Winster & Carsington Nature Rambler Ride
Birds and the Bees and Butterflies too take a nature rich ride to & around Carsington
Service Description
The Tour starts from the Miners Standard Hub and takes you out over Elton Moor via country lanes to reach a car park and picnic benches at Minninglow. The amazing engineering works of the Cromford and High Peak Railway can be fully appreciated. A section of the High Peak trail is then ridden with old quarries, kilns and historic railway sidings evident along the route. The route follows below the impressive limestone Harboro Rocks before descending into the lovely hamlet of Hopton. Hopton Hall provides a delightful stop during snowdrop season or when the Hall is open to view the roses in summer (check opening dates). It is then down to the waters edge to follow the reservoir on a well used and easily navigated cycle route. Many bird hides are scattered on the banks with the opportunity to observe geese, grebes, tufted duck, heron and curlew in the water. Meadow pipit and grey and pied wagtail and wheatear (depending on the season) may also be in residence. Buzzards and sparrow hawks are also regular visitors and you may occasionally even spot a peregrine falcon. There is time to check out the visitor centre and read up on the ecology and history of the reservoir. It is then a lovely ride into Bradbourne (one of only 14 of England’s doubly thankful villages) before meandering into Brassington passing the traditional and cozy Old Gate Inn. Close to Longcliffe there is an opportunity to explore Hoe Grange Quarry. This disused limestone quarry is of particular interest for butterflies and rarer limestone plants. Obviously seasonal it is a haven for bees and butterflies. 24 species of butterfly have been recorded in the 5 hectare quarry so it might be a nice spot to stop for a picnic. Then it is back through the lovely village of Aldwark (and to see the farm brewery if open). The final stage involves a climb onto Bonsall Moor where you can encounter old lead mining rakes and hopefully a chance to look skyward for life. You may well hear skylarks and see fieldfare and redwing. Buzzards and the occasional kite have also been seen circling above as may some more mysterious observations as the Moor is one of the UK’s UFO hotspots. Difficulty - Intermediate Red Tour Theme - Nature & Wildlife Distance - 26.2 miles Surface - Mainly country lanes, cycle trails, short distance on main road. Time allocated - 6 hours Refreshment Stop Options - Winster, Hopton, Carsington Water & Brassington Village Tour Ref - 31
Upcoming Sessions
Start Point & Booking Queries
Winster Cycling Hub - DE4 2DR
Cancellation Policy
Running Tours is our business so as a general rule we cannot accept last minute cancelation requests where we cannot easily re-book the date. If you need to change the date of your pre-booked tour we do ask for at least seven days notice so that we have the opportunity to re-book your slot. There is no additional charge for changing the date of your tour. If you give us less than 7 days notice and we cannot resell the slot we reserve the right to charge a 50% re-booking fee. We do not offer refunds on cancelled tours only the opportunity to re-book As a general rule we will not cancel any eBike tours based on the weather unless the conditions are so extreme they are not safe for cycling. We use the Met Office to monitor if any severe weather warnings are expected