Cycle Routes

Discover the best local bike rides on the Peak District borders of Derbyshire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester. With route maps, detailed directions, tips and hundreds of photos, I’m still working on new guides to build a collection of over 30 — there’s plenty more adventures to come.

Routes are categorised as Gentle, Moderate, Challenging or Very Challenging and can also be explored by Bike Type, by Features, by Trail and by Places.

My own longer Recommended Rides (marked as P+) are unlocked by becoming a Peaks & Puddles + supporter — you’ll get access to all the routes, Pocket Guides and GPX downloads while helping to keep the free guides there for everyone!

Popular Paths & Trails

Distances shown as complete loop or out-and-back return ride.

Peak Forest Tramway Trail

Peak Forest Tramway Trail

  • Gentle
  • 3.8 miles
  • 112 ft

Sett Valley Trail

  • Gentle
  • 5.5 miles
  • 150 ft

Manchester Airport Orbital Cycleway

  • Gentle
  • 8.7 miles
  • 162 ft

Alan Newton Way

  • Gentle
  • 9.2 miles
  • 336 ft

Longdendale Trail

  • Gentle
  • 12.9 miles
  • 377 ft

Upper Peak Forest Canal

  • Gentle
  • 13.3 miles
  • 56 ft

A555 Hazel Grove to Manchester Airport

  • Gentle
  • 14.9 miles
  • 475 ft

Upper Derwent Valley

  • Moderate
  • 15.1 miles
  • 911 ft

Manifold Way

  • Gentle
  • 15.8 miles
  • 321 ft

Lower Peak Forest Canal & Marple Locks

  • Gentle
  • 16.4 miles
  • 376 ft

Monsal Trail

  • Gentle
  • 19.2 miles
  • 462 ft

Middlewood Way

  • Gentle
  • 20.3 miles
  • 401 ft

Tissington Trail

  • Moderate
  • 26.9 miles
  • 869 ft

High Peak Trail

  • Moderate
  • 35 miles
  • 1034 ft

Recommended Rides

My own original Peaks & Puddles routes.

Buxworth Bypasses

  • Moderate
  • 6.8 miles
  • 708 ft

Kinder Valley Explorer

  • Gentle
  • 8.9 miles
  • 425 ft

Over Hills Around New Mills

  • Challenging
  • 10.6 miles
  • 1358 ft

Chinley Churner

  • Challenging
  • 10.9 miles
  • 1519 ft

Lyme Lanes

  • Moderate
  • 12 miles
  • 984 ft

Lyme Loop

  • Moderate
  • 12.5 miles
  • 706 ft

Wood Lanes off Middlewood

  • Gentle
  • 12.5 miles
  • 528 ft

Mills and Brows

  • Moderate
  • 14.3 miles
  • 1218 ft

Biggin and the Big Long Dale

  • Gentle
  • 14.7 miles
  • 633 ft

Tame Vales and Valleys

  • Gentle
  • 15.6 miles
  • 739 ft

Quarry Bank By Bike

  • Gentle
  • 16.6 miles
  • 496 ft

Goyt Valley Grinder

  • Challenging
  • 17.6 miles
  • 1930 ft

Beginners’ Brickworks

  • Challenging
  • 18.4 miles
  • 1662 ft

Peaks and Perry Dale

  • Challenging
  • 20.1 miles
  • 1919 ft

Hidden Hills in High Peak

  • Very Challenging
  • 23.1 miles
  • 3319 ft

Cheshire Mountains of Macclesfield

  • Very Challenging
  • 23.6 miles
  • 2987 ft

Cat & Fiddle Climbs

  • Very Challenging
  • 26.7 miles
  • 3501 ft

More Routes

Longer Combined Rides

Station to Station Rides

Pocket Guide Collection

Downloadable mini PDF route guides suitable for both phone and print, with easy turn-by-turn directions and custom maps. Includes all current and future Pocket Guides. Get it here

By Bike Type

By Features & Attributes

By Trail

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