We had great time cycling the Monsal trail in the week before Easter. We hired bikes from Peak Blackwell cycle hire. The guys there were helpful and smiley, and fitted us out in double quick time with what we needed. To get there, you need to park in the layby opposite the quarry, and then walk along the river Wye to the hire cabin – about a ten minute stroll. This was no problem – the dale is beautiful and the walk delightful, and the cabin is perfectly situated by the start of the trail.

The trail is essentially on a downward incline all the way to the cafe at Hassop (great cafe and bookshop, but you cannot picnic there!), but the slope was only mild so we did not struggle with the return leg (and neither did my son or daughter – aged 6 and 9, respectively). And the kids got a free lolly each at the end!