If you are looking for a fantastic day out in Derbyshire this is a must. Parking at the wye Dale car park you then have a lovely ten minute walk down alongside the river to Blackwell mill cycle hire where you will be greeted by a fantastic little dog who likes you to throw stones for him. We hired 2 adult bikes and set off at about ten thirty on what was a beautiful sunny morning, taking a very leisurely pace which you really should if you want to enjoy some of Derbyshire’s most spectacular scenery. The tunnels are well lit and the terrain nice and level which opens up cycling to virtually anybody even if you haven’t been on a bike for years (in fact if that is the case then all the more reason to try it). With many stops along the way to enjoy the views and [...]

A Happy Tail of the Trail (sic) We thought we’d try the Monsal Trail Wondering what we’d find And we discovered a Universe Where we left this World behind. We parked the car and off we set Along an enchanted trail And what beauty and magnificence Did this magic walk entail! The river Wye was flowing by – I must say at quite a speed – It was a mystery how the ducks stayed still And managed still to feed. The tranquillity and silence As our day started to unfold, Were just a taste of the many charms That were to touch our very souls. The trees bent right across us In a welcoming embrace Adding to the serenity Of this secret little place. We soon spotted a log cabin And, to our great surprise, There were bicycles to hire Of every kind and size. (Personally I cheated – I [...]

We went to hire bikes on the Friday afternoon of the August Bank Holiday Weekend as the rain looked like passing over at last. That was a mistake, but hiring the bikes and trying out the new fully opened trail wasn't. It was great fun and since the tunnels are fairly evenly spaced there was regular shelter from the rain, I mean downpours... The staff at the Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire Centre were really patient and helpful, especially as they had to find our family 5 bikes including a bike to suit my Mum, a retirement aged lady of less than 5 feet tall, who hadn't rode a bike for 15 years! We cycled through all of the tunnels, turning round after Headstone. We took about 2 hours to do this return trip, but it could be done in less time by more experienced cyclists or if you don't stop [...]