Cycling in the Derbyshire Dales, February 2025

Join me on a short break in the Derbyshire Dales, where I cycle along quiet country lanes, trying to find my mojo and a nice coffee.

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[Music] [Music] hi folks it’s me again the old bloke on the bike I’ve come away for a couple of days cycling in The darbishire Dales and this time I’m staying at YH ilum Hall you can see the hall behind me I’ve got a ride planned for this afternoon of about 25 miles um but first I’m going to get a coffee there’s a cafe here and I’m going to get a quick coffee and then get out on the [Music] bike don’t forget the drink botle there we go I’ve got tights on underneath blinking cold today bit of sustenance for later I need right folks we’re on the first ride it’s 25 mil ashborn Loop so it’s about 2:00 now should take me about 3 hours so I should get back just before it goes dark with a bit of Lu just leaving the Y where I pared the car as I left illan I was straight into a big climb all right here we go L gear already oh God this is hot [Music] I it leveling out now [Applause] [Music] right looks like you get on the tissington trail here hi hi hi right should never go past the toilet at my age always use the facilities where available [Music] that was good right just coming into ashborn now have a little look around here see what Ash born’s [Music] about well there wasn’t a lot happening in ashborne on a cold Thursday afternoon in February so I continued along the Lanes towards hogstone yeah still following Route [Music] 68 look at this Arch way ahead that’s looks nice hav needed this ride just to get out and find me Mojo I’ve not had a lot of enthusiasm recently for cycling so this has done me the world are good hang on there’s a car coming here yeah I’m sure a lot of people feel the same through winter it’s hard work maintaining a level of Fitness being motivated to go out yeah it’s hard but we’re nearly through it now Spring’s only around the corner and I’m getting excited so I’ve really enjoyed this getting out in the countryside seeing somewhere new following Vans with hazards on wonderful just getting to hognaston 16 mil done 9 to go it’s 4:00 it’ll be closer to 5 when we get back still shouldn’t be dark I think it goes dark about4 5 half five right let’s keep [Music] going now then I am definitely not going through there look well [Music] deep going go over the [Music] [Music] bridge no not going through there on the bike no way go on then that changed me mind yes made it that was was Brave than me nearly back at the tissington trail now so it’s about 4 miles just avoid these tractors the village of tissington that way I think can we short now and I need to get checked in the hospital so it’s down here on the left and then turn right onto the [Music] trail hello here we go [Music] h [Music] home sweet home it’s 5:00 p.m. and I’ve arrived at 11:00 a.m. Hall oh booger that might be a problem right um just quick look at the room oh paid a lot for this 24 for a night ridiculous I’ve got a choice of four bunks uh no one sweet all I’ve got is this sink fireplace want to get some wood in and light a fire so yeah not bad quite happy morning well I slept like a log last night do you want to have a look at the view from the room there you go nice view over the gardens going to be a very cold day it’s about 2° at the moment but the wind chill is making it feel like about -3 and it’s not going to get any better there’s the bik shed by the way down there it’s a pretty substantial bite shed right let’s go get a brew down in the dungeons to the selfcatering [Music] kitchen oh look what I found a nice big teapot perfect absolutely super this stuff I’m not sponsored by the way should keep me going right I have my breakfast in [Music] here nice comfy Lounge just take you on a little bit of a tour of this Victorian Gothic mansion that’s the entrance down there my bedroom’s up there let’s have a look in here oh pool table anyone for table tennis which is nice oh I should have had my breakfast in here wow what a room could have had a few games could have had a whale of a time at 8 odd acres of land all owned by The National Trust then you’ve got all this at your disposal when you stay in the ym hall absolutely superb that’s a nice view right come on time to vacate the room and get on my next bike ride there is one thing you’re supposed to do when you vacate the room and that’s just to stripen the bed there we go all done yeah it’s not looking too bad out there today bit of a breeze at least it’s dry and sunny is Right folks I’m off on my second bike ride of the trip it’s a loop around the manifold Trail it’s about 30 m it’s quite a hilly route it’s going to be about 3 hours cycling plus stops pre-ride checks uh bike looks okay for me it’s the spectacles testicles wallet and watch all present and correct so let’s get going hey it’s great to be out get out on the bike you can’t beat it yeah