Here is a selection of mountain bike routes starting and finishing in my home village of Brassington. Some of the routes are quite easy and can be enjoyed by people of moderate ability. Others are real endurance tests suitable only for athletes and masochists. Hopefully there is something for everyone. If not, the routes can be customised to suit individual requirements.

All of the routes begin and end at the bus shelter in front of the church. If you park outside the village and cycle in (from Wirksworth Dale for example), you will have to add an extra bit of distance and time to each route.

The distances and ride times were measured on my cycle computer whilst riding each route. They were not calculated from maps. Note that a ride time is pedalling time only. It does not include time spent drinking tea at the cafe, taking photos of the view or sitting down to have a ‘map moment’. As a rough guide, plan on completing a route in double the ride time.  

I prefer kilometres to miles (because I’m a modern kind of guy) and all measurements are given in metric units. If you prefer miles, multiply each distance by 0.62.

The character of a route can vary dramatically depending on the weather, the ability of the rider, the equipment used and the direction of travel. This has been highlighted in the descriptions where relevant, but please bear it in mind as well. If you find yourself out of your depth, it is usually possible to escape back to Brassington fairly easily, though you will need an OS map to do so.

The routes have been designed around the idea that tarmac is best for riding uphill and the rough stuff is best for down. This is not because I am lazy, but because I think it makes the whole experience more enjoyable. On the other hand I also believe that getting lost, taking a nosedive into a muddy puddle and mending a puncture on Gallowlow Lane in winter are all part of the fun as well. So get ready for an adventure as well as having fun!

Some things to remember:

• All distances and times are approximate.
• Please ride with consideration for others.
• No responsibility or liability of any kind is accepted or implied by the author.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact Brassington.org. 

 Dean Smart
31st March 2008