White Peak Mountain Biking - The Pure Trails

This book contains twenty-six routes in all. These range from 11km (6.8 miles) - 45km (28 miles). Twenty-one of these are illustrated with clear, scaled, colour mapping. There is an extra ‘bonus section’ giving suggestions and basic information for five more routes. Four ‘Family Rides’ suitable for children e.g. a circuit around Carsington Water, or cycling the Monsal Trail. These do not have maps or detailed route instructions. There is also information on the Pennine Bridleway (560km, 348 miles each way!). Also in this section are pages giving brief details of ‘Hollinsclough Descents’, ‘Top Downhills’, ‘Top Uphills’, and ‘Top Singletracks’.

Of the twenty-one fully described and mapped rides, four of them overlap on the territory covered by the accompanying ‘Dark Peak Mountain Biking’ guide, going into the Hope Valley, Edale, Hayfield, Ladybower Reservoir and Win Hill areas. Although the rides do differ from those in the Dark Peak guide. Some routes are also to the south of the Peak national park boundary. I feel that the title or at least the back cover, should mention this and the fact there are also some ‘Dark Peak’ rides.

The first pages of the book give background information on rights of way, clothing and safety gear, night riding, and rules of the (off) road. The rides are categorised broadly according to length and gradient - ‘Classics’ shortish rides. ‘Epics’ requiring a bit more time and effort, right through to ‘Enduros’ the longer, tougher, probably all-day rides. Each section is prefaced by a clearly designed route locator map.

Each of the twenty-one mapped and described rides include a summary or the route with the ride itself being described in clear, neatly laid out text. Numbers highlighted in red, correspond with the appropriate point on the map which is also numbered. The scaled colour mapping gives emphasis to the tracks and roads, with the route being marked in red. The routes are graded as ‘easy, moderate, or hard’. A very useful aid to determining the leg power required for a particular ride is the altitude profile chart accompanying each ride. Information is also supplied on cafés and pubs along the routes. 

An appendices gives information on local bike shops, tourist information, pub, café and campsite phone numbers. The book is generously illustrated with some great bike action colour photos to whet your appetite. (Photos by Andy Heading, with additional photography by John Coefield). A well designed appealing book, produced by enthusiasts with routes to suit all abilities.