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High Peak Trail – High Peak Trail loop from Arbor Low

High Peak Trail – High Peak Trail loop from Arbor Low

Moderate

4.6

(14)

135

riders

High Peak Trail – High Peak Trail loop from Arbor Low

02:32

44.4km

390m

Gravel riding

Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: June 20, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Peak District National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

642 m

High Peak Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The High Peak Trail runs from Cromford to Parsley Hay. It is built on the route of a railway which itself was built by a canal company. They used the canal method of long flat sections joined by steep sections (as with locks on the canal). This means that the High Peak Trail has a couple of hills that are much steeper (about 1:12) than you would expect on a railway. All traffic free.

Great for families so long as you are careful on the downhill sections. There are refreshments at each end and at Middleton Top, the National Stone Centre and others along the way. Can be used as part of a circular route including the Tissington Trail and a link route between the Tissington Trail and Carsington Reservoir.

Tip by

18.4 km

Middleton Top Engine House and railway wagon

Highlight • Historical Site

Notorious for its steep gradient, Middleton Top is a super climb with majestic views at the top. Plus, there's bike hire and a small cafe here. It has also been part of the Eroica Britannia route for the past few years – imagine that gradient with barely functioning, pre-1979 gearing. At the top of the incline there's the Middleton Top Engine House, as the track used to be the High Peak steam railway.

Tip by

18.5 km

Middleton Top Engine House

Highlight • Historical Site

Very interesting piece of railway history containing the world's oldest working
steam lift. Take the time to go a little further to theSteeple Grange Light Railway or brave the Sheep Pasture descent to the Cromford Canal.
Refreshments and toilets on site.

Tip by

19.2 km

Ruins

22.2 km

Sheep Pasture Incline

Highlight (Segment) • Climb

Well done to anyone who manages to cycle up the full incline from High Peak junction to the nice seat at the top with a lovely view. The incline is a constant gradient so no chance for the rest at any point. In autumn there are a lot of leaves and nuts on the ground which makes cycling even harder. I failed after about two thirds of the slope!
Great way though to gain the height and then travel further along the High Peak trail.

Tip by

27.4 km

High Peak Trail

Highlight • Cycleway

Great route for traffic-free cycling, the High Peak trail is a gravel track which follows the course of an old railway. This railway was owned by a canal company, so was built in an odd manner with long flat portions joined by steep sections (like canal locks) where the trains were often hauled uphill by stationary engines.

This means that most of the route is nice and flat but with inclines that will often mean pushing uphill. These include Cromford High Peak junction westwards (1:9 for about a mile), Middleton Top (1:8 with a surface including drainage channels across the track, so beware when descending especially as there are very steep drop-offs to the side), and Hopton (1:14 for about 500 yards or 457 metres).

You can get a good speed up downhill but be careful as surface is very loose.

Tip by

29.4 km

View of Harboro Rocks

Highlight • Viewpoint

Part of the High Peak Trail that takes you past the Harbour Rocks, picturesque for sure.

The rocks are a dramatic outcrop of Dolomitic limestone.

Tip by

44.1 km

Junction of National Cycle Route 54 and Tissington Trail

Highlight • Cycleway

Fantastic easy gravel riding with stunning views

Tip by

44.4 km

Parsley Hay Visitor Centre and Bike Hire

Highlight • Cycleway

Great snack bar and bike hire centre. Makes for a good target to aim for when riding on the Tissington or High Peak Trails.

The snack bar doesn't have inside facilities so you'll have to use the picnic tables outside. These can be cold in winter as you're about 1,100 feet (335 m) up. There's some cover from the rain. and toilets facilities.

The bike hire centre offers various kinds of bikes including ones modified for disabled users and electric bikes.

Tip by

44.4 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

43.4 km

1.13 km

Surfaces

34.3 km

9.08 km

1.13 km

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (350 m)

Lowest point (140 m)

Weather

Thursday 9 July

30°C

18°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 12.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

August 12, 2023,HPJ to Parsley Hay

Two mums, a baby, a toddler and badass kid. We took the High Peak trail from High Peak Junction up to Parsley Hay for an overnighter. The hills hit hard towing the trailer, and we had help with towing the little legs up the hills also. The route has 4 cafe stops. We ditched some of the weight from our …

April 1, 2025,Bikepacking Adventure with Abi - Day 1 ⛰️🗺️

Such a brilliant adventure with @Abi! Gorgeous sunshine and great trails 🥳☀️

Bikepacking Adventure with Abi - Day 1 🗺️🚵‍♀️

I’d managed to cycle really fast to Derby and caught an earlier train, so I went for a swift coffee at the Wharf and then pedalled back to the station to meet Abi. We did some pre-adventure faffing and adjusting …

November 13, 2022,Out & back - High Peak Trail

Easy recovery spin after racing yesterday hauling the trailer to Parsley Hay for a hot chocolate. Stuck to the trail as the new bridge at Longcliffe is open now.

February 22, 2026,Kindness Ride - Day 1

What a total joy to be in the Peaks on such a beautiful day! My heart felt full as I pedalled slowly along the canal, full of people (I’d forgotten it was Sunday!) and as I climbed the Cromford incline, I was so touched by how many random people offered words of encouragement - it helps so much! One young …

November 8, 2022,Rockabye Baby

Super little gravel loop round the high peak trail. Had to take a slight detour due to the bridge being shut at longcliffe but that meant i found a couple of new trails.

Ideal for gravel bikes, if towing a trailer it can be a little rough. Let a few PSI out the tyres and take it steady. 👍

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High Peak Trail – High Peak Trail loop from Arbor Low

High Peak Trail

Middleton Top Engine House and railway wagon

Middleton Top Engine House

Sheep Pasture Incline

High Peak Trail

View of Harboro Rocks

Junction of National Cycle Route 54 and Tissington Trail

Parsley Hay Visitor Centre and Bike Hire

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