The Famous A537 Cat & Fiddle 🛣

The notorious Cat & Fiddle Road is a living legend of the motoring world. Most people have heard of the Cat & Fiddle as being one of the most dangerous roads in the UK and it can be when the weather is bad, which it is for most of the year in the north of England but don't let that put you off. If respected it can be miles of smiles 😄

So with a sunny weekend in June 2021 and a realisation that I have not ridden the Cat & Fiddle Road for over several years the challenge was there for the taking.

 

Pros

• Bends

• Bends

• More Bends

• Views (but you’re to busy looking at the next bend)

• Cat & Fiddle Pub/Distillery/Film & TV location/ Turn around spot

• Can be ridden gently or spirited

Cons

• 50mph average speed cameras

• Blind misleading bends

• Traffic (Trucks, day trippers, cyclists)

• Closed in bad weather

• Few overtaking spots

Conclusion

The Cat & Fiddle Road is a must ride for anyone riding through the Peak District. Its a fun road to ride but bends can be deceiving. Don’t be afraid to have multiple runs on this road as you will get stuck behind traffic most of the time, especially when the weather is good. When the weather is bad, take the road steady and sensibly as the road can become very greasy due to articulated trucks using this route to get to the M6. A fun road, technical bends and a good test of roadcraft. Sure to put a smile on your face but take a sensible head with you as this legend is known for its bite if you’re not concentrating.

Dont forget to check out my Twitter and Instagram

Ride Safe & Eat Cake

Lardy 🧈

 

A hidden gem in the Peak District? 🛣

There are many hidden gems in the peak district and most of them are signposted but this one is a road that I find exciting no matter which direction I ride it. What is the road I am talking about? Its the B5056.

I’ve had this road on my radar for over a year and its my “go to” road for fun as it supplies a good amount of twisty road action and elevation changes. I am splitting the road into two sections, Stage 1 and Stage 2, as the A5012 cuts straight through the middle of the B5056.

Stage 1: B5056 from Fenny Bentley to Grangemill

Pros

• Low traffic

• Not too technical

• Can be ridden gently or spirited

• Peak District scenery

Cons

• Dirty road surface near quarry

• HGVs/day trippers/tractors

• Few overtaking spots
  
  

 Stage 2: B5056 from Grangemill to A6

Pros

• Little traffic

• Cleaner road surface

• Flowing bends – more technical

• Can be ridden gently or spirited

• Fewer HGVs

Cons

• Few overtaking spots

• Low lying manhole covers – suspension testers/back breakers

• Day trippers/tractors

• Narrower road (Fewer HGVs 👍)

Conclusion

The B5056 is a great road to add to a trip around the Peak District if you’re looking for a road that will test your tyres or take in the unique scenery of the Peak District. This road has a good mixture of technical bends that can be read well and some that can be misleading. Stage 1 is steadier but has more HGVs due to the quarry at Grangemill. Stage 2 is entertaining from Winster Ore House (see picture below) to the A6. Be careful of the low lying manhole covers in the wooded part of Stage 2 as they can take your fillings out. The road is brilliant in both directions. I have ridden the B5056 many times and find Stage 2 of the road more enjoyable due to the densely packed bends close to Winster. 

 

Winster Ore House

Dont forget to check out my Twitter and Instagram

Ride Safe & Eat Cake

Lardy 🧈

A5004 Long Hill Road. A new favourite? 🏍

A lovely day in the peak district

It was a sunny start to a Sunday in October 2020, with another possible lockdown looming and 1 week till the 620mile service was due on the 390. I decided to put some much needed miles on the bike. I initially thought about going to Matlock Bath but decided to head in a different direction than I usually take, this decision took me towards the spa town of Buxton and I made my choice to ride the A5004 Long Hill road from Buxton to Whaley Bridge as I haven’t ridden it in over 7 years.

With some amazement I managed to get a clear run from Buxton to just outside of Whaley Bridge and back again without traffic. I did have cyclists to contend with but they were mostly well behaved. The route is made up of many fantastic bends and straights taking in the scenery of Goyt Valley, (which sounds like an insult) with the only let down being some questionable tarmac on a few bends. The elevation change on the road is around 230m(754ft) and I did notice this in the tighter corners because you pick up speed easily. 

 Riding the road down hill will have you grinning and gritting your teeth at the same time. Entering some corners can be exciting but the blind corners will have you wincing as there is only a barrier between you and a massive drop. On the uphill you just have to worry about on-coming traffic cutting the corners and worrying less about going over the edge and falling into Goyt Valley, this is because the road hugs the hills to the left side. I found the uphill a steadier pace as the bike didn’t want to run away in the corners. There are plenty of areas along the route where you can stop for a rest or turn around, just be mindful that some of theses are gravelled.

It might only be 7.8miles long but the A5004 is a real thrill ride. Get on it early, go in both directions as many times as you want and watch out for cyclists. A brilliant road if you’re in and around the Peak District. This might be in contention for my new favourite road, I think I’ll have to return to the A5004 and ride it again. What a problem to have!

The A5004 forms part of a triangle which includes the A537 Cat & Fiddle and B5470 “Highwayman” roads. I will be reviewing those roads in the future as a series so look out for that.

 Here is the route

 

Dont forget to check out my Twitter and Instagram

 

Ride safe & Eat cake

Lardy 🧈