Location & Things To Do 

Cycling in the Peak District

We have direct access to the Monsal Trail giving 8.5 miles of traffic free cycling with spectacular views of Monsal Dale and the thrill of the four newly opened tunnels along the way.  There are plenty of mountain bike and road riding routes for all levels from our grounds, or a short drive away.

Road Riding and Mountain Bike Routes

• Family Friendly off road routes
• Local mountain biking routes from easy to hard (rides from the site and within a 20 minute drive)
• Mountain biking routes in the Peak District various routes in the White Peak and Dark Peak
• Downloadable mountain biking routes – Choose your route where there is a map, further information and a downloadable GPS file
• Downloadable road riding routes – Click on the map and choose your area or go to the list and choose your route (when you click on the route this will then open in a new window and there is a downloadable GPX file)
• Cycling in the Peak District and Derbyshire
• Strava – Log rides and see other users’ routes
• Cycling friendly cafes whichever direction you are heading
• Local bike shops
• Hassop Station Cafe, Cycle Hire, Cafe and Bookshop (on the Monsal Trail)
• Vertebrate Publishing Useful route books for the White Peak and Dark Peak (also available from Hassop Station Cafe)

Cycling Events

• Trailquests
• Sportives
• L’Eroica Britannica
• British Cycling Events Calendar – A list of events within 30 km of Thornbridge Outdoors, events for everyone.

Coaching, Led Rides and Development

Do you feel that some coaching would help your performance or you would like to be guided on a local ride?  We can provide coaching sessions and ride leaders at all levels.

National organisations also provide a range of opportunities:  For young people just starting out the British Cycling Go-Ride programme could be just the thing, and dedicated women and girls sessions are also provided.

Cycle Leadership Training

Cycle qualifications can be gained in all cycling disciplines and at varying levels, the two main providers are British Cycling (all disciplines) and Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC) (Mountain Biking).

Useful Links

• Keeper of the Peak – Twitter account that gives updates on trail conditions and more
• Peak District National Park Authority – Cycling
• British Cycling
• Cyclists Touring Club (CTC)
• Global Cycling Network (GCN)
• Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN)
• Ride Sheffield
• Peak MTB

Fun Links

• Road Bike Party – Martyn Ashton (Video)
• Road Bike Party 2 – Martyn Ashton (Video)
• Road Bike Party 3 – San Diego (Video)

Climbing and Caving in the Peak District

Whether you’re an experienced climber and/or caver, or new to the sports, there are a number of excellent crags and caves near to us.  If you’d like an instructor to give you a rock climbing or caving experience, introduce new skills (such as leading or SRT) or help refine your skills please contact us.

Rock Climbing

There are lots of high quality climbing crags near us:

• Stoney Middleton, 15 minute drive
• Froggatt, 15 minute drive
• Curbar and Baslow, 15 minute drive
• Chee Tor (Topley Pike parking 15 minute drive)
• Birchen, 20 minute drive
• Gardoms, 20 minute drive
• Burbage North, 25 minute drive
• Stanage (Popular End), 25 minute drive
• The Roaches, 40 minute drive

Caving

Popular caves and mines to explore in Derbyshire include:

• Carlswark Cavern, near Stoney Middleton, 15 minute drive
• Hillocks Mine and Knotlow Cavern, near Monyash, 15 minute drive
• Eldon Hole, near Peak Forest, 20 minute drive
• Giant’s Hole, near Castleton, 25 minute drive
• P8, near Sparrowpit, 25 minute drive
• Maskhill Mine, Oxlow Cavern and Nettle Pot, near Castleton, 25 minute drive
• Rowter Hole, near Castleton, 25 minute drive

We have a kit washing area and drying room that groups staying here are welcome to use.

Towns and Villages in the Peak District

Bakewell, 10 minute drive

Renowned for its puddings, street markets (which are still held in the town centre every Monday), thriving livestock market, historic buildings and riverside walks along the banks of the Wye. The town has a long and fascinating history – it was mentioned in the Dooms Day Book of 1805, ‘Badequella’ meaning Bath-well.  There is a recreation ground with a child’s play area, 2 football pitches and a multi-use games area.  Its possible to walk or cycle to Bakewell (approx 5km / 3miles) along the Monsal Trail, a disused railway line which can be accessed directly from our grounds.

