If arriving by car, the meet-up point for this trip is the small Cumbrian market town of Kirkby Stephen where we end our journey a few days later and where you’ll be able to leave your vehicle for the duration on the trip. Planned arrival time is mid-afternoon, allowing us sufficient time to reach the town of New Mills in Derbyshire’s High Peak early evening. For those wishing to travel by train, you may either arrive in Oxenholme in which case we will collect you en route from Kirkby Stephen or directly into New Mills in Derbyshire and meet us at the accommodation which is a short taxi journey from the train station.

After checking-in, you will have the chance to get to know your guides and your fellow riders a little more during the evening meal and during which we’ll discuss the riding days to come.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,100 Metres Approx.

No need to unpack as we’ll be back here later but following breakfast we load up for the transfer (1hr) from New Mills to Middleton Top. Situated close to Wirksworth and Matlock, Middleton Top puts us in the very heart of the White Peak and it is a gentle start to our journey as we head out along the High Peak Trail. This is classic Derbyshire scenery of expansive views, rolling hills, dry-stone walls, and pretty villages and is the perfect arena to make sure bikes as well as legs and lungs are working well!

It’s not long before we dive down off the high plateau into the beautiful deep Dales which are typical of the area and continue northwards on sections of the Limestone Way to the Peak Forest. Soon after, the gentle undulations of the White Peak give way to the rugged, rocky Dark Peak and we enjoy some fabulous flowing tracks on our way to the village of New Mills where we stay for our second evening.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,350 Metres Approx.

With Greater Manchester to the West and Saddleworth Moor to the East, we weave our way through the stark post-industrial landscape of the Southern Pennines. Whilst not as pretty as yesterday, what it lacks in beauty is made up for with the riding, from rocky trails to testing singletrack and restful former rail tracks that have been converted and are perfect for biking.

After passing a series of reservoirs and skirting the village of Uppermill, our final few miles of the day take us to Grains Bar for the evening.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,050 Meters Approx.

Continuing north today we have a couple of cheeky climbs to tackle before a longer downhill to Hollingworth Lake. From here the scenery and the tracks open-up to more flowing moorland sections. Ever close to the heritage of the industrial north we drop down to Summit to cross the Rochdale Canal for the first time before regaining height to Bottomley.

We soon skirt past the prominent Stoodley Pike on the High Moor track before plunging deep into the Upper Calder Valley and our overnight stop in the vibrant Hebden Bridge. Blessed with some wonderful eateries and pubs, we’ll be spoilt for choice in this lovely slice of Yorkshire.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,250 Metres Approx.

Our route out of Hebden Bridge sees us on a superb woodland track climbing through Heptonstall Woods to warm-up our legs before a series of tracks sees us working our way around to Gorple Reservoir where we meet with the support van for refreshments. From here we are practically off-road for the rest of the day on cleverly sculpted tracks, some of which have been purposely built for the Pennine Bridleway.

After our break, we cross the Widdop Reservoir Dam and climb onto Black Moor where we are treated to one of the best descents of the trip! Open, flowing, a bit rough at times with a few spicy water-bar humps to tempt you airborne.

Fantastic tracks through stark yet beautiful moorland just keep on coming and by the time we meet the van again at the top of Thursden Wood we’ll be ready for a well-deserved lunch-stop.

It’s a relatively easy start to our afternoon on the Bronte Way down to the picturesque Wycoller Valley where the support van will reappear at the country park should you need a snack or three.

With the open moorlands now behind, us we follow a series of tracks through more mixed farmlands to Kelbrook and our overnight stop. We’ll be in a superb country pub with top-notch food and a fine selection of beer and wine – it’s a great place to relax and reflect on the riding so far.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,100 Metres Approx.

Alas, there’s no time to visit Hope Cycle Components just down the road in Barnoldswick as we transition from the rugged Northern Pennine to the spectacular Yorkshire Dales.

We start by winding up to Weets Hill to gain our first views north to the Yorkshire Dales and then spend the rest of the morning riding through scenic undulating pastureland. That said, we still manage to pick-up some tasty tracks as we pass through Gisburn Park heading into the Dales.

Time, weather and legs permitting, we finish the day’s cycling with the Settle Loop. This 10-mile loop out towards Malham Tarn is a mini adventure in itself & a fitting end to a great day’s riding.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,400 Metres Approx.

Without a doubt we’ve saved the best till last! Today’s ride is largely within the spectacular Yorkshire Dales National Park with its iconic limestone scenery, stone-built villages and drystone walls. It’s also home to some of the UK’s best mountain biking and its remotest moorland trails.

After a few miles on road to get out of Settle, we hit the trails again with a push up Giggleswick Scar. The panoramas open up as we descend down to Feizer, Austwick, and on towards Ingleborough.

Whilst there are a few challenging climbs to reach the limestone pavements (which skirt round the flanks of Ingleborough), the views across to Pen-y-ghent from here are superb and a handsome reward for all the hard work. But if that’s not enough, the descent down to our first van stop will plonk a smile on your face!

Snack break over, we cross the Carlisle to Settle railway rolling over the River Ribble on an elaborate wooden bridge built especially for the Pennine Bridleway. From here, we head up to the Cam High Road following an old Roman Road from Cam End where we can see the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct. On leaving the Cam Road, we have a lovely flowing descent down to lunch at Newby Head Moss.

Whilst never too far from civilisation, the next section of trail has that beautiful and remote feel to it as we work our way up and around Widdale Fell and on towards Garsdale Station and the final afternoon van stop of the trip in what is one of the best locations on the trip.

Not long to go now but you’ve guessed it …we’ve a climb back up onto the fellside to reach the undulating track which leads us on to the final big downhill of the trip. Our last miles take us on a mix of track and bits of road as we work our way alongside the River Eden past Pendragon Castle and on into the market square in Kirkby Stephen where our epic ride ends! Time to celebrate the end of your journey with a evening in Kirkby Stephen.

• Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast we return to our vehicles, and for those catching the train we’ll transfer the group to Penrith station for trains departing from 10:30 onwards.