Dr Doom Smashes a Chain

Or

The Tissington Trail From Parsley Hey

Why the obscure title you ask yourself, well the truth is that my erstwhile riding partner now has a new title, Dr Doom. It could equally have been private Frazier from Dads Army, but I took my inspiration from Marvel Comics

It was his pick and I was informed that the weather was going to be fine so I of course agreed. Well did he (as usual) get that one wrong.
The Tissington Trail is part of the Pennine Cycleway and from Parsley Hey Also joins the High Peak Trail which leads down to Matlock while the Tissington Trail wanders down to Ashbourne.
Parsley Hey is on the Buxton to Ashbourne road (A515) and has ample parking. There is cycle hire and a cafe at Parsley Hey which makes a good place to start. The tea at the cafe is very passable and always welcome, the hot food is unfortunately microwaved though, all in not bad, but at least the view from the seating is really good.

The Trail fades into the near distance

The trail itself winds away from Parsley Hey through an old railway cutting and is to say the least quite spectacular, the surface is multi use and so you could do this on your road bike if you chose to, not what I would do but hey each to there own.
The next tea stop is the old signal box, which is also an entry point for horses, the box is not always open and suffers from being too close to Parsley hey if you are on the bike.

Old Drovers Trail

There is no way you can lose your way as the stack is impossible to lose as it twist and turns its way to Tissington which is the next tea stop along the way. Unfortunately this one is a big let down, if you are spending over £3.00 the you should expect to get more than a teabag in a paper cup and a burnt sausage roll. If you want a cup of tea at Tissington this is one to miss, what you should do is get off the trail at the car park and go just around the corner to the tea room at Tissington Hall, completely the opposite here good tea, and good food in a really nice setting and in good weather lovely to sit outside ( only if Dr Doom says "looks like rain").

Cafe at Tissington

The trail carries on down to Ashbourne, with a small tea stop just before the end, which suffers from its proximity to Ashbourne. and again is probably only a last resort. " looks like the weather will hold off" another much overused weather forecast, and guess, yes it started to rain about three seconds later. After we sheltered from the rain we set off back towards Parsley Hey

Oops, Dr Doom Strikes

"Easy going this" Just before his chain snapped. So you can see why the name just had to change.

Panorama off the Trail

Seriously though, the Tissington Trail is one of the most family friendly trails there is, and if that's not enough there are plenty of trails that all lead off which are more suitable for mountain biking.
For walkers the trail leads to some of the best Dales in the Peak District.
Go Visit
And for good weather wait until Doom says it looks as though it might rain.

Liverpool to Southport



Liverpool to Southport: 26 Miles: Pan Flat

22 miles traffic free or very minor road - 4 miles main road.

Well here we go again, off to Southport, and just because its pan flat doesn't mean it was my pick. A really good ride with not too much on road, and tremendous places and things to see along the way.

Start on the promenade at Liverpool and continue on though the Albert Dock and across the Pier head.

Power Boats in the Albert Dock

The river festival, which had been on all week was in its final day, and the final of the power boat racing was on, the picture above shows them at rest in the dock.
Its worth noting at this point that the new "Museum of Liverpool" is now open, and I have paid one visit, but could only just get through the door for the crowd, bloody people, anyway will try again soon.
On to the dock road which on a Sunday is very quite, and then for the small amount of main road where we stopped at the cafe below for a brew.

Cafe on Derby Road

The cafe is on the corner of Millers Bridge and Regent road, and apparently does not have a name. Unfortunately that is not all it doesn't have. No service, not clean, dreadful toilet, and the tea was neither good nor cheap.
All in a big miss on this one.

Graffiti on Warehouse

Cool Painting on the warehouse

Seaforth Promenade

Once you get to Seaforth that's the end of the road, back onto the promenade, and along the Sefton Coastal path, truly very nice views back towards the Wirral and the Anthony Gormley Another Place, Or was that really the old bastard. seriously though for anyone who has not been to view them, do so, it doesn't matter how many times you go there is always something new to see.

The path takes a winding track through the dunes and meets up with a track along the edge of the railway line.

Bill having a Paddle (or Anthony Gormley)

A  bit further on and the trail leads up to the station at Freshfield , and to the Deli & Dine, what a contrast, really friendly service, clean and tidy, and a really nice coffee. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

Cafe at Freshfield Station

Onward to Southport through Freshfield nature reserve, and along the coastal path. Although there is no photo we always stop at the Dolphin Cafe at Southport where the service is friendly, and very camp. there is always more food than you can handle which on a good day in the summer sets you up for the return leg, or as on this occasion when the Old Bastard was worn out (honest it was him), keeps you satisfied on the train home.

One good stop well recommended and one bad one. Fifty Fifty I suppose.

Dolgellau - Cadair Idris - Barmouth - Mawddach Trail.

 Bill, my cycling partner.

Well its was the Old Bastards turn to pick a ride, so what did he pick, a total lung buster starting in the car park at Dolgellau.

First tip, and moan, as you come over the bridge into Dolgellau, go immediately left into the car park. but whatever you do, DO NOT park in the first section, £7.00, what the hell is all that about. Who pays £7.00 to park in a godforsaken village.
Carry on through the car park to the one further down the road at the rugby club where it is only £3.50, more like it.
Dolgellau itself suffers from the English and Welsh problem, these places depend on tourism, so what do they do, they close on Sunday.

