On Sunday we set off on an epic ride to take in as much of the southern Peak District as possible. There are 2 disused railways which have been turned into walsking and cycling trails and the advantage of that is the low gradient. We set off from the town of Ashbourne, headed through rolling hills then up, up, up fro beautiful views. The weather really turned itself on and the temperature at one stage was 35! This coincided with the tar on the road melting and stones attaching themselves to my tires. My navigation let me down ( I'm sure its the sun being in the south..or dementia) and added 8 kms and a very steep hill but made it to the Manifold Trail for a lovely even ride along beside a stream. We then headed up to the village of Alstonefield where sensible people were sitting in the shade at the "George" imbibing whilst gazing at the beautiful village green with its enormous shady oak. We headed down rapidly( by now down was a little fearsome as it meant up sometime later) to the very pretty tiny village of Mill Dale. Of course this was followed by the steepest climb and then a gentle donwhill ride on the Tissington Trail and back to the car.