Pedal Peak District Frequently Asked Questions

Pedal Peak District began in December 2009 and will run to March 2011.  To help keep everyone informed and up to date here is a list of frequently asked questions.  

Why is the project happening?

It is part of a bigger national picture led by the Government:

• to create opportunities for people to start cycling or cycle more often
• to help people live more healthy lives by being more active
• to reduce car use and cut carbon emissions

Why is it happening in the Peak District?

The Peak District has been chosen to pilot extending the Department of Transport’s innovative Cycling Towns and Cities  into the countryside as 32 per cent of the UK population lives within 60 miles of the area and it already has a 58-mile network of cycle trails and cycle-hire centres.

Who is running the project?

The Peak District National Park Authority is managing the project in partnership with Cycling England and is seeking other funding partners including Derbyshire County Council.  The cycleway would use existing trails wherever possible, linked up by road sections - exact routes are still being finalised.

Who is it for?

The project is to encourage people to use bicycles.  We particularly want to make it possible for families, less mobile people and those new to cycling to cycle regularly.  It has the potential to benefit local tourism businesses with rail and cycle-based travel packages.  While Pedal Peak District is not directly targeting experienced, sports cyclists or mountain bikers we hope that all cyclists will benefit from the improved opportunities overall.  We hope that other reacreation initiatives will cater for more experienced cyclists.

How much is it going to cost?

We estimate it will cost £3.785 million to complete the whole project which will be carried out in phases subject to funding being available.

Who is paying for it?

Cycling England - an independent expert body funded by the Department of Transport - has already pledged £2.25m to the project to make cycling a realistic, healthy alternative to the car for work and leisure. This £2.25m package secures Phase 1 which is Bakewell to Buxton.  The project officer is seeking further funding to achieve future phases.

How long is the project for?

Phase 1 of the project runs to 2011 to achieve the linear cycle route from Bakewell to Buxton.  Further funding is being sought to achieve future phases to create a circular route linking up existing cycle trails along the former railway routes of the High Peak and Tissington Trails and a route from Bakewell to Matlock.

Will all the work be done at once?

No.  A phased approach is planned with Phase 1 starting in 2010 to reopen the tunnels and extend the existing Monsal Trail so that you can cycle from Bakewell to Buxton.  This should open in 2011.  Keep revisiting this website for updates.

How many tunnels are going to be opened and where are they?

Four tunnels are going to be re-opened.  They are Headstone Tunnel, Litton Tunnel, Cressbrook Tunnel and one tunnel at Chee Tor (the other is already open).  The tunnels are all approximately 400m long and will be accessible for cyclists, walkers and horse-riders on the Monsal Trail.  The tunnels were closed when the rail route was axed in the late 1960s.

Are more car parks going to be built?

There are no plans to extend existing car parks or to build new ones.  The aim is to encourage people to cut car use, reduce traffic congestion and use bicycles more.  We would like more people to use their bicycles for travel to and from work, for shopping and for leisure without using their cars.

Has the route got planning permission?

The project will fully investigate and comply with all the necessary planning and other regulations.  

What effect will the cycle route have on hopes to open the railway line in the future?

The new cycle route will have no negative impact on plans to reinstate the railway in the future. In fact it helps preserve the line. Current and future planning policies safeguard the route of the railway. We have previously supported opportunities to look at re-opening the railway line but for the time being it is not economically viable to do so. In the meantime the use of the route for cycling and walking is a positive alternative that supports sustainable travel.

If a proposal to re-open the line did come along, a difficult balancing act would need to be achieved between the benefits that a railway line could bring in terms of taking traffic off the roads and the impact that a line would have on the natural and cultural heritage and opportunities for recreation in the national park. The fact is that any extension of the line for steam, leisure or commercial reasons would involve substantial investment as well as discussions with Derbyshire County Council, the National Park Authority, other landowners and stakeholders along the way. In any case, detailed discussions would need to be held about the compatibility of trains and cycling so that a suitable way forward could be found.

Network Rail has recently published the East Midlands Route Utilisation Strategy which sets out detailed plans for railways in the region through to 2019. The reopening of the Matlock to Buxton Railway is not contained within these Plans for that time period, although it is mentioned within an Appendix to the Strategy as an aspiration raised by some stakeholders. Therefore, it is unlikely that the railway will re-open before 2019.

Why has the railway line not opened before?

In June 2004 an in-depth feasibility study carried out by Derbyshire County Council and partners, including the national park authority, looked at the issue of re-opening the line, but it concluded that the £100 million cost of the project would be too great for the foreseeable future.

When will the new cycle route be open?

The Bakewell to Topley Pike (near Buxton) section of the cycleway route is agreed and work will start on that in 2010.  However, no part of the cycleway route between Bakewell and Matlock is finalised yet as we are still in consultations with the other local authorities, landowners and other interested parties.  Phase 1 of the project aims to reopen the tunnels and extend the Monsal Trail so that you can cycle from Bakewell to Buxton.  This should open in 2011.  Keep revisiting this website for updates.

What features of interest are there along the route?

There are hundreds of interesting things to see along the Monsal Trail including wildlife, geology, industrial and rail heritage.  The trail will become a way-marked route with coordinated interpretation to help people enjoy all it has to offer.

Who are you going to consult about the new route?

We are already in communication with other local authorities, landowners and stakeholders about the proposed routes.  Public consultation will take place once the exact route of the proposed cycling trail is known.

How many people currently visit the Peak District by bicycle?

At present some 85 per cent of visitors to the White Peak (southern and central Peak District) arrive by car, compared to 1 per cent who cycle.