Derby to Sheffield the long way round

Self & Spouse dragged ourselves out of bed on Sunday morning and headed down to the station. Having missed all the fast trains to Derby, we found ourselves on a very slow one, and 1 1/2 hous later we dragged ourselves & our bike off. The plan was to follow the Pennine Cycleway up as far as Parsley Hey and then head across to Sheffield - we would have liked to have got back before dark but with our late start this was going to be tricky, no matter, we set off on the bike route which bizarrely starts off heading south-west out of Derby - it's part of the route to Burton-on-Trent, which after threading through the houses finds a rail trail on the outskirts, and then splits off to head north.

The well-signed route takes you through pleasant countryside to Ashbourne, with its spectacular tunnel (complete with train sounds) taking you right to the start of the Tissington trail. 10 miles of steady climbing follows with the trail in good condition after the dry autumn we're having. We came off at Biggin, took to the main road for a mile or so before heading on thw back roads towards Bakewell. This takes you above Youlgreave and down to Lathkildale, with a stiff climb back out before the descent into puddingtown. By now it was dark and there was nothing for it but to grit the teeth and carry on to Sheffield, it being too late for the infrequent train from Grindleford.

The ride back was fine apart from the swine who won't dip for cyclists, and the chill factor you get from the long downhill from Fox House. Home around 7 and straight on to the next fireworks party. Endless fun!