Heading down towards Woodhead pass on the Longdendale Trail a few miles before Holmfirth





One of the refreshment places on the Tissington Trail traffic free section





The canal towpath near Barnoldswick





Haltwhistle Greenway on the Pennine Cycleway northern section





Looking back towards the Longdendale Trail in the distance




Looking back down the off-road track from Five Road Ends near hartside Pass on the northern section of the PCW





Scammonden Water - the traffic free section runs in the midground between the motorway and the reservoir

off-road details

Although the Pennine Cycleway is mainly an on-road cycle route it does have some off road and traffic free sections. Below I have listed these sections with a brief description of each and also advice on which type of bike is required to tackle them, obviously a Mountain Bike will nearly always be better on any surface other than road or hardpacked cycle paths but most of the off-road/traffic free sections on the route are suitable for hybrids etc. (please note that details are in route order from the start at Derby and corresponding to the official route maps available from Sustrans)

Pennine Cycleway southern Section
   - Derby to Holmfirth
Derby to Etwall cycle path
A flat and relatively easy converted railway path leading you out of Derby to Etwall. Also popular with walkers.
The Tissington Trail and High Peak Trail
This section of the Pennine Cycleway is well surfaced and is generally on an easy uphill gradient with a level section toward the end. The trail is suitable for all but the purest of racer type bikes and at approximately 16 miles long it incorporates a section of the 'High Peak Trail' towards the northern end of the route which does get a bit rougher surface wise. The cycling is relatively easy but the trail is very popular (and very,very scenic) with other cyclists and walkers so don't expect a 'get away from it all' feeling. There are also a few refreshment stops along the length of the trail for those of you who love ice cream!
Midshires Way
The off-road section shortly after leaving Buxton (milemarker 46.5) was reported in June 2004 to be "badly eroded and very severe - barely passable on foot and very hard with a bike"

The Longdendale Trail
This is a stunning 6 mile stretch of traffic free cycling passing past 5 reservoirs and through rugged moorland. The route is reasonably level and easy going apart from the last mile or so where a short sharp hill awaits you. The surface is generally very good and should no pose problems for the vast majority of bike types. The Longdendale Trail is a very popular place for walkers, cyclists and horse riders and does get busy.

Pennine Cycleway middle Section
   - Holmfirth to Appleby
Scammonden Water
Hard packed surface alongside the reservoir which should cause most bikes no problems but if you are of the ultra thin tyre persuasion then it is only a mile long so get off and enjoy the views!
Burnley to Colne
Typical towpaths through some industrial yet strangely attractive landscapes but above all else it is flat!
Barnoldswick
Once again, your typical towpath mainly unsealed surfaces but the scenery is stunning
Clapham
This section has a rough surface in places and also passes through some dark tunnels. For safety reasons (yours and others!) Clapham Parish Council and the Dales National Park ask that you walk down the steep descent towards the village and through the tunnels.

Pennine Cycleway northern Section
   - Appleby to Berwick-upon-Tweed
Hartside - this is actually two separate off-road bits
> The first off-road option is from 5 Lane Ends at milemarker 24 (PCW north map) and consists of a rough track one and a half miles in length. There is nothing too difficult here although the surface can be a bit rutted in places and at times will be quite wet although still reasonably firm underneath. There may be a bit of pushing involved depending on your fitness and/or stubbornness! Most bikes apart from the most roadie types will be able to manage this section although a Mountain bike would be better. If you wish to miss out this section you can cycle round via the Renwick road which is shown on the route map.
> The second off-road option up Hartside is infinitely harder and WILL see you pushing your bike a large portion of the way. The ground can be very wet with some boggy patches and is over exposed moorland and a rather rickety, narrow pack horse bridge with no sides! A mountain bike would be a big advantage on this section as would a perverse sense of fun! If you are fully laden or have a fear of pushing your bike don't even think about this section and take the road option instead.

Slaggyford
Located at mile marker 39 and stretching for almost 5 miles this is a traffic free converted railway path and is suitable for all bike types although strict racing bikes may struggle a bit. Please note that the PCW north map sends you onroad via Eals but an extra 3 miles of traffic free route has been added after the map was printed. Once you reach the end of the off road bear sharp left uphill then join the main road turning right and head via Lambley to the start of the off road section to Haltwhistle.

Wark Forest
The section through Wark Forest from milemarker 62 to 65 (PCW north map) has seen some work on the surface in 2002. This section is quite rough and NOT suitable for road bikes (unless you like fixing punctures!), the minimum tyre width should ideally be 28/30 mm. I have rode it whilst on the Trailblazing ride and was told there was 3 punctures out of the first ten to ride this section. Mountain bikes and well shod hybrids will excell on this section but there is really no realistic other way round so the skinny tyre brigade should exercise caution here.
Paddy O'Kelly has this to say ' First, I think it should be made clearer that the off road part through Wark forest is NOT suitable for road bikes. I did it on 28mm touring tyres and I'd say thats the minimum you should have. As this is the only off road bit for which there is no alternative, this section dictates the choice of bike, in my opinion. Some of our group tried on racing tyres and we had 2 punctures in quick succession'

Upland route via Byreness
part tarmac / part off-road and currently only open a maximum of 100 days per annum due to passing over MOD land. NB: The process to increase the open days is in hand; Bellingham is the 'decision point' and cyclists who don't already know if the section is open or not should telephone 0191 2611046 and ask for the Range Liaison Officer for Otterburn Training Area then state day and time for the planned access to find out if the road is open or closed.

This off-road version is excellent. It is on minor roads to Gibshiel then a double track along forest roads takes you to the Toll Road by the A68 (forest tracks from here will lead you to Byrness - said Burrness - if you wish to head there for refreshments or accommodation). You cross the A68 at Cottonhopesburnfoot which is the longest place name in England (there is also a new crossing of the River Rede planned to access the Border Forest Park Camping and Caravan Site) and from here to the end of the trees it is public road but beyond that as far as Chew Green Roman Fort the land controlled by the MOD and is the section under negotiation. This section is superb and is in fact the only mountain 'pass' in Northumberland - but be warned it is a stiff climb and steep descent for most people as well as being very remote and wild! The last section taking you through the Cheviot hills alongside the River Coquet from Chew Green Roman Camps and on to Alwinton where you join the route proper again is also a superb ride but on minor roads rather than the ruff-stuff.

Clennel
From milemarker 100 (PCW north map) just past Alwinton the route follows a rough and in places very rutted track for 1.3 miles and this is only really suitable for cycling if you are on a mountain bike although you can always get off and walk your bike if you wish! There is an on-road alternative via Sharperton for road and hybrid bikes which avoids this section

Ingram via Wether Hill
From Prendwick at mile marker 106.5 (PCW north map) there is an off-road option over Wether Hill which is really only suitable for mountain bikes but is just possible on hybrids in dry weather providing their owners are of a 'what the hell, lets give it a go!' disposition. This off road section is mainly a green lane but the descent is on a reasonably decent farm track.

Ilderton
At milemarker 116 and 117 (PCW north map) there are short stretch's which once again are really only suitable for mountain bikes in places, riders of other bikes will find they may need to get off and walk their bikes on certain stretches of these tracks.