PEASLOWS

CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH

Leaving the tiny village of Blackbrook, just off the A6 east of Chapel-en-le-Frith, Peaslows climbs over the ridge to Sparrowpit and into the Peak District National Park. A gradual climb, it’s neither too steep nor too shallow. It begins once past a dead end sign over the brook and climbs into a light cover of tall trees. Its well-maintained surface has a rough topping, but is free of potholes. Once out from under the canopy of trees, you pass a house on the left, where the scenery opens up. Bordered with stone walls and now dead straight, the rest of the climb lies before you with no landmarks to aim for but the top, which seems an awfully long way. It’s a solid, constant, 1-in-10 drag, with nowhere to recover and no opportunity to alter your pace, making it a slog and grind to the visible summit (marked on the map as a reservoir). But persevere – on the other side is a lovely steep descent to hurtle down.