The Peaky Finder 2025

It seems Spring has Sprung. After a week of enjoying fresh but sunny, sometimes warm days the long range forecast improved through the week and Ashbourne was looking good for The Peaky Finder.

I set my alarm for 7.15am which gave me an hour to do breakfast, load up and go. I’d been very organised and cleaned my bike the day before so all I needed to do was round up my kit which presented a dilemma. I knew it would be cold at the start then warm up so do I go for a jacket with single skin arms or a long sleeve base layer, arm warmers, s/s jersey + gilet. I plumbed for the latter and hoped I didn’t regret it.

I left on time and my Sat Nav said 75mins to arrive at 9.32am. Perfect. A rider had messaged me the day before saying traffic was busy etc which I was a bit nervous of. The sunshine brings everyone out so I was hoping it wasn’t going to be too busy on the trails.

At the car park, riders were already there getting ready and looked like another great turn out. Geoff & Chopsy from Downhill Smooth Tarmac were there. Chopsy showing off her new Genesis Vagabond and Martin and his Worcs crew were there too rounding off a weekend up there with the ride.

I rounded everyone up for a brief intro just before 10am. After the obligatory group photo we rolled out at from the unassuming start of Tissington Trail and straight into the big long tunnel which is always cold. We passed the bike hire shop and then the trail (the gravelly bit!) began proper.

There were some walkers and family’s dotted along the trail but not enough to hinder any progress. This is where a decent bell comes into it’s own. A piercing ring (dependent on bell quality!) can be heard from quite a distance and is usually enough for people to turn, move aside and you pass without having to slow down.

I’d made the mistake of organising this event on the same day as the Tour of Flanders, so I decided I need to crack on and get home ASAP as I wanted to catch the end of it.

The Tissington Trail from Ashbourne is effectively one long draggy climb and is quite remote and exposed in places, particularly as it reaches the junction with the High Peak Trail. Seeing riders coming the other way decked out in full winter gear made me think it was probably colder than I thought and true to form when the wind hit you, you knew. Quite some wind chill and on the more exposed sections quite a tough head or crosswind sucked the energy and some enthusiasm at times. Despite being wall-to-wall sunshine it was frickin’ hard work and cold in places. I was just grateful I’d put some gloves on rather than go Belgian!

Through Hartington, I skipped the cafe. No time to stop today and eventually reached Parsley Hay where the trail had been closed up until recently to be resurfaced. It’s nice and wide now with a lovely thick layer of hardpacked gravel. Great job and a pleasure to ride on.

At the top end of the route I took a left on the chalky track to pick up some tarmac south which offered a nice change. A quick climb gave way to a nice descent back to Parsley Hay and then back onto the Tissington Trail south for a bit before bearing left onto the High Peak Trail. The junction is pretty unassuming though.

The wind this way seemed to be even harder in places. Once the trail started to climb it got quite cold and hard. The wind turbines in the distance ahead were flying round with their blades pointing in the same direction which was a clue.

If I had to choose the High Peak or Tissington as a favourite I think the High Peak would take it. The views are great because you are higher. It’s definitely quieter in my opinion and the embankments they built for the old railway are pretty impressive too. I’d love to have something like this on my doorstep.

After what seemed and indeterminable amount of time slogging away into the wind I saw a sign saying Middleton Top 5 miles. Which in my mind meant another 20 mins of hard work but as it turned out the route didn’t go that far and after a fast, twitchy descent on some sloppy gravel in places I eventually dropped off the trail and cut across to Carsington Water down a fast, tree-lined descent into Hopton Village. A trail cut across to a main road and then the reservoir trail was immediately opposite that.

This is where I expected things to busy up with tourists due to the time of day. The last time I rode here there were an unneccesary amount of gates too but quite a few were open which made the ride flow a lot better. It was probably the busiest section of the ride so far but the skilled use of my bell kept the walkers moving aside in plenty of time. The reservoir trail is quite punchy in places. It’s peppered with quite a few steep climbs and drops until you reach the car park and enjoy the flat open expanse across the dam.

At the entrance I picked up a bridleway which skirted the car park then ran parallel to the road and cut across it on another short offroad section. It was quite cut up in places and was the most technical so far lol.

Carsington Water done it was the ride for home now and the long, unexpected drop to Bradbourne was welcome. Just a short climb into the pretty, little Hamlet then down again to pick up the NCN route which was interesting. As an offroad trail great. A sinuey gravel path skirted a field, crossed a bridge and then dropped down to the main road. Great fun but should never be included as part of the NCN. Not fit for that purpose.

Across the road I navigated a bridge to avoid a ford then the last steep climb of the day faced me. It went up insteps with plenty of cattle grids. I managed to catch and pass a rider over the top as I enjoyed some welcome tail wind. I thought this section was longer as I seemed to get back to the Tissington village quicker than I expected.

From here I could enjoy a speedy descent back to Ashbourne. The trail was busier now as I approached the end and the car park so I just throttled back and enjoyed the last of it before dipping back through the tunnel and back to the car park and my car. The Peaky Finder 2025. Done.

Despite the cold and wind it was great day out and quite a test too as I’d done 2hrs + 1000m of climbing the day before too which was still in the legs.

See you all at The Cannock Chaser in April!

Adios

PS For a raw, unedited gallery of my pics from the ride, click here