YHA (Youth Hostel Association) Holidays

The picture postcard village of Hartington makes a great base for a cycling holiday as there are a number of gentle bridleways, quiet country lanes & charming hamlets & villages to discover. You will cycle along the traffic free tracks of the Manifold Trail, Tissington Trail and the Pennine Bridleway as well as a number of quiet country lanes past ancient farms & historic buildings. Hartington Hall is the Peak Districts premier hostel & has plenty to do for kids including a small farm, games room & adventure playground all set in the beautiful grounds of the 17th century manor house.

The picture postcard village of Hartington makes a great base for a cycling holiday as there are a number of gentle bridleways, quiet country lanes & charming hamlets & villages to discover. You will cycle along the traffic free tracks of the Manifold Trail, Tissington Trail and the Pennine Bridleway as well as a number of quiet country lanes past ancient farms & historic buildings. Hartington Hall is the Peak Districts premier hostel & has plenty to do for kids including a small farm, games room & adventure playground all set in the beautiful grounds of the 17th century manor house.

This easy tour takes you along many traffic free bridleways & quiet country lanes. The countryside is particularly beautiful in this park of the Peak District due to the exposed limestone gorges, green fields & gently rolling dales. The many attractive, ancient & well preserved hamlets & villages make the area a particularly interesting place to visit. Your accommodation is in 2 of the YHA’s best hostels at the 16th century manor house at Hartington & the Victorian mock gothic mansion at Ilam Hall. This memorable tour takes an easy pace or allows time for extra walking along the many trails available.

From the fantastic 17th century manor house at Hartington you will travel along the quiet limestone gorge at Long Dale to join the traffic free Pennine Bridleway southwards to another of the YHA's best hostels at the Victorian Gothic Hall at Ilam. Travelling through the breathtaking scenery of Dovedale Day 2 takes you to Tissington & onto the banks of Carsington Water. Joining the traffic free High Peak Trail you travel north again & on past the Neolithic stone age circle at Arbor Low before a great decent to arrive at pretty Youlgreave. A superb trail sees you pass by the Derbyshire Dales Nature Reserve to Elton & onto the marvelous village of Winster with a wealth of interesting architecture. Another memorable trail takes you through Biggin & back to Hartington.

Departing from Hathersage you will discover the alpine beauty of the Upper Derwent Reservoirs. A fantastic gently undulating trail takes you around the banks of the Ladybower, Derwent & Howden reservoirs. Your stay in Castleton allows time for many activities such as a visit to one of Castletons spectacular show caverns or take a walk to Mam Tor 'Mother Hill' to appreciate the fine views over both the Hope & Edale valleys. Your journey south takes you through 'Cathederal of the Peak' Tideswell & the picture postcard scenery around Monsal Head, before arriving at Bakewell where you can sample the delicious pudding. Pass through the Chatsworth Estate en-route to Eyam before dropping back down to your starting point at Hathersage.

Discover the fantastic Victorian resort of Matlock & Matlock Bath where you can take the cable car to the 'Heights of Abraham'. Pass through Cromford to join the High Peak Trail up to Middleton Top to join the Pennine Bridleway. This fantastic ride takes you to Hartington, a quiet & charming village with a few nice country pubs to hand. You will continue through the attractive village of Youlgrave before arriving at Bakewell, with a chance to sample the delicious locally made 'pudding'. Fantastic views & pretty limestone villages characterises the route through Tideswell to Eyam. Your final day takes you through the Chatsworth Estate where you will have the choice of two contrasting routes back to Matlock.

This comprehensive tour takes from the rugged surroundings of Hathersage to Edale via the spectacular Ladybower, Derwent and Howden reservoirs. A scenic walk over to Castleton allows time to visit one of the show caverns & take in the 11th century Norman castle. Your second day in the saddle takes you through numerous picture postcard limestone villages including 'Cathedral of the Peak' Tideswell & Bakewell, famous for the delicious pudding. Youlgrave makes a fine base for 2 days allowing time to explore the lovely gorge at Lathkil Dale before returning to Hathersage via the Chatsworth Estate.