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The Vale of Edale is about 25 miles East of Manchester. Heading East on the B5470 Join the A625 and head towards the village of Edale.

The Route

Turn right out of the main Edale Car Park and cycle along the tarmac road to Barber Booth, passing Waterside Caravan and Camping Site. Follow the road round to the left and cross over the bridge. Go immediately right onto a road with 'No Through Road' sign and fingerpost stating 'Upper Booth and Lee House and continuing as Bridle-way to Hayfield'. Cycle along the tarmac, under the railway bridge, past Barber Booth (or Tips) Car Park, Highfield Farm Camping and Caravans and eventually reaching the houses and telephone box that call themselves Upper Booth. Drop down over the bridge and rise again, following signs for Jacob's Ladder. Pass through a gate with National Trust sign for Lee Farm and continue along to the farm, where the tarmac ceases. Cyde straight through the farmyard, past the information shelter on the left and through another gate.

Continue along the hard-core track which deteriorates to stone/earth just after a bridge, through several gates, looking up to the skyline where Edale Rocks, and to the right, Noe Stool, can be seen. Keep going until a gate is reached at the packhorse bridge, cross the river by either the bridge or the ford. This is an idyllic place on a nice day₁ spoilt only by people. Once over the stream, turn to the left, go through the gate and follow the walled track - the old packhorse route. DO NOT take the cycle the steps of Jacob's Ladder. Follow up, round the hairpin and eventually exit through a gate at the top of Jacob's Ladder where there is a cairn and footpath sign - time for a short rest? Turn left and continue upwards on the stony surface.

The track soon levels slightly before a steep uphill pull on a surface of gritstone blocks. Halfway up this section on the right is an old gate post with bench mark towards the bottom. Continue the uphill struggle to the top where you can rest awhile on a newly built low wall topped with gritstone flags. Admire the scenery from here. The route now continues up the track, curving slightly until a gate is reached, go through this and continue on the obvious track.

DO NOT GO OFF ONTO THE MOORS FROM HERE, THE ACCESS IS ONLY FOR PEDESTRIANS.

Descend slightly before the very last bit of ascent on this leg to the gateposts adjacent to the mediaeval Edale Cross. The route now begins a long descent, although a bit rough at times, with views of Hayfield and beyond to Stockport and Manchester. Continue dropping, keeping a gritstone wall on the right. Cross over Stony Ford, eventually reaching another gate (just before which a bridle route goes off to Glossop on the right), continue on through the gate. On reaching a four-way signpost, continue straight ahead, signed for Hayfield. Continue down to the next g~e, just after this veer slightly right, passing over a bridge and soon attaining a tarmac surface. Head towards the houses, passing to the right of the trees. The houses here at Coidwell dough are dated 1 804.

There is now a pleasant descent on a tarmac surface; as two gates are approached go through the left-hand one, cross a bridge and then rise uphill. Pass the first bridle route sign and then, arter another lOOm, take the second bridle track which goes left across an open field, eventually coming to a bridle gate in a wail. Go through this and then take the lower track which goes straight ahead with the trees on the left (do not go uphill on the walled track). Follow this track as it swings left and begin the descent for Hayfield. The track has some rough sections on it in places - rocks and tree roots. Pass a house on the left, after which a camp-site will be seen ahead. Keep following the track down and round to the left again. Just keep going, soon a bridle gate is reached near two wooden electricity poles with mounted transformer. Go through the gate (with notice Stones House Farm), soon being joined by a footpath coming in from the right. Continue alongside the River Kinder, a rough tarmac surface beginning near some houses. Continue along the road, bearing right at a junction, past more houses and then onto a much better and wider tarmac surface.

Follow down to the 'Give Way' sign, turn left onto Highgate Road. (If shops etc are required go right but remember to return to this point). Follow the road up past Highgate Head Farm and through the delimit signs. Continue until almost the summit, just past the entrance to Rowan Farm. Then, opposite The Firs on the right, fork left onto a rough surface and bear almost immediately right into a walled lane. Cycle along, passing some corrugated iron sheds on the left. Keep rising towards an obvious gate ahead but as this is approached bear left and drop to a gateway which is the boundary for Open Country. Go through the gate and follow the wall on the right, rising gradually on a rough surface. Away on the right can be seen Chinley and then Chapel-en-le-Frith. Drop down and through another gate, there is now a level section with views of Kinder Scout on the left

Skirt South Head on the right and then start to rise again near a footpath notice, but keep on the main track. After the summit a long descent begins but not always on a good cyclng surface. To the left can be seen air vent for Cowburn Tunnel (railway). Continue through various gates, at one point making sure that you pass through the left-hand gate. The track starts to descend more steeply, eventually passing an old barn on the right and to the fords of Roych Cough in the bottom. As the route drops, springs can be seen on the hillside opposite and you may also hear the call of the cerlew and lapwing. The fords may be somewhat difficult cross in very wet weather and you must be prepared for wet feet!

After the fords and the gate, rise uphill on a rough surface which is also used as a stream bed, this is a tough pull up here. To the right can be seen the Manchester-Sheffield railway line approaching the entrance to Cowburn Tunnel. The gradient begins to ease, pass two copses on the left, through a gate adjacent to the second and then follow a wall on the right. This swings to the left before dropping down over Bolehill Clough and then climbing to the right and through a gate. Follow the wall on the right to a gate adjacent to woodland (Tom Moor Plantation), pass through, drop down over a stream and then rise to a gate on a main road (A625).

Turn left on the main road, as for Castleton, and go along the A625 for about 150m before taking a track on the left through a gateway with bridle-way sign. Across the valley on the right can be seen Eldon Hill Quarry - what do you think about its impact on the scenery? Ride along through. In along the rough sunken track to a gate, pass through. In about 100m there is a signpost bear left here and follow the earth track, past an old wooden post on the left, round a S bend with views gradually opening up into the Vale of Edale. A footpath notice is reached on the left, proceed as for Edale.

The route now begins to go down on better surface, this track is known as Chapel Gate. Pass through the remains of a gateway, the track then beginning to drop much more steeply. The end of the journey can be seen across the valley. Keep dropping until a wall is reached and the bear right through a gate. Follow the track with the wall on your left, through another gate and continue. The track becomes hard core and tarmac and drops through a shallow defile. Continue until the gate is reached which leads onto a tarmac road. Turn left on the road and drop down over a bridge at the bottom at Barber Booth – rejoining the outward route. Follow the road to the right and continue.