The best traffic-free bike rides around Howden Reservoir

The area around Howden Reservoir offers a diverse gravel biking experience, primarily featuring long stretches of unsurfaced gravel roads. You'll find undulating paths, open countryside, and wooded sections. While some parts are smooth, others, especially on the northern side, involve more incline and stone paths, with dirt paths on the east side that can become muddy after rain. The routes are generally considered moderate, with some options for more challenging rides.

Yes, several routes offer circular options, allowing you to explore the reservoirs without retracing your steps. For example, the Derwent Reservoir – Derwent Dam East Tower loop from Howden Reservoir is a moderate circular route. The interconnected nature of Howden, Derwent, and Ladybower Reservoirs also makes for popular circular rides.

You'll encounter several impressive sights. The Howden Dam itself is an early 20th-century engineering marvel. Further north, Slippery Stones Packhorse Bridge and River Derwent Trail is a picturesque spot ideal for picnics. The entire Derwent and Howden Reservoirs — Gravel Trail offers stunning views of the Upper Derwent Valley.

Yes, the area provides routes suitable for families. Many sections of the gravel trails are relatively flat and well-maintained, offering a pleasant experience for riders of varying skill levels. The generally traffic-free nature of the reservoir paths makes them ideal for family outings.

The Fairholmes Visitor Centre is a central hub that provides parking facilities. From here, you can easily access many of the gravel biking routes around Howden, Derwent, and Ladybower Reservoirs. Another option is the Derwent Overlook Car Park, which serves as a starting point for tours like the Howden Dam – Derwent Reservoir loop.

The Upper Derwent Valley is beautiful year-round, but autumn is particularly vibrant with stunning panoramic views of forested hills. While generally good, some dirt paths can become muddy after rain, so checking the weather forecast is advisable. Spring and summer offer milder conditions, while winter can bring more challenging, potentially muddy or icy, conditions.

Yes, the Fairholmes Visitor Centre is a key amenity hub, offering a café, toilets, and information. This is a convenient stop for refreshments and facilities before or after your ride, or even during a longer loop around the reservoirs.

The area is highly rated by the komoot community, with an average score of 4.9 stars from 22 ratings. Reviewers often praise the stunning natural beauty, the traffic-free nature of the trails, and the varied terrain that makes for an engaging gravel biking experience.

Yes, bike hire facilities are conveniently available at the Fairholmes Visitor Centre. This makes it accessible for visitors who don't have their own equipment or prefer not to transport it.

Yes, the River Derwent in the area of Slippery Stones, located at the northernmost point of Howden Reservoir, is known as a picturesque wild swimming spot surrounded by stunning scenery.

This guide features 5 distinct no-traffic gravel bike trails around Howden Reservoir, ranging from moderate to difficult in terms of challenge. These include routes like the View of the Peak District – Dunford Bridge loop from Langsett and the Derwent Dam East Tower – Derwent Reservoir loop from Derwent.