The Peak District is one of the best places to ride a bike in the country, and Mulino Lodge sits right on the edge of it. From our pasture farm above Kniveton, near Ashbourne, you have quiet lanes and bridleways from the gate, several of England’s finest traffic-free railway trails within a short drive, and — for those who want them — some of the most testing road climbs in the country a little further north. Whether you are bringing the family, planning gentle days out, or chasing the hills, there is a route here to suit.
Cycling straight from the farm gate
A network of traffic-free trails, bridleways and quiet country lanes begins close to the farm, so you can ride out for an hour before breakfast or set off for the day.
Back at the lodge, we have tried to make life easy for cyclists. There is a covered cycle store to keep your bikes secure and out of the weather, with a three-pin plug inside for charging e-bikes overnight. There is also a drying room with a heated towel radiator for the days when the Peak District does what it does best, and an Info Room holding OS maps, printed cycle routes and local recommendations, so you can plan the next day’s ride over a coffee. If you have driven up in an electric car, there is EV charging on site too — you can read the full details in our guide to charging your electric vehicle at Mulino Lodge.
Traffic-free trails for every ability
The old railway lines of the White Peak have been converted into level, well-surfaced trails that are ideal for families, beginners and anyone who would rather not share the road with traffic. Several are within easy reach.
Carsington Water — the closest ride
The nearest route to the lodge loops the entire reservoir at Carsington Water: a traffic-free circuit of roughly eight miles, gently undulating, with a visitor centre, café, toilets and bike hire at the start. It is a manageable family ride with regular stops for the view, and it links directly to the Tissington and High Peak Trails if you want to extend the day.
The Tissington Trail — from Ashbourne
The Tissington Trail runs for thirteen miles along a former railway line from Ashbourne up to Parsley Hay. The surface is crushed limestone, the gradient is gentle and almost entirely traffic-free, and it passes through the picture-book estate village of Tissington. It is a favourite with leisure cyclists and families, and bikes can be hired at either end. A popular shorter option is the ten-mile round trip from Ashbourne up to Tissington and back — uphill on the way out, downhill on the way home.
The High Peak Trail
At Parsley Hay the Tissington Trail meets the High Peak Trail, which carries on for another seventeen miles through open White Peak countryside from near Cromford to Dowlow, close to Buxton. Together the two form an extensive, mostly off-road route that is part of the National Cycle Network — plenty of scope for a long day in the saddle.
The Manifold Way
A little further west, the Manifold Way follows the course of the River Manifold for around eight miles between Hulme End and Waterhouses. It is surfaced and largely level, passing beneath the dramatic Thor’s Cave and through Wetton Mill, where there is a tea room. Quieter than the Monsal Trail and just as scenic, it is a lovely family ride.
The Monsal Trail
The best known of them all, the Monsal Trail runs for eight and a half miles between Bakewell and Blackwell Mill in Chee Dale. The highlight is the series of lit railway tunnels — each around 400 metres long — and the view from the Headstone Viaduct above Monsal Dale. Bikes, a café and parking are available at Hassop Station. It is flat, traffic-free and suitable for all the family, though it can get busy on summer weekends.
For those who want the hills
The Peak District is just as well known for its road climbs as its gentle trails, and keen riders travel from across the country to tackle them. Most of the famous ascents sit in the central and northern Peak — a drive north from the farm rather than a ride from the gate — but they are well worth the trip.
The headline is Winnats Pass, the limestone cleft that climbs west out of Castleton in the Hope Valley. At around 1.4km averaging close to 12 per cent, and ramping to a brutal 20 per cent in the final stretch, it is one of the most dramatic and best-loved climbs in the country — it has hosted the National Hill Climb Championship and featured in the Tour of Britain. Right alongside it, the road over Mam Nick skirts Mam Tor and is often ridden in the same loop.
Further afield lie the classic big days out: the Cat and Fiddle, the long, steady drag on the A537 between Buxton and Macclesfield, and Holme Moss, the 7.5km northern climb made famous by the 2014 Tour de France. Closer to home, Monsal Head gives a short, sharp pull out of the dale near Bakewell, and Curbar Edge a steady couple of kilometres with fine views — both within easier reach for an afternoon.
Hiring bikes locally
If you would rather not bring your own, there is good cycle hire close by. In Ashbourne itself, The Bike Barn is an independent, family-run shop offering hire, servicing and sales just a few minutes from the start of the Tissington Trail — a handy local choice whether you want bikes for the day or a quick repair mid-stay. Bikes can also be hired at the trail ends: Parsley Hay for the Tissington and High Peak Trails, Hassop Station for the Monsal Trail, Hulme End for the Manifold Way, and at Carsington Water. E-bikes are available at some of these, which makes the longer trails accessible to almost everyone.
A comfortable base after a day’s riding
The pleasure of a day on the trails is sharpened by somewhere proper to come back to. Hang the wet kit in the drying room, store the bikes securely, and settle in with the firepit and the valley view. Whether you choose the Ewe Lodge cabin, Bluebell Pod, Damson Pod or the larger family Lavender Pod, each is warm, quiet and well equipped — a genuine retreat at the end of the ride. And if your dog rides along too, you will be glad to know that every pod and the cabin is dog-friendly.
And if you fancy a rest day, you can leave the bikes behind and take the guest walk down to the Red Lion at Kniveton, a multiple CAMRA award-winner with proper ale, real cider and good food at the halfway point.
If you have practical questions before booking — bringing bikes, dogs, parking, check-in times — our FAQs cover the essentials. Check availability and book direct at mulinolodge.co.uk.
