A few more coins needed to park here and as this was an evening ride the facilities were closed, however there is a café and picnic benches here alongside a canal. We didn’t explore this time, however cycle paths go either way from the Junction. This was another interesting spot for railway or history enthusiasts, as this is the bottom area of the winch we saw later at Middleton Top Visitor Centre.
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High Peak Junction, Peak District
Firstly, I will say that this was not remotely scooter friendly! I wouldn’t recommend taking your scooters (or bikes), unless you wish to start your ride here and are ready for a hike to begin.
Having seen both ends over the few days of our trip, you really get a sense of how tough life was for people and the feat of engineering is nothing short of staggering. On the way up the hill you pass a Catch Pit, which was built following a bad accident in 1888 and served to catch any runaway wagons that became free from the winch. I cannot imagine the horror of a runaway wagon hurtling down hill at 120mph for nearly 3 miles - truly chilling.
The route was high (!) … and steep … and long … but certainly interesting and views at the top were incredible. It might not be a good choice for anyone not great with heights; this was the only point I struggled a little on the whole trip, I think because it was mainly one long, steep hill and I was worried about getting down again! For the record, I was actually fine coming back down and we did ride down slowly, although cyclists (and scooterists I assume) are advised to dismount. I’m not sure I would have been so keen to ride down on a bike; in fact, I know I wouldn’t have been as would be worried about falling over the handlebars! I love the low centre of gravity of a scooter and how easy it is to shift your weight backwards, and of course you can just pop a foot down if you worry or wobble.
That very hill once had the ‘Cromford and High Peak Railway’ running up and down, which opened in 1830 and was one of the world’s first long distance railways, connecting the North West with the East Midlands. Signs of Cromford Engine House can be seen at a half way mark on the hill, which contained a pair of steam powered beam engines that drove an endless chain (which went down to the High Peak Junction at the bottom of the hill).
On reaching the top of Sheep Pasture Incline you will see Sheep Pasture Engine House which was built in 1828. The views are super and complete with stone walls, rolling hills and sheep, you get a real taste of Derbyshire. The High Peak Trail continues on from here, though if we were to go again, I think we’d explore this area on foot and start the High Peak Trail further along, as we did a few days later. There is certainly plenty to see here, but there are more scooter-friendly places locally.
Some pictures from our ride
Sarah • Jun 17, 2022
Carsington Water in The Peaks makes a great 8 mile loop for all abilities (even with the hills!). Click to see pictures of our trip.
Come with us on our kick scooter ride on the High Peak Trail! The Yedoo Trexx and MIBO Alltrack were perfect for this ride and it is certainly scooter friendly.
We started our 3 day adventure at Bennerley Viaduct, an impressive former railway structure which is known as ‘The Iron Giant’. A fun and easy destination, pretty canals and ideal for kick scooters.
The Monsal Trail was a big highlight of our Peak District trip! Incredible scenery, exciting tunnels and great surface - perfect for kick scooters.
We spent a wonderful 3 days exploring the Peaks with our kick scooters. Read this blog to hear all about our adventures on the Monsal Trail, High Peak Trail, Carsington Water and Bennerley Viaduct!
After just completing his fourth century ride on a kick scooter and now having finished around 10 charity cycle sportives over the last 2 years, again on a scooter, I thought it was time to catch up with David and find out how he became a kick scooter fanatic, what his motivation is to keep on kicking and what the future may have in store for him and his ever growing scooter fleet.
We have a designated group for kick scooter riders to share the rides and routes they have found to have especially good scooting facilities with other scooter enthusiasts - let's get the UK kick scooting! Routes could be your local route from home, or ones you have found on your travels that you think people may like to try if they are in the area. The search box at the top can be used to find routes in an area you are researching, so be sure to tag the county in your post for easy finding! We would love for this group to be well used and form a really good directory of routes and rides, or places which are perfect for exploring on kick scooters. Simply search 'Kick Scooter Rides & Routes in the UK', or copy and paste this link - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1760077990783585/
An easy guide to adult kick scooters best suited for commuting. Glide through the city and avoid public transport. Kick scooters are a great alternative way commute - arrive with a smile of your face and the wind in your hair.
