katherine Moore
3
dagen
2-3 h
/ dag
105 km
1.780 m
1.530 m
Extending from the Hemlock Stone on the outskirts of Nottingham up through the Peak District to Mam Tor, the Derbyshire Portway is an ancient track thought to have originated in the Bronze Age. The route, which historians believe may have gone as far as Manchester, takes in many historic locations including Robin Hood’s Stride, Dale Abbey, Nine Stones Close and Alport Heights.
Today, the Derbyshire Portway is enjoyed by hikers as a long-distance walking route, linking the Trent Valley to the open expanses of the White Peak, before finishing over the moorland of the Dark Peak at the popular Mam Tor. Although parts of this route are for foot traffic only, it is easy to follow for the majority of the time, with a few diversions to stick to bridleways, byways and small lanes. This route is an ideal alternative for folks who’d rather take in this breathtaking Peak District crossing by bike: ideally a gravel bike, mountain bike or sturdy tourer.
Broken down into three stages, the Derbyshire Portway can be ridden at leisure over a long weekend, with the first stage being the longest at 23.4 miles (37 km). These distances may seem short, but with sometimes rough terrain and plenty of hills to challenge you, don’t underestimate this route. Really keen riders might even aim to link these three stages together into a single day’s ride! Whichever you choose, be sure to stop regularly to take in some of the historic landmarks, wide-ranging views and quaint towns you’ll find along on the way.
If you’d like to get up close to some of the historic monuments en route, you’ll need to be prepared to dismount and push your bike along the footpaths, such as to Robin Hood’s Stride and the Nine Stones Close stone circle.
If you’re touring the Derbyshire Portway, you’ll find plenty of accommodation and camping options between stages in Belper and Bakewell, as well as a good selection of places to eat, drink, and shop for supplies. It’s well worth booking in advance though, as these are very popular areas, especially in the summer season.
Although officially the Derbyshire Portway extends from the Hemlock Stone to Mam Tor, I’ve extended the route at either end to link it up to the nearest train stations, which is the best way to access the route. At the start, it’s an easy 6-mile (10 km) ride from the central Nottingham train station to the Hemlock Stone in the west of the city, mainly on cycle paths, starting along the Nottingham Canal. At the end of the Portway, it’s plain sailing from Mam Tor down to Chapel-en-le-Frith, which has regular services from the train station just outside the town.
Klaar om te vertrekken? Maak je eigen versie van dit avontuur op basis van de volledige Tour hieronder.
Laatste update: 18 april 2024
Plan je eigen versie van dit avontuur in de meerdaagse planner op basis van de voorgestelde etappes in deze Collectie.
Hoewel de officiële Derbyshire Portway pas begint bij de Hemlock Stone op Stapleford Hill, heb ik deze eerste etappe van het centrale treinstation van Nottingham naar dit punt gerouteerd, beginnend op een fietspad langs het Nottingham Canal. Het is niet helemaal pittoresk, want je neemt meer fietspaden…
van Katherine Moore
De tweede etappe begint in Blackbrook, net buiten Belper, en beslaat 32,8 km naar het bekende Peak District-stadje Bakewell, dat vooral geliefd is vanwege de traditionele puddingen.
Het is recht de heuvel op om te beginnen, op de schitterende Longwalls Lane. Dit is zeker een technische klim met enkele…
van Katherine Moore
Krijg aanbevelingen over de beste singletracks, bergtoppen en vele andere mooie outdoorplekken.
De laatste etappe brengt je van Bakewell naar de top van Mam Tor in de Dark Peak, gekenmerkt door de laag molensteengruis van het gebied bovenop de onderliggende kalksteen. Nadat ik Mam Tor heb bereikt, heb ik een sectie toegevoegd die je naar het dichtstbijzijnde treinstation in Chapel-en-le-Frith in…
van Katherine Moore
Toerfiets Collectie van Komoot Badge Challenge on Garmin Connect
Toerfiets Collectie van Brompton Bicycle
Wandel Collectie van Marieke Duchatteau
Wielren Collectie van Switzerland Tourism