We parked at the Agricultural Business Centre in Bakewell (postcode DE45 1AH) which had hundreds of pay and display parking spaces. Although no facilities specifically for the car park, the centre of Bakewell was just a few minutes walk or scoot, which is a great location to visit itself. Public facilities here were paid, so remember those 20 pence pieces! To reach the start of the trail we rode on a small road for about 2 miles, the start was signposted and is route 680 on Sustrans National Cycle Network. A quick push of the scooters up alongside steps led to the start of the trail.
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Monsal Trail, Peak District
The second day of our adventures started early and we were headed for the infamous Monsal Trail, a former Midland railway line which takes you through the Peak District’s ‘most spectacular limestone dales’.
There are a few reasons this trail is so well known to visitors, firstly the incredible views and secondly the tunnels! You will also go over a couple of viaducts and while you can’t really see what you’re riding over if you leave your scooters and pop through the kissing gate to your left (riding the way did) just after Monsal Head, there’s a great photo opportunity. It is pretty mind blowing to think of all the trains that would have passed through the countryside, where these trails now lay; the views must have been outstanding! There were plenty of reminders of days of old, with the many tunnels, viaducts and remnants of old station buildings and platforms which would have served many of the small villages or towns along the route.
There are 6 tunnels in total; 4 are about 400m long - Headstone Tunnel, Cressbrook Tunnel, Litton Tunnel, Chee Tor Tunnel. The Chee Tor No.2 and Rusher Cutting are shorter. Tunnels are lit in daytime hours, but more to direct you rather than light the whole tunnel. It was quite hard to see other people on the trail, so do keep your wits about you and pop your lights on if you can. We came out of every tunnel in to a new weather climate - it seemed we would enter a tunnel in grey skies and drizzle and exit to bright sunshine! I discovered a light waterproof is a must in these parts.
One of the perks for me of this trail was Hassop Station Kitchen! If you’re like me and enjoy good food, make sure you factor a stop here. We stopped at the end of our ride which fell just right for lunch. Quality meals (rather than quick convenience food) was a nice surprise, and healthy options like salad bowls or vegan options, as well as the normal sandwiches and fish and chips explained why this place was so busy! Other facilities at Millers Dale Station and Chee Dale are available, and made a welcome stop along the route.
This whole trail was one long, flat route with so much to see, photograph and take in. The views changed as we moved up the route, from jagged rockfaces to rolling countryside as we neared Chee Dale. Our route from start to finish was just under 21 miles, very flat, inviting and doable. It didn’t seem such a long way, though there are car parks on the route if you wish to ride a shorter portion of the trail. David had done his research well - riding the way we did meant a slight incline on the trip out, which means we had a slight help on the return stretch – not that we were tired, there was too much to look at! A definite win for scooters and I am sure when we visit again we will see lots we missed this time!
Some pictures from the trail
Sarah • Jun 17, 2022
Some information and pictures from our ride from High Peak Junction in the Peak District, with the Yedoo Trexx and MIBO Alltrack.
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.
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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info@funon2wheels.co.uk
Norfolk, UK
