Matlock Bath
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This is a massively attended Sunday meeting place with a whole cross section of biking types, from Goldwings with trailers through 2-stroke nuts to scratchers with the latest Italian model. Biking takes over the town.

It gets seriously packed and parking can be difficult. The Traffic Wardens are very much on the case and will catch you if you park up on the main road for more than an hour - amazing how they manage to get round everyone but they do! There are car parks for extended stays, but unless you're staying for lunch then there's only so much browsing round bikes you can do - go for a blast and let the next lot fit in somehow!

As with most well attended venues the police prescence is high and speed cameras and speed traps are plentiful. The speed limits on the surrounding A-roads is 50mph and you're advised to stick to it.

The town is slap bang in the midst of the Peak District and is very pretty, so it's also popular with tourists - who tend to find the bikes as an additional entertainment rather than a nuisance.

The roads around here are equally famous and notorious; with the sort of police interest associated with the Cat and fiddle pass!
There are the same blue signs around highlighting the tragedies that have transpired on the fantastic twisties. So you have been warned, have fun but don’t get nicked or stuck up a tractor!
Devils Bridge is one of the most famous meets of the north. There are always loads of bikes here, from old munters, and hacks, to the newest shiny superbikes. It is a great place for those who like to pose in the latest gear (And show off their unmarked pristine knee sliders). Usually a few trikes and specials to be seen too.

Apart from the outstanding natural beauty of the place, there is a caravan selling tea, and bacon butties etc, which does a roaring trade, a focal point and added attraction. In the summer, there is usually a herd of fools queuing to leap off the bridge into the water, some 40ft below. This is great fun, but there is a plaque on the rocks, dedicated to somebody who died here. I doubt he was walking the dog at the time.

A lot of bikers troll up and down the A65 from the M6 and back, but the area merits proper exploration. Further up the A65 it would be a shame to miss Ingleton, home of the famous 4 ½ mile waterfalls walk, and Bernie’s Café.

Steve Round of Bernie’s Café is very biker friendly and has a sign in the window attesting to that fact. The café is legendary amongst the caving and potholing world. It is a great meet for cavers, walkers and mountain bikers as well as motorcyclists. You can buy a pint mug of tea and sit steaming by the fire after you have been rained off! Steve hires out caving gear if you fancy trying another sport that requires a helmet and a powerful headlight!
Bernie’s is open from early till late every day except Tuesday.

The road above Ingleton, past the white scar caves is long and straight for miles, along the side of the valley, great for those who like aerobatics, but beware of dips and blind summits and sheep on the straight by White Scar - they don't seem to mind getting flattened !!

Dent, a picture postcard village in the area, is worth checking out too. Lovely pubs, but I will have to research whether they are biker friendly or not (hic!).

The content of this article remains the intellectual property of Geoff Byrne. GRB4Jesiccarose©2004