Everyone has heard the term ‘you can’t teach old dogs new tricks’, but here at #FO2W we think otherwise! Have you heard the term mushing? Mushing is a term many people in the UK won’t be familiar with, but it’s a popular and ever-growing sport here, and we hope you’ll see why! Let’s take you through what mushing is – mushing simply means ‘a sport or transport powered by dogs’. The practice of using dogs to pull sleds dates back to 2000BC, and when someone mentions dogs pulling something, you will probably think of Huskies pulling a snow sled. Well, how things have evolved! Urban, or Dryland Mushing, originally came about to keep winter sled dogs fit during the off season – so this is done on dry land. A dog can be attached to you (Canicross), or be attached to and pull a bike (Bikejoring), cart, sled, rig – or what we’re talking about, your best four legged friend, hooked up to the scooter you’re riding and going for a blast round the countryside! This is known as Scootering, or commonly Mushing. If you’ve ridden a scooter, you’ll know how cool it is and how much fun you can have exploring on your scooter. Well, throw your pooch in to the mix and you’ve got yourself a new sport you can both enjoy! It’s a great way to keep you and your dog fit, stimulated and exercised and gives you another way to spend time together in the great outdoors. ‘What equipment do I need to get started?’ Dog scootering (or mushing) requires very little equipment, aside from the obvious scooter. You’re looking at sourcing a racing harness, a long line and a lead adapter. We suggest avoiding some cheap harnesses, opting for a professional grade piece of kit instead. These are adjustable to your dog to utilise correct pulling points while keeping their airways clear. A long running line (like a lead) is used to keep your dog a safe distance away from the scooter – keeping everyone safe; in case of a sudden stop you will have time to stop the scooter and avoid your four-legged-friend! Lastly, the lead adapter attaches to the front of your scooter (via the handlebar stem) for the running line to be fed through. This takes the line away from the scooter tyre to prevent it getting tangled. Some will feature a spring or built in shock absorber to absorb movement, encouraging a smoother and safe ride. ‘What types of dogs can be used in mushing?’ In fact there are no breed of dog that wouldn’t take to mushing! You don’t have to worry about being competitive (unless you want to!), but if you’re just looking for another fun activity to do with your dog, any breed can be put in front of a scooter. Large, athletic breeds that have an instinctive desire to pull, like Huskies or Malamutes are a common choice for competitive Mushing, but really, any dog weighing upwards of 30lb would be an ideal size. If you put a small breed in harness, just be aware you may not ask them to pull the weight of you and the scooter, but as a fun activity to enjoy together, your dog in harness with you kicking behind, no breed need miss out. ‘What type of scooter do I need?’ Many types of scooters can be used for mushing and there are different sized lead adapters for various scooter models. You might find your current scooter would suit you for an entry in to mushing, but ideally, scooters should be large, off-road types, geared up for terrain. Check out our designated mushing page for our range of ideal scooters - https://www.funon2wheels.co.uk/store1/Dog-Mushing-c50654840. ‘Where can I find more information?’ The British Sled Dog Sports Association features 5 main disciplines in sled dog sports, and scootering is one of them! Did you know the UK has a number of international champions? Something new to set your sights on maybe. Their website is a great place to start researching in to the sport of Mushing; https://www.thebssf.org.uk/. This page shows you your local scootering clubs https://www.thebssf.org.uk/get-started/find-a-club-near-you, though the community is much bigger than you realise and there is lots of advice on hand for newcomers to the sport. While of course a Husky is not essential for mushing, The British Siberian Husky Racing Association is a great resource – it was founded at the end of the 1995/6 season, so these guys know what they’re talking about!
AMBASSADOR SEARCH To celebrate the approach of our first year in business, Fun On 2 Wheels Scooters are now looking for a Brand Ambassador who will be with us for the 2020-2021 season! The successful Brand Ambassador will be supplied with a brand new Yedoo Trexx! This is a white, 2019 model Trexx, worth £440. Are you already a passionate and regular scooter rider, keen to cover miles, explore new routes and document your adventures? You could be who we are looking for! Our new Brand Ambassador will; • be keen to promote scooting in the UK • be a friendly and enthusiastic person, happy to chat to others you come across who are interested in scooting • promote #FO2W and give out our business cards wherever possible • regularly post on social media tagging #FO2W when they post (minimum of 2 x month) • map and share their routes on our Facebook group ‘Kick Scooter Rides & Routes in the UK’ • send us pictures and routes from their travels, for use on our social media platforms • practice safe scootering at all times How to apply; Write a short introduction about yourself, telling us why you think you would make a good ambassador for #FO2W. Include a bit about your scooter history, your favourite scooter and the best ride you have been on. Include any social media handles (i.e. your Instagram name) if you like. Email us at info@funon2wheels.co.uk; closing date is 31.05.2020. Remember, we are not looking for someone who scoots huge distances or has lots of Instagram followers, rather someone passionate, who scoots a minimum of once a week (even just with the family!), wants to promote the growth of scooting throughout the UK and is happy to share their journey. You must be 18+ years of age and live in the UK. Good luck!
We specialise in quality big-wheeled scooters for adults and children and offer that personal touch - we are here to help you choose the perfect scooter for your needs.
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