Potato Alley Descent – Thornhill Trail loop from Bamford

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Potato Alley Descent – Thornhill Trail loop from Bamford

Hard

riders

Potato Alley Descent – Thornhill Trail loop from Bamford

03:18

34.3km

840m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: October 8, 2026

Tips

Includes a very steep uphill segment

You may need to push your bike.

After 25.8 km for 639 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

3.22 km

Offerton Moor Bridleway

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Rutted and stony track across the Moor with great views across the Hope Valley to Hathersage. Just about rideable on a gravel bike but probably more suited to a MTB.

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5.28 km

View of Hope Valley from Shatton Track

Highlight • Trail

This great section of off-road track links the two villages of Shatton and Abney. Best approached from the Abney side if you want to avoid the brutal climb out of …

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10.5 km

Cement Works Bridleway

Highlight (Segment) • Structure

As the name suggests, this bridleway goes right through the cement works and makes a good shortcut from Pindale Road up to Bradwell. There's a quite a climb at the …

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15.6 km

Descent of Doctors Gate Roman Road

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Absolutely wonderful. Rocky, but not insane, and with no surprises, but you will need to look ahead and think a little, relax, and just let your bike flow.

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19.0 km

Potato Alley Descent

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

A top tip here is never to ride up it unless you really, really have to! But ridden downhill, this is always a grin inducer. Some hate the feeling of …

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22.7 km

Muddy Forest Trail in Peak District National Park

Highlight • Forest

Might need to push your bike here - it can get very muddy after rainfall but it's very beautiful and gives you a proper "Into the wild" feeling.

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23.1 km

Hagg Farm Descent

Highlight (Segment) • MTB Park

Fantastic downhill section, some lovely banked corners forming natural berms. Rocky and loose in the middle of the path, best to stick to the edges where possible. Can be greasy …

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28.6 km

Top Plantation

Forest

32.2 km

Thornhill Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

A flat, easy-going cycle trail that is built on the old dam construction railway track. It's 2 miles (3 km) in length from the dam wall to the road that …

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34.3 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types