OVERVIEW
The Dark Peak is the more rugged side of the Peak District filled with glorious views and punchy climbs.
Our route starts from Bakewell and heads up to the famous broken road on Mam Tor before finishing on wild trails across the moors. Much more technical than the Peak District Gravel Epic the following day, this is perfect for anyone wanting a challenging ride with the reward of some epic views!
Camping available on Friday & Saturday night and an easier ride available through the White Peak on the Sunday. A perfect early summer gravel weekend!
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Ride the famous broken road of Mam Tor
- Camping available on Friday & Saturday night under the stars in beautiful Bakewell
- Wild off road sections across the moors
What to expect
The ride starts in Bakewell and heads north into the rugged Dark Peak. The long route goes over the broken road of Mam Tor, expect a wide variety of trails and scenery on a beautiful, technical course.
Ride difficulty
Both routes are challenging with lots of climbing & technical sections but you are rewarded with great views throughout.
Long Route *****
Medium Route ****
***** Reserved just for our hardest routes. Expect long distance & lots of challenging climbs both on and off road.
**** Typically longer rides with regular climbs which could be both steep & long. Suitable for regular riders with some training.
*** A mix of terrain & elevation. A decent day out with some tricky sections but still suitable for regular riders.
** Some harder sections but suitable for all regular cyclists
* Easy, suitable for all riders. Mostly flat route.
Technical difficulty
Expect a mix of smooth gravel, back roads, bridleways and farm tracks. There are a couple of short sections of hike a bike. If it’s wet, wide, knobbly tyres or a hardtail would be ideal.
Long Route *****
Medium Route ****
***** A challenging route suitable only for experienced riders. Expect short hike-a-bike sections, a mix of terrain & loose climbs and descents.
**** Suitable for regular off roaders, the route may contain rockier sections, technical descents etc.
*** A mix of off road conditions with some more difficult sections.
** More typical UK gravel which may be muddy when wet but no challenging sections
* Smooth terrain suitable for all riders.
TYRE & BIKE RECOMMENDATIONS
This route is designed for gravel bikes but you will be fine on a hardtail MTB. We do send out tyre recommendations closer to the time. If dry, a standard all-rounder gravel tyre (40-50mm) will be ideal. In the wet, you will want wider and knobbly tyres to get some grip in the muddy stuff.
Included in entry
Fully Signed Route
Our team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.
Checkpoints with proper food
An epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-40km
Accurate GPX Files
A few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.
Mechanics Available
At the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 & more.
Rider Support Vans
We are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone call away.
Beer at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
Fully Signed Route
Our team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.
Checkpoints with proper food
An epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-35km
Accurate GPX Files
A few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.
Mechanics Available
At the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 & more.
Rider Support Vans
We are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone call away.
Beer at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
EVENT PROGRAM
3rd June: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
6th June: 7.45am: Ride village at Bakewell. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
6th June: 8am to 8.45am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
6th June: 6pm: Rider village closes.
6th June: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
Heading north from Bakewell we start on gravel and then after 6km hit the first of 6 climbs for the day. This climb is 2.3km at 7.7% all on tarmac before we hit the gravel around the quarries.
We then head north west with a punchy climb out of Calver (mix of road & gravel) and another mixed climb until we reach the top of Winnats Pass and head around Mam Tor on the broken road before heading to Castleton for our first feed stop.
From here we head onto the moors with another tasty gravel climb (2.4km at 8.5%) and head up to Heathersage and around the Redmires Reservoirs.
The way back to Bakewell takes us back on the moors with some wild and rugged views over the Peaks and some long, fast sections. Save something in the legs for the sixth and final climb at the 88km mark, but once you are over this 2km gravel climb it’s all downhill from there!
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance: 95km
Elevation: 2,150m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route follows the long route to Eyam at 16.5km and then chops off the section to Mam Tor removing 30km and 700m of climbing.
You rejoin by the reservoirs and enjoy some glorious riding across the Moors back to Bakewell.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance: 63km
Elevation: 1,450m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route follows the long route to Eyam at 16.5km and then chops off the section to Mam Tor removing 30km and 700m of climbing.
You rejoin by the reservoirs and enjoy some glorious riding across the Moors back to Bakewell.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance: 63km
Elevation: 1,450m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
SHORT ROUTE
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Percentage of Route Off Road: 40%
Distance: 104km
Elevation: 750m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at Bakewell Showgrounds. There is free parking onsite as well as toilets & refreshments. We will send the ride village address by email.
Yes, e-bikes are allowed on all Glorious Gravel ride. These must comply with UK law.
We have first aiders & mechanics at the feed stops. There will be a phone number on the back of your ride number – call this if you need collecting.
Camping spaces at Bakewell Showgrounds are available on Friday & Saturday night. These are booked on a first come, first served basis and are available in the checkout when you book your ride entry.
LOCAL AREA
The ride starts at Bakewell Showgrounds, a short walk from Bakewell town centre.
There are a few hotels in Bakewell and some lovely pubs in nearby villages. There are more options in Buxton (20 mins away) or stay at Bike and Boot in Hope – https://www.bikeandboot.com/peak-district
It’s not the easiest ride to get to by public transport – the nearest station is Buxton.
Make a weekend of it
Camping is available at Bakewell Showground on Friday & Saturday night.
On Sunday, right completely different trails south of Bakewell on the Peak District Gravel Epic or off the bike there are some great market towns to explore, Chatsworth House is nearby and there are more climbs & hikes than you can shake a stick at.
Make a weekend of it
Camping is available at Bakewell Showground on Friday & Saturday night.
On Sunday, right completely different trails south of Bakewell on the Peak District Gravel Epic or off the bike there are some great market towns to explore, Chatsworth House is nearby and there are more climbs & hikes than you can shake a stick at.
Packing list
The route takes in some remote sections. We have support vans available but we recommend you are as self sufficient as possible including:
Bike spares
2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyre
If running a tubeless set up, have a tubeless repair kit including plugs and spare sealant.
Multitool | Chain link specific for your bike chain
Small pump | Brake pads (especially in wet conditions)
Personal Medical kit
1 x crepe roll bandage | Gauze or similar absorbent dressing
Assorted plasters | Antiseptic (spray, cream or wipes) | Prescribed medication
