With the growing network of cycle paths it is becoming easier to find a leisure route suitable for families to simply go for a ride without using a car.
Here is a selection of ideas all based on starting at Chesterfield railway station but you can of course start wherever you like on the routes.
Hipper Holmebrook Triangular Trail
From the railway station use the station link path to the Queen’s Park and then after crossing Boythorpe Road the two trails diverge. There are some on road sections especially when crossing between the two trails through Ashgate but they are are on mainly quiet roads. Ashgate Road and Chatsworth Road are busier. The anticlockwise direction is easier junction wise. Our leaflet describes the ride Hipper Holmebrook Triangular Trail.
Holmebrook Valley Trail
Similar to the route above but out and back on the same path. Holmebrook Valley Park has a large lake which you can cycle around or climb the hill to the cafe. Leaflet Holmebrook Valley Trail
Six Parks Ride
This nominally starts at the Visitor Information Centre but very easy to start from the railway station too. Some road experience is necessary because some of this route is on occasionally busy roads especially around Sheffield Road/Stand Road/Littlemoor, apart from that its is OK. Its a circular route around Chesterfield taking in six parks! Congratulate yourself by having an ice cream in the Queen’s Park! Leaflet Six Parks Ride
Trans Pennine Trail loop
The Trans Pennine Trail going south splits in Staveley with both arms ending at Chesterfield railway station. This creates a nice 11 mile circular ride. There are some climbs!
Rother Valley Country Park
An ‘out and back’ extension to the Trans Pennine Trail loop. Probably easier to use the canal path to Staveley and then carry on to Rother Valley Country Park. Again there is a cafe at the park for refreshments. Our leaflet TPT loop, Poolsbrook Country Park & Rother Valley Country Park describes both the loop and its extension to Rother Valley here.
Five Pits Trail
Another ‘out and back’ route which can be done more or less traffic free from Chesterfield railway station now that access through the Avenue site is open. Leaflet five-pits-trail
40 Mile Loop – for the more adventurous.
Using the Five Pits Trail, Silverhill Trail and Teversal Trail to get to Pleasley Pit. Then an on road section to Shirebrook. Locate the Archeological Way to get to Creswell and use quiet roads through Creswell to get onto the recently opened Clowne Branchline Greenway which will bring you back to Poolsbrook Country Park, then use the Trans Pennine Trail to get back to Chesterfield. About 35 miles of this route is traffic free.