On a perfectly overcast autumnal day, I found myself with a group of fellow journalists decked out in my finest athleisure in Buxton. This little town in the Peak District has been beloved for its healing waters since Roman times, but on this day, we were ditching the water and getting ready to embark on a three-hour e-bike tour through Peak District National Park with PeakEpedals.
While this tour was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Exploring the Peak District with PeakEPedals
Snapshot
Experience: PeakePedals eBike Tours
Location: Peak District, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom
Founded: 2023
Type: Guided and self-guided countryside eBike tours
Tour duration: From 90 minutes to 6 hours, with multi-day options also available
Starting price: From £45 for a 90-minute tour
Best for: Couples, families, friends, food lovers, active travellers and anyone wanting to explore the Peak District without committing to a strenuous traditional cycle ride
Highlights: Scenic trails, quiet country lanes, villages, historic sites, nature, food and drink
Bike options: Hybrid eBikes, low-step-through eBikes and eTrikes
Tour styles: Beginner, easy, intermediate and advanced, plus themed, custom, multi-day and multi-activity tours
Getting started
The Founders of PeakEPedals, Andrew and Michael, had requested our heights in advance to set up our bikes. As we drove from our stay at Buxton Crescent Spa Hotel to our starting point, just 10 minutes away, Andrew shared that the business is going from strength to strength as the demand for e-bike tours in the UK is growing.
Before heading out, he’d also given us a safety briefing, just basic tips on having to wear a helmet, remaining between the guides who ride at the front and back, and not having to worry about going too slowly.
Once we’d finalised our seat heights and had a refresher on the gears, we were on our way, winding, climbing and enjoying the majestic scenery of the Peak District. It’s remarkably freeing riding along with the iconic stone walls demarcating fields and roads as far as the eye can see. I loved chatting with all the cattle we saw along the way and seeing all the different breeds of exotic sheep living their best lives on the farms. While we didn’t see any during our tour, apparently, you occasionally see red kites in the area, which would be very cool.
Points of interest
Our Tour was called Hills, Valleys & Villages in the White Peak, and one of the highlights for us cheese lovers was getting into the absolutely charming village of Hartington. Located in a quaint stone building at The Hartington Cheese Shop, we stocked up large on local cheeses. My favourite was the Hartington Stilton, which was absolutely delicious both on its own and tossed through a salad.
Further along the journey, Michael points out Dovedale, renowned for its stepping stones and exquisite scenery. Along the journey, we chat and joke with ease thanks to the electric power of the bikes. Even going uphill is a non-issue when you’re on these beasts!
The great thing about these e-bike tours, apart from being a more eco-friendly way to see the countryside, is that you’re able to see parts of the landscape that are simply not accessible by car.
Who can give ebiking a go?
PeakEpedals has over 60 routes for you to discover, with options for everyone from beginners to experts. They even have self-guided tours available where they loan you a bike and a GPX Navigation Device so you can go it alone.
I asked how old the oldest person they’d taken out was, and it was someone nearing 80, so there’s really no excuse. Plus, they have e-trike tours if you feel like you’d like a bit more stability.
Getting there
PeakePedals operates from three main hubs across the Peak District, with additional remote starting points. The principal hubs are in Winster, Ambergate and Ashbourne.
By car
The three main hubs all have parking:
– Winster: The Miners Standard, Bank Top, Winster, Matlock, DE4 2DR. The pub has free parking and additional free car parks nearby.
– Ambergate: Great British Car Journey, Derwent Works, Ambergate, DE56 2HE. There is free parking at the site.
– Ashbourne: Wildhive Callow Hall, Mapleton Road, Ashbourne, DE6 2AA, with free parking. Peak E Pedals
There are also remote starting points around the Peak District, including selected hotels, pubs and attractions, so it is worth checking the start point of your chosen tour before travelling.
By public transport
Winster: The 172 bus connects Winster with Matlock and Bakewell, with stops including Darley Dale, Youlgreave, Stanton and Birchover. From Winster Hall, it is around a five-minute walk to The Miners Standard. The nearest railway station is Matlock, where you can connect with the 172 bus. There is no Sunday bus service to Winster.
Ambergate: This is the easier of the two main hubs to reach by public transport. TransPeak buses run along the A6 between Buxton, Bakewell, Matlock and Derby, while Ambergate railway station is around a 10-minute walk from the Great British Car Journey.
Getting to the Peak District from London
The Peak District is surprisingly accessible from London, making it an easy option for a weekend escape or a few days of cycling and exploring.
By train: The most straightforward option is to travel from London St Pancras International with East Midlands Railway. Direct services reach Derby in around 1 hour 40 minutes, with the fastest trains taking approximately 1 hour 25 minutes. East Midlands Railway From Derby, you can continue by local train, bus or taxi towards your accommodation or PeakePedals’ cycling hubs.
For the northern Peak District, Sheffield is another useful gateway. Direct trains from St Pancras take around 2 hours 12 minutes on average, with the fastest services taking under two hours. East Midlands Railway
There are also rail connections from London Euston towards the western side of the Peak District, with services stopping at places including Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield, Stockport and Manchester, from where you can connect into the National Park.
For international visitors, East Midlands Airport is approximately 27 miles from Ambergate, with a taxi journey takes around 30 minutes.
Frequently asked questions: PeakEPedals
No. PeakePedals’ countryside eBike tours are designed for different levels of fitness and cycling experience. You do need to have good balance and have ridden a bicycle before, but beginner sessions are available, as are eTrikes for those who are less confident on two wheels.
Riders must be at least 14 years old, as PeakePedals’ insurance does not cover younger riders.
A guided tour is accompanied by a member of the PeakePedals team, who navigates and provides background and local insight. This is what we did and it was a wonderful experience. On a self-guided tour, the route is loaded onto a GPS device on the bike, so you can explore independently while still having tour support if something goes wrong.
There is a particularly broad choice, from short beginner rides to full-day adventures. Themes include villages, history, nature and wildlife, geology and landscapes, and food and drink. There are also custom and group tours, eTrike tours, bike-packing trips and multi-day experiences.
Prices vary according to the route and duration. From 90-minute beginner tours from £45, four-hour tours from around £80, and six-hour experiences from around £100. There are also multi-day tours from £300 and custom guided tours from £150.
The tours include a suitable eBike, route planning and navigation, a safety briefing and riding tutorial, equipment such as panniers, and tour support. The company also plans refreshment stops into its routes, making the experience about exploring the Peak District rather than simply covering miles.
Yes. PeakePedals offers accommodation recommendations and can put together tour and accommodation packages. Its accommodation options range from pubs with rooms and self-catering cottages to country-house and luxury spa hotels. It can also create a custom tour starting directly from your accommodation in some circumstances.
The verdict
Thanks to the expert guides and top-tier equipment, this was a thoroughly wonderful day out. I had an absolute blast doing this tour and would love to go back and do the Small Village Explorer Tour with friends, though I may have to detour to Hartington to stock up on some more of that sensational cheese.
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