Eyam, 15 minute drive

Famous for the tragic epidemic of Bubonic Plague in the middle of the 17th century.

You can visit the museum and many sites associated with the ‘plague story’ such as the Church and Churchyard, the houses where many victims died, the Cucklet Delf, the scene of the open-air services, Mompesson’s Well, the Boundary Stone, and the Riley Graves.

Eyam Museum
Address: Hawkhill Road, Eyam, Derbyshire, S32 5QP
Tel: 01433 631371

Eyam Church
Address: Church Street, Eyam, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S32 5QH
Tel: 01433 630930

Buxton, 20 minute drive

A spa and market town popular with visitors to the area.

Matlock, 25 minute drive

Peak District Lead Mining Museum
Address: The Grand Pavilion, South Parade, Matlock, DE4 3NR
Tel: 01629 583834

Visit a museum where you can experience and wonder at the forgotten world of a Derbyshire lead miner. See the tools they used, clothes they wore, the advances in technology and the importance of this metal in our modern day lives.

Castleton, 30 minute drive

Various caverns, a castle, shops and excellent walking make this a popular tourist destination.

Caverns in the Peak District

Buxton, 20 minute drive

Pooles Cavern
Address: Green Lane, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 9DH
Tel: 01298 26978

Poole’s Cavern is a 2 million year old, natural limestone cave situated in the beautiful woodland of Buxton Country Park. One of the great caves of the Peak District.

Castleton, 30 minute drive

Blue John Cavern
Address: Mam Tor, Castleton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S33 8WA
Tel: 01433 620638
Peak Cavern
Address: Castleton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S33 8WS
Tel: 01433 620285
Speedwell Cavern
Address: Winnats Pass, Castleton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S33 8WA
Tel: 01433 623018
Treak Cliff Cavern
Address: Buxton Road, Castleton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S33 8WP
Tel: 01433 620571

Stately Homes in the Peak District

Haddon Hall, 10 minute drive

Address: Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1LA
Tel: 01629 812855

Haddon Hall is a fortified medieval manor house dating from the 12th Century.

Chatsworth House / Farmyard & Adventure Playground / Gardens, 15 minute drive

Address: Chatsworth, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1PP
Tel: 01246 565300

The magnificent home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth House also has beautiful gardens and unique fountains and water features. Within the grounds is Chatsworth’s farmyard and adventure playground.

Hardwick Hall, 40 minute drive

Address: Doe Lea, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S44 5QJ
Tel: 01246 850430

It was the formidable Bess of Hardwick who first created Hardwick Hall in the late 1500s. In the centuries since then her descendants, farmers, gardeners, builders, decorators, embroiders and craftsmen of all kinds have contributed and made Hardwick their creation.

Local Pubs

There are 2 pubs in Great Longstone which are about a 5-10 minute walk away, The White Lion and The Crispin Inn.  The Packhorse Inn in Little Longstone is also a 15 minute walk away down the Monsal Trail and across the fields.  Remember to take a head torch for the walk home!  The Bulls Head is in Ashford-in-the-Water there and the Eyre Arms can be found in Hassop.

Local Restaurants

The Monsal Head Hotel is easy to get to down the Monsal Trail and also has a pub next to the restaurant.

Local Cafe’s

At the old Hassop Station on the Monsal Trail there is the Hassop Station Cafe, Book Shop and Cycle Hire.  Also at the old Miller’s Dale Station on the Monsal Trail there is The Refreshment Room Cafe.

Bakewell

Bakewell is home to plenty of pubs, fish and chip shops, restaurants, butchers, takeaways, cafes and other speciality food shops.

Great Longstone – Sally B’s

Ashford-in-the-Water – Roberts in Ashford

Bakewell – The co-operative (small supermarket), Aldi Supermarket, Sauced Here pickup location (pre order only)

Buxton – Morrisons Supermarket, Waitrose Supermarket or Aldi Supermarket

Accessible Derbyshire is a brilliant website that lists loads of things to do and information about accessible places in Derbyshire and the Peak District.  We have worked with Gillian and Jane from Accessible Derbyshire on the accessibility guide for our Woodlands accessible accommodation building.