The High Peak Trail from Parsley Hay to Middleton Top

From Parsley Hay the High Peak Trail heads south-east along the Cromford and High Peak Railway, built between 1825 and 1830 and closed in 1967. It runs high across the limestone plateau, over the great curving embankment at Minninglow and past Longcliffe, then drops down the Hopton Incline and through Hopton Tunnel to Middleton Top, where the engine house that once hauled wagons up from the valley still stands. Come back the same way.

It is 36.8 km (22.9 miles) there and back with 95 m of climbing; allow about 2½ hours of riding. The grade is Moderate. The trail is all but level except for the Hopton Incline, short and sharp, which you go down on the way out and up on the way back.

The surface is crushed limestone, traffic-free, and fine for children and most bikes, but much of the trail is remote and the distance is long for young riders: Minninglow, 10 km out, is a good place to turn. There is one main road to cross, the A5012 near Newhaven. Do not go on beyond Middleton Top, where the old inclines are very steep.

Parsley Hay has a pay car park, national park cycle hire, a kiosk and toilets. Middleton Top has refreshments and toilets; there is nothing in between.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.