- Time Approx.: 1:15 hours
- Length: 7.6 miles
- Average speed: 6.6 mph
- Uphill: 775 ft
- Downhill: 800 ft
Lanes and stony tracks, some technical
From New Mills bus terminus, head downhill (Union Road), left at the bottom and first left again. After a couple of hundred yards you’ll see the Leisure Centre on the right. Turn into here and at the far end of the car park you’ll see a gateway. Cross the road here to meet the Sett Valley Trail.
Head along the trail until you meet High Hill Road. Leave the trail and turn left here, then right at the junction up a steep climb round a left-hand bend with the Printers Arms on your left. Continue up the hill and at the top take a sharp left along Aspenshaw Road and at the left bend/junction take a right. Here you’ll pass Aspenshaw Hall on the left and eventually the lane becomes an unsurfaced gully climbing continuously.
At the top take a left along an excellent rough track for a pleasant, slightly bumpy ride of about a mile. Eventually when the track splits take the right here and continue down across the stream and up again to a gate. A technical, rocky downhill here brings you round the back of Lantern Pike so bear right at the bottom, following the track across the field where you’ll eventually see a small gate on the right with a steep rocky uphill section. Push or ride up here and stick to the track (worth a breather along here to admire the views of Hayfield and Kinder Scout on the left) which leads left eventually for a fast downhill (a bit loose at the bottom so take care) to a tarmac section.
Eventually meeting Sitch Lane again, carefully cross the road and head down a small lane taking a right through the gate at the bend for a lovely rocky downhill.
Turn left at the bottom passing the Sett Valley café and meet the Sett Valley Trail where you can turn right, back to New Mills.
