Matlock Bath White Peak Loop

A loop that begins in a steep-sided riverside spa village and climbs through a deep wooded valley onto the high White Peak, where the fields are small, walled and wide-open. The long, quick middle section runs along the plateau, before the route drops back down a limestone valley beside a river.

Two-lane roads throughout, with no ford, gate or unpaved stretch, so it is relaxed riding, fast on the plateau and gentler in the valleys. The villages along the return are good for a break. Fuel is sparse in the middle, so top up at the start. Late spring to early autumn is best, especially when the trees are in full leaf.