Anyway follow the road through the town until you see the one that goes up vertically in front of you, its actually Poth Canol carry on ever upwards to the first fork in the road, go left and carry on to the next fork where you go go right, If you're still going and haven't died at the roadside through lack of oxygen. ( I mean you could always stay at home and practice self flagellation )

Its a strait road from here so just carry on until the road levels out somewhat

Looking up to Cadair Idris

Its just about at this point that you realise why you didn't stay at home and beat yourself up, the view opens out to one which I would challenge you to find better. Spectacular is not good enough. This is one of those rides that changes and gets better as you get in to it ride along just under the summit of Cadair Idris  


Small Tarn at the top of Cadair Idris

 The ride just gets better, and by now you have started to breath again, and takes you over the top to views looking down towards Barmouth and the coast.

Looking Down to Barmouth

 As if this wasn't one of the best rides up to this point then grab your goolies,close your eyes and get ready for one of the best downhills around. Seriously good, so much so that my front brake locked on at the bottom, which incidentally opens out to a main road so watch it. Turn right and follow the road around until you see a sign for Fairbourne on the left, take it, and go down to the Cafe at the miniature railway station. Very aptly named the Station Cafe, the Lemon Squidgy cake was quite good, and if the tea had been in a mug it would of been OK. They should really offer that as an alternative to a cup that is low and wide, the trouble with them is that the surface area of the tea is too big and cools down too quickly. All in all though very friendly service, clean and reasonably priced, well worth a visit.

The Mawddach Trail

 Once you have refuelled, make your way back to the main road and turn left until you see signs for the Mawddach Trail. Follow this back to Dolgellau, real picture postcard views all the way along and plenty of birds to be seen. So I actually think the miserable old bastard made a good pick

Verdict on this ride: TOP



The Monsal Trail

Anyone who has been on the Monsal Trail in the past will know how frustrating it was withe all the interruptions of the tunnels.

Well now its different, all of the tunnels are open and the trail is 8.5 miles from the car park at Wye Dale to Bakewell.

When you come out of Buxton on the Bakewell road the road bend and turns under 4 viaducts for just short of 3 miles. There you will see a sign for the car park on the river side.

Park here and go through the gate at the end of the car park signed for Wye Dale down to the Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire and Lazy Days Tuck Shop. The actual shop hasn't been there that long and the cafe part is still a bit basic on the food side, but makes up for that with friendly and fast service, and if you use this as the middle of your walk or ride the tea is most welcome, all in all highly recommended, and if I were them I would start doing food soon. 

Blackwell Mill Cycle Hire

Take the track at the back of the cafe onto the trail. Turn left, and then just enjoy.

You Can walk all the way to Bakewell as I did, but that does make a 17 mile round trip. The nice thing about thjis trail though is that you can do as little or as much as you like. the is a cafe at Cressbrook, which incidentally must be feeling the pinch as the actual trail now bypasses it.



Looking through the second tunnel to the third

The jewel in the crown is obviously Monsal Viaduct and now you pass straight in to the newly opened tunnel instead of (as anyone who has done this will know) having to climb up to Monsal Head. There is another cafe halfway between here and Bakewell which is very good and can be used as a turning place if you are getting a bit tired. Then there is Bakewell, an ideal place to come down off the trail and enjoy a wide variety of cafes and chip shops to stock up for the return.

If you are cycling then you are stuck to the trail, but if you are walking then on the way back,  just after Millersdale Station you come to a viaduct, just before on the right take the steps into the Dale itself. An absolutely stunning footpath walk starts along the river. Carry on to Chee Dale, which incidentally is obviously, by the number of them, ideal for climbing. The scenery down here is breathtaking, and doesn't abate all the way back to the cycle hire shop which is finally reached over a short footbridge.

 

Stepping Stones in Millersdale

 This short blog doesn't do justice to the trail and if you have been here before the tunnels were opened, or is this new to you then is a must.

One last thing we are planning to use this as the centre section of a bike ride that will start at Parsley Hey on the Ashbourne road, riding over to the trail via the pennine bridleway down to bakewell, and then back on road to Parsley Hey. All in, about 40 miles, which makes for a good day out.

Walkers in the tunnel

The White Water Centre at Bala North Wales

This is a slight departure for me as it involves water and not bikes, but I have just got to say that I have spent a most enjoyable day at the White Water Rafting Centre just outside Bala, North Wales.

It was one of those package adventure trips, and it turned out to be very good indeed. I would so recommend this to anyone, the experience was fantastic. There was seven in the raft and you get to go down the white water 4 times. The staff were both very competent, and extremely friendly, none of the " I know what I'm doing" syndrome.
 All in all a top day out and one to be highly recommended.

Cafe D'Lune outside Lancaster

This photo shows the start of a really good ride that takes in disused railway, canal towpath, and B roads. Starting at the Crook O Lune picnic site at Caton. Following the cycle track until it is crossed above by the aqueduct, take the towpath to Hest Bank and then back along the front to Morcambe.

Stop for a brew on the front, and then take the cycle track back to Lancaster, over the bridge and back up the other side of the river to pick up the cycle track to Glasson.

Back to Condor Green, and take the road to Galgate, under the Motorway and take the Quernmore and then back to Caton and a well earned brew.

If anyone wants a more detailed route with map just get in touch

At Condor Green is the Cafe D'Lune.

We have been to this delightful cafe twice, once when it was slack, (very bad weather) and once when it was heaving. Both times the food and tea have been good and the staff very pleasant. the only down side is that when it gets busy the service cannot cope. We ordered three teas which took about 15 mins to arrive.

Really nice location, nice staff, not good under pressure.

Verdict: Cooking on Electricity.

This is my partner in crime, who climbs hills like a mountain goat, and then has to wait for me, together we have been to quite of Britain both walking and by bike.