2019, 10 April
Five riders assembled at Parsley Hay. The weather was cold but dry, mainly cloudy at first but sunny later. We headed north along the High Peak Trail, well-wrapped up against a keen north wind. Leaving theTrail at Sparklow by the Royal Oak pub, we continued on the Pennine Cycleway (National Cycle Network Route 68) up to the highest point of the ride (1300ft asl) at Wheelden before a good run downhill to Earl Sterndale. We crossed the River Dove, at Glutton Bridge, passing from Derbyshire to Staffordshire, before heading up the steep hill beyond – the toughest section of the ride (except for the one rider with an electric bike). After a descent into Longnor we had a well-earned coffee break at Cobbles Café. Uphill again to Knowsley Cross and southeast along the ridge separating the Manifold and Dove Valleys, with particularly good views across the latter. After Sheen we dropped down to and crossed the Dove again, and into Hartington where we enjoyed an unprecedented second café stop at the Farm Shop Café. Suitably refreshed, we rode up Hartington Dale to Hartington Signal Box on the Tissington Trail, which we followed back to Parsley Hay.