From Crich Market Place, take Sandy Lane down to Whatstandwell and join the towpath along the canal. Bikes only have a concessionary right of way on the canal side, so please give priority to walkers. Ideally use a bell to notify other users, but failing that a polite and clear ‘Excuse me’ and ‘Thank you’ usually does the trick.

If this is your first time out, the café at Cromford Wharf might be enough; after all you have always got the climb back up to Crich to negotiate. But if you are pushing on, please be careful on the next stretch as you need to negotiate the A6 through Matlock Bath, to the main traffic lights in Matlock. At these lights it is best to get off your bike and cross the road on foot, because you want to take a sneaky path down to the side of the river which is accessed at the NW corner of the road bridge. Once on the river bank you set off north along the side of the Peak Rail line. Another popular stop is at the Whitworth Terrace Café in Whitworth Park.

Eventually you will come to the end of the trail in Rowsley. Cross the A6 and take Church Lane up the left-hand side of The Peacock hotel. As the asphalt runs out, the track can be quite rough, so when combined with the gradient you might prefer to get off and walk. Unfortunately, until the Haddon Hall Estate allows the route to go through its tunnels we are stuck with this climb. Once you reach the top, it’s a nice sweeping descent to Coombs Road. There are a number of gates on the descent, so please make sure that you leave them as you find them and watch out for the disused railway bridge that you pass under. Take an immediate right and climb up on to the old railway line. You are now on the Monsal Trail, one of the most beautiful cycle routes in the country.

Take a break at Hassop Station Café, you’ve earned it, and then enjoy the vistas and tunnels as you head to Millers Dale. Here you will find another café and the start of the one big climb of the ride. Leave the trail at the station, drop down the steep descent to the valley bottom and take a right at the T-junction. Start the steady climb and pace your effort. Soon you will pass a cave on your left, and you need to take the next left which will lead you to the A6, just above the Taddington bypass. Please be careful; take a left and then an immediate right on School Lane, followed by another right on Slipperlow Lane. It’s the last push now, another 100m and you will have made it to the top.

Well done, you’re up and you can see for miles. You now know that there are no more hills until Whatstandwell! Keep right at the next junction along Moor Lane and then go straight across on to the dirt track. Eventually you will come to the A515; go straight across and take the path behind the fence which will lead you to the northern end of the High Peak Trail. The next stop is the café at Parsley Hay, and then just take in the beautiful views as you head back towards Middleton Top. Please take note of the advice with regards to the two incline descents from Middleton Top and Blackrocks before rejoining your route at High Peak Junction. From there it’s just a question of calling a friend or tackling the final climb up into Crich.