| 1. The first leg of a ride to Abersoch,North Wales. Take a train from Sheffield to Dore station a 5 minute ride. The ride starts 2 miles outside the Peak National Park and the Scenery starts from the moment you get on your bike. Leaving the wooded 7 hills of Sheffield with a modest long climb to Owler Bar which is time to catch your breath and take in the panoramic views over Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire. Refreshments available at the Peacock Inn. Heading off to Hathersage over the moorland, passing Toads Mouth and down the Hill to the village. Shops to browse, B&Bs, Pubs etc. The road takes you along the Hope Vally and a gradual climb towards the Pretty Village of Castleton, a great place to visit and stay, with the Blue John Caverns a unique feature of the Dales. The steep climb out of the village through Winnats Pass will have everyone pushing before the relative plateau of the road which then contours the valley side and on into Chapel en le Frith. Chapel is an attractive Town with plenty of shops and accomodation. Leaving the town the road for the next few miles is easy before some significant hills through Whaley Bridge and Rainow before decending into busy Macclesfield. Skirting the town Centre and the traffic the Chester Road takes us to Knutsford a relatively steady ride, after the tough cycle of the previous hours. |