Cycling the High Peak Trail from Earl Sterndale

 Wednesday 21st September

Fine weather, so we had to take full advantage of it.We set off by bike at 10 am, just as the church clock was striking.  By road to Parsley Hay,

where we had a coffee before continuing on the High Peak trail towards Middleton Top. 

Various pauses on the way - including a chat near Hopton Top 

to a couple of blokes with a mobility scooter  they appeared to be sharing. We mentioned The Quiet Woman, and they were surprised to know it was closed. They had some good nights there, so not too many Quiet Men? The landlord used to sell half lambs.  The convesation wandered to black pudding anda couple of American women being horrified at the thought.

Onward to Middleton Top

where we wandered about a bit,

looked at the Redhill Quarry Nature reserve,

and then had a frugal lunch before turning back. We had left our hard-boiled eggs back at the cottage. 

We decided to give the incline and final miles to Cromford a miss.

I was asked if I knew the cycle route to Tissington Trail. Harry was asked to take a photo of a woman cyclist.

Return quite an uphill pull to begin with, but luckily the wind was not as strong as we had originally thought it might be.

All good until we came to the end of the trail and met an uphill section on loose stones - this was seriously hard work, but the uphill bit on the road afterwards seemed relatively easy with its much smoother surface.

Down into Earl Sterndale meeting the road we have come in before.  Grand views of High Wheeldon

and the Dragon’s Back.

Home by 1610 to cuppa and lemon drizzle cake.

34 miles approx. Around 770 feet of ups and downs. More than I have done since this time last year on the Rhins of Galloway.