Delamere Forest

[hardrock09]

Hi, im going to delemere forest tomorrow, just wondering if anyone rates the place as ive never been before... also are there any good tracks to ride?

Many Thanks

Ben

 

[AWG]

Please put up a report of your day at Delamere, we are interested. Yesterday we did one of my old favourites, The High Peak from Parsley Hay to Middleton Top. If I'd been on my own I'd have gone down to Cromford Canal, but my wife (quite rightly) is non too happy about the inclines. So: High peak Trail (and Tissington) Buxton to Ashbourne Road - turn at the Parsley Hay signs for the safest car parking, all day £3.50. There are various other free locations but your car can end up parked on it's own in a wilderness. Parsley to Middleton Top and back - approx. 23 miles.

 

[RedBike]

I hated it. The way marked trail was wide, completely flat and smooth. It was more like a cyclepath than a MTB trail.

Off-trail we found loads of jumps. Sadly i'm not much of a fan of jumps either espeshially when they're anything but beginner friendly.

I'm sure they'll be some trails somewhere there that are a happy medium but don't expect a big arrow pointing the way to them.

As for the High Peak/ Tissington trail. I occationally take my road bike complete with slick 23mm tyres down there!

 

[Cubist]

Hi, im going to delemere forest tomorrow, just wondering if anyone rates the place as ive never been before... also are there any good tracks to ride?

Many Thanks

Ben

Of course it depends on what you want, but here's the opening lines of their site:
Delamere Forest Park is ideal for cycling. Smooth sandy tracks with only a few gentle hills provide an ideal surface. Mature Scots pine, wetland and Blakemere provide the ideal setting for for an afternoon's family cycle ride.

Hardly hardcore gnarly MTB country.

 

[AWG]

To extend the High Peak Trail conversation: I noticed a new (well new to me) sign at Middleton Top advertising the "Pennine Trail". It seems that a cycle route is going to, or has been opened along the Pennines, previously the domain of walkers. I am guessing that it must connect at Hayfield, Derbyshire near to Kinder Scout. Now this sounds really interesting to me. Can you get at it up Kinder Road past the campsite?

Back to Delamere, of course it is nice to have a gentle, undemanding ride I think, to be able to take in the surroundings; just as it's nice to try out yourself in arduous conditions. It's all exercise and fresh air and nothing wrong with using trails suitable for children (as long as you use them when they are all at school!).

 

[RedBike]

To extend the High Peak Trail conversation: I noticed a new (well new to me) sign at Middleton Top advertising the "Pennine Trail". It seems that a cycle route is going to, or has been opened along the Pennines, previously the domain of walkers. I am guessing that it must connect at Hayfield, Derbyshire near to Kinder Scout. Now this sounds really interesting to me. Can you get at it up Kinder Road past the campsite?

I'm currently planning on riding this to Buxton/Hayfield. I 'think' it's the Pennine cycleway. Once at Hayfield I will follow the Pennine Bridleway (It's tough going over this section) to Hendon Bridge. From there on i'm back on the Pennine cycleway up to Scotland.

Somewhere in among this lot is the Trans Pennine way. This runs across the country from West yorkshire/Sheffield to Liverpool.

Lots of routes with 'Pennine' in the title there.

 

[roadjunkie]

The more you go to delemere the more you find. If you just wanna turn up and follow arrows then go to llandegla. If you prefer to explore a bit more there is some good single track at delamere (albeit not very long), and certainly some good climbs and descents. The best times to go are probably sat morning or on a week night. Sundays can be a pain with loads of dogs/kids/families. Basically don't follow the cycle routes because they are for families. You need to go off piste and get lost to really appreciate it...

 

[AWG]

Last time I cycled from Hayfield was back in about 1991. I did the bridleway up past the Edale Cross. I personally spent equally as much time walking / jogging with the bike as riding it. It is a very tough trail. Will do it again this summer all being well. Will be much fitter than a 41 year old when I'm 60 so will attempt the 16 mile circular ride.