The official route map for the 136-mile (219km) southern part of the Pennine Cycleway from Derby to Settle.The southern half of the Pennine Cycleway is a beautiful, yet challenging ride which takes you through the dramatic scenery of the Peak District and the South Pennines. The route takes you from the bustling railway city of Derby to the historic town of Settle, taking in the famous spa town of Buxton and the lovely Yorkshire town of Holmfirth, renowned location of the TV classic "Last of the Summer Wine". This section includes the popular traffic-free Tissington and Longdendale Trails and includes part of the renowned High Peak Trail. The ride takes you through a wide variety of landscapes, including a huge canal embankment, splendid examples of textile mills, delightful market towns, pastoral farmland and high open moorland. Traffic-free sections include the green corridor of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath, bridle tracks near Clapham, the path alongside Torside and Woodhead reservoirs and the glorious Tissington Trail which follows the line of former London and North Western railway line through the Peak District.
You'll find plenty to see and do along the route in places such as Ashbourne, Whaley Bridge and Hebden Bridge. If you want some bright lights there's a route option which takes you to Burnley, or you take the picturesque way and ride to Colne as you wind your way towards Widdop Reservoir and out over Widdop Moor before you reach Settle, adjacent to the beautiful Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.