After a summer of practically wall-to-wall sunshine, it was a morning of drizzle that greeted Stockport Community Cycling Club riders at Friden. This was a new cycle route for the club and was the one Sarah and I had picked up from last year’s Eroica Brittania. I was leading today’s cycle ride.

We started on the High Peak Trail which forms part of NCN Route 54. It was also the former Cromford and High Peak railway line.

We passed the brickworks, after which Friden is probably best known.

A little further along, we passed by Parsley Hey.

This next section of the High Peak Trail also forms part of NCN Route 68, the Pennine Cycleway.

After a further few miles of steady climbing, we arrived at Dowlow, near Pomelow. We left the trail and turned up a track up to the A515.

We crossed over the main road into Upper Blindlow Lane.

Our route turned as we joined Flat Lane then climbed over Moor Lane. In spite of the damp weather, there were some great views out over the Derby Dales. 

We dropped down towards Monyash, then turned slightly away for a while as we picked up Flagg Lane.

Next, we turned right into Horse Lane.

This brought us into the village of Monyash.

We stopped for lunch at The Old Smithy Tearooms. It doesn’t look very big, but it goes back quite a way. Even so, it was nearly full when we arrived.

The food is simple, hearty, and tasty. Certainly, enough to fill us up.

We needed the fuel, for immediately after lunch and straight out of Monyash there followed a long slog of a climb along Tagg Lane.

We crossed the A515 again and rejoined the High Peak Trail at Hurdlow.

After passing by Parsley Hay we joined the Tissington Trail. This was old Buxton to Ashbourne railway route.

In spite of the cloud cover, it was still possible to enjoy the lovely countryside.

Leaving the Tissington Trail near Biggin, we followed further paths back up towards the High Peak Trail again.    

The downhill was trickier than the up!

Finally, we returned back to Friden.

This ride had covered 24 miles and just over a thousand feet of climbing. Even though the weather hadn’t been fantastic, it had still proved an enjoyable route with plenty of wonderful views.

You can view our SCCC Eroica route below: