A few hours and 75 miles or so in Derbyshire on the Honda CMX.
I headed out at weekend for a fairly relaxed 75 miles or so on on the Honda CMX on decent Derbyshire roads. It was a contracts to my previous 260 mile trip in Wales.
This was the first time that I had headed ut on the A57 Snake Pass for some time. It’s a road I am beery familiar with. I was based in Sheffield for 15 years of my working life and made the trip across several thousand times.
Magnificent scenery all the way
Once you clear the market town of Glossop in the High Peak, the shift is instant. Shops and houses fall away, the road begins to climb, and the landscape opens out into those wide Derbyshire hills. From there the A57 winds its way for around 14 miles towards the famous Ladybower Reservoir, a stretch that always feels made for riding.
Ladybower marked my turning point. Rather than carrying on into Sheffield, I dropped into Bamford, then rolled through Hope and into Castleton for the short but always astonishing Winnats Pass, which is a narrow, steep and dramatic cut through the limestone that never loses its impact.
From Castleton it was on to Chapel‑en‑le‑Frith and a quick stop by the canal at Bugsworth Basin before turning for home.
It was an easy and satisfying loop that was a reminder of how good a simple ride can be.
Good weather, good ride on the Honda CMX
The weather had been pretty decent, although a chilly at 13 degrees over the top of the Snake and in the early part of the ride. Later on the sun was out and it was an enjoyable and pleasant 20 degrees or so. All in all quite a decent start to the weekend.
Photo gallery with the Honda CMX
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