Wednesday 27 August 2025
The ride takes in some of the best bits of the Peak District. We climb past Windgather rocks to Pym Chair, then descend ‘The Street’ to pass through the gorgeous Goyt Valley and over Axe Edge. After Alstonefield there is a great drop into the Manifold Valley to Wetton Mill, but that is followed by the toughest climb of the day to Butterton. We encounter a Mermaid at 450m and more than 50 miles from the sea on our way to Tittesworth Visitor Centre and the control at the top of Gun Hill. Veritas Me Dirigit (let the truth guide me) is the motto at the Ship Inn in Wincle, which you climb pass.
It’s a strenuous ride, so you might welcome the cafe stops at Longnor, at Wetton Mill and Tittesworth Visitor Centre, although none of these is a control so stops here are entirely optional.
The ride starts from Marple Girl Guides Hut. There is no parking at the Guide Hut. However, there are paid car parks in the town centre and plenty of free on street parking, with convenient parking for the finish around recreation ground.
The finish is at Marple Services and Forces Club .
If you ride all 5 of the Summer Marple rides in the same season, you can even get the badge!
Please note that we can’t handle entries on the line, but it’s really easy to enter the event, either online or through the post – just click on the “Enter this event” button and follow the instructions.
There is also nowhere to leave panniers. If you don’t want to carry unnecessary luggage around the Peak District you can try asking a fellow rider to let you leave stuff in a car.