Dambusters Ride 6

The ride proper starts at Edale Station and follows the Edale Road to Hope Village where there will be a short stop for toilets and water stop. (Adventure Cafe) From there along the Castleton Road to Parsons Lane and a steady climb to the tee junction with Thornhill Lane leading to Thornhill Village. Along Carr lane until the Thornhill Trail appears on the left. Left at the end of the Thornhill Trail when the Causeway at the end of Ladybower now appears and can be crossed to reach the Ashopton Road.

From the Causeway along cycle tracks to the West Bank of the Derwent and on to Fairholmes Car Park for toilets and refreshments. Then along the West Bank of the Derwent reservoir to the Howden Dam, an orbit of Howden Reservoir and on track and trail to "Slippery Stones" at the head of Howden Reservoir. The return is along the East bank of Howden/Derwent to the A57 Snake Road and a secure cycle track down to The Yorkshire Bridge with outdoor seating next to the bikes. After this pitstop it is downhill through Bamford to the A6187 (Hathersage Road) and left to Hathersage and to the The Old Bank Restaurant with outdoor seating next to the bikes. The return train is from Hathersage station.


We recommend track and trail style bikes with broader tyres for the gravel tracks around the reservoirs. Hardtails with front suspension, hybrids with broad tyres and/or front suspension or gravel bike style forks. Bring at least one spare tube for your wheel size. Bring refreshments as pitstops are few and far between.

Starting from - The Sheffield Train departs from Platform 4 of Piccadilly Station at 09:48 and some cyclists may join the train at Romiley or other stations. The ride proper is at 10:38 from Hope Train Station. The car park at Hope Station is a free-to-park car park. Train tickets which are "OPEN RETURN" are advised to give flexibility.

We advise Track & Trail style bikes with broader tyres. Hardtails or Gravel bikes are the best choice as 70% of the route is grit and gravel around the reservoirs. Confident riders may use Urban commuter style bikes. You know your skills and abilities but these are open tracks and forest trails with ups and downs. This is a clockwise circuit of Ladybower, Derwent and Howden Reservoirs. Quiet, hard-surface back lanes to the reservoirs, gravel trails around the reservoirs, 2-3 miles of the A57 Snake Road. First stop is Fairholmes car park areabooth with clean and well maintained toilets. There is a hole-in-the-wall tea and cake booth. Second pitstop is the Yorkshire Bride Hotel for coffee, tea and barfood. Outdoor seating next to the bikes. Helmets are advised but discretionary, A spare inner tube (or repair kit for tubeless tyres) is essential. Please bring one. Bring rolls, snacks and/or fruit. Water bottles can be refilled at both pitstops. First-timers welcome!

3 stops for toilets, tea/coffee

Helmets are discretionary but an inner tube to suit your tyre size is essential.

We never leave anyone behind