April 8th – The first big hayride of the year – out to Staffordshire, Weaver Hills and the Manifold, then around the Moors and Roaches and returning from Congleton on the train.
More photos on my main blog later today – a cracking ride; I was fluid, had energy to spare and it was a fast, warm ride on a day more usually expected in May than April.
Nice to be back in the saddle for long rides again!
September 23rd – A chance day off and escape into the Staffordshire Moorlands. I rode the reverse of a ride I did in spring, leaving at dawn and riding up through Rugeley and Uttoxeter, then over to Marston Montgomery, Snelston and Ellastone, over the Weaver Hills and Waterhouses, up Morridge to Flash, then back through Danebridge and Rushton Spencer to Congleton, where I picked up a train back to Lichfield.
Passing Morning Star, the steam roller from Klondike Mill at Uttoxetter was a rare treat.
It was a long ride, over a century, and the climbing was hard and prolonged. There was a good but chilly following wind, but when the sun shone it was warm and lovely.
What a joy to catch summer’s last breath in such beautiful scenery.
September 2nd – Pleased to see the vegetation has been cut back, restoring the fascinating view of Cloud Quarry from the Cloud Trail, near Worthingdon on the Leicestershire/Derbyshire border.
It seems like a well run quarry, mining limestone for a variety of industry. Everywhere you look machines are busy moving, breaking or grading stone, and some of the driving on the shelves and roads is very impressive.
I could watch this for hours.
August 28th – Staunton Harold is a beautiful reservoir, created in 1966 to supply water for the growing conurbations of Derby and Leicester. Unlike its partner Foremark which is a creation of the 1970s, Staunton is more secluded and in rolling countryside – and the construction is architecturally more engaging with a surprisingly ornate pump head.
From the south, one can descend the steep banks to a secret-seeming beach shore, which gorgeous views of the lake; from the north, a nice visitors centre with playground and other facilities overlooks the water from a high position. In-between, the impressive dam.
I hadn’t been here for a very long time. I forgot how lovely it was. I must come back soon.
May 14th – A long ride from Congleton to home, a distance of 108 miles. I took in The Cloud, Roaches, Flash (the highest village in England), Morridge, Weaver Hills and Tutbury. It was a gorgeous day, and a good ride despite having mechanical trouble.
To see a large gallery of this journey, see this post on my main blog.
May 3rd – Countryside cycling – errant wildlife is always a hazard. Here on the High Peak Trail, I watch helpless as this bunny runs before me.
Lucky escape there, Brer Rabbit!
August 22nd – Off into the Peak District for the day on a long ride. It’s sometimes said that the best bits of Derbyshire are in Staffordhire, and Ilam is no exception. The border between the two counties runs down the river at Dovedale, and everything to the west is in Staffordshire, including this picturesque little village at the foot of the Manifold Valley. Superb architecturally, the village monument has just been refurbished.
May 26th – In the pretty Derbyshire village of Lullington, right in the centre of the village, is this grizzly curiosity. One of the houses has a garage built on the edge of the street, and high up on the wall, the owners mounted two animal heads. I’m not sure if they’re some kind of deer or what, but the ravages of weather and time have stripped the skin from the skulls, and now, it’s just those that remain. A horrid thing, and I can’t imagine what the people who retain them are thinking, to be honest. A very peculiar sight in an otherwise beautiful place.
Thanks to Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler, who spotted these first in his Panoramio gallery some years ago.
March 16th – A 115 mile day ride. Up with the birds, an on the train to Cromford, Derbyshire, at 7:00am. Arriving at 8:20, I had breakfast, then hit the High Peak Trail, which starts with a 300m climb out of the Derwent Valley. Transferring to the Tissington trail and Penine Bridalway, I shot down into Chee Dale via the A6 at Topley Pike, before undertaking the Monsal Trail in the downhill direction. Back on the A6 at Bakewell, into Derby, back out via Mackworth, Etwall, Egginton and the joys of cycle route 68. Homewards via Burton and Lichfield, a great ride.
As readers can probably tell, this week I’ve had some time to myself away from work to get back in condition to undertake some longer, summer rides. Easier than I thought, my pace wasn’t keen, but my stamina was good. A great, if not terribly photogenic day.
December 20th – A better day indeed. This year, the Monsal Trail, between Bakewell and Cowlow in the Peak District, was upgraded and enhanced for cyclists with the tunnels reopened. Cyclists, walkers and horse riders can now undertake the full length of the eight mile trail. I’ve wanted to try this trail out since it reopened in May, but not had chance. Normally, I’d ride all the way there and back, but due to the dark and weather, I left early and took a train journey to Matlock. From there, I cycled the seven miles up the A6 to the trail start, traversed this fantastic route, then climbed Topley Pike to Chelmorton (a tough slog of about 150m), and headed south along the Penine Bridleway, the full length of the Tissington Trail then back through Ashbourne, Longford, Tutbury and Alrewas. It was a great day, which I shall post about on my main blog over the next few days. The weather was OK, but very overcast, so the photos don’t really do it justice, but a great sunrise at Tamworth high-level station and the snow-topped peaks of the Roaches and Sutton Common were a joy to behold. All in all, a great 95 miles. Roll on spring…
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