even when it’s cold when you’re on these country lanes oh it’s just amazing I love it look at this the t’s good quality as well perfect and we get some dry stone walls coming didn’t get any yesterday but today might be the day yeah dry stor walls are starting look at the view here we go look at these look at the quality Yep they’re good I’m loving it I’m in the element right following the Garment I hope this road doesn’t deteriorate too much it’s perfectly okay now but this uh takes me down into the manifold Valley we’re at the top of the track now hopefully I won’t need to catch a bus cuz he’s not allowed down here and just in case I right down and I need to get a lift back I’ll be looking for either a taxi or a train but definitely no buses right let’s crack [Music] [Music] [Applause] on there is a time where I found I love my way I was standing inside of the silent c [Music] wall with my hand on my heart I couldn’t tell you if i’ been dreaming take me to my love I won’t wake up this time maybe I believe magic love in the moon and stars above I drag you from the one H to and will bring you down and I love you for long time but it’s all right now we can’t go back set [Applause] [Music] all I’ve just come down this uh sweeping Lane all the way down to this bridge uh the river manifold just have a quick look over here nice Clear Water I need to get up the other side of this Valley up to a place called grinden which is somewhere up somewhere up there I think just before I leave here I’ve just seen this sign which is quite interesting no motorbikes or cars allowed along there but presumably okay for buses unlike that road oh yeah this is uh the climb up to grindon is up there somewhere I’ve come up from the valley down there I’m just going to adjust the gears again just see if it makes any difference You’ all think it will just jumping around just another quarter turn just see if that stops them jumping oh I’m feeling good dry stone walls Open Fields No Buses superb here we are grindon please Drive slowly especially buses what’s happening in grindon let see if there’s a cafe I can get myself a nice coffee I’m not hopeful holiday Cottages oh I don’t know bit of development up here going to be a nice Cafe up here a nice cappuccino or Americano yes come on got to be not in there oh dear it’s not looking good hang on what do we have here grindon Village Hall no Cafe very a def later might be needing that later where these Hills are no Cafe oh dear just been thinking I’ve not actually seen a living Soul since I set off I can’t remember seeing a person it’s so quiet perhaps they’re all sat in the cafe that I’m searching for that’ll be it there’ll be a cafe up here and everyone will be in [Applause] [Applause] it look at that back there straight possibly a Roman Road this I’ve got a cross headwind from the right on the right shoulder as I turned on to Blake low road I began to feel the full force of the wind I don’t think this Box’s helping the wind’s coming from Over the wind’s coming from over there hitting that bag and pushing me off the road i’ been getting pushed off the road it’s quite dangerous I’m going to have to get going and get down get out to this wind disgusing about 40 [Music] mph the wind was pretty horrendous on the Moors and I was desperate to get back down into the shelter of the valley as soon as [Music] possible right I’m on the manifold Trail now I’ve come down into the valley I’m going to go along the trail this way to the cafe acum end [Applause] the real Spirit of coffee is not served here today unfortunately the cafe at hum end was closed so I sheltered from the cold in the visitor center and had a snack and then with 8 miles to go I headed off South down the lanes towards olston field [Music] I think this place is called millerdale right I better get a Woodle on I want the coffee when I get back that Cafe shots at 3 sorry it’s not millerdale it’s milale that little place quite a pretty little uh Hamlet anyway I’m going to climb out of milale and get back to the road turn left and it’s back down to the yha and hopefully that National Trust Cafe is still open and get a coffee it’s not bad now out of this wind there’s hardly a breath of wind down here when I think what it was like up on that Top Road oh my God so different down here quite still easy cycling just how I like it right let’s get up to this road and get to the cafe get some caffeine I’m desperate for a coffee [Music] yay I got a coffee super well I’m back of the car and I’m all loaded up I managed to do 28 miles and uh really enjoyed that ride even though it was very windy and cold in places um if you got this far thanks very much for watching really appreciate it I hope you’ve enjoyed the video as much as I have making it I really needed that getting out and um blowing away a few cobwebs so thanks again thanks for watching and until next time bye for now oh I must take this crash hat off before I set off home okay bye [Music]