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Sheep Pasture Incline – Middleton Top Engine House loop from Birchwood Farm

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Sheep Pasture Incline – Middleton Top Engine House loop from Birchwood Farm

Moderate

riders

Sheep Pasture Incline – Middleton Top Engine House loop from Birchwood Farm

01:02

9.49km

220m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

Last updated: June 14, 2026

Tips

Cycling is not permitted along parts of this route

After 164 m for 79 m

After 9.25 km for 79 m

Waypoints

Start point

Camper Parking

Get Directions

875 m

Sheep Pasture Incline

Highlight (Segment) • Climb

Well done to anyone who manages to cycle up the full incline from High Peak junction to the nice seat at the top with a lovely view. The incline is a constant gradient so no chance for the rest at any point. In autumn there are a lot of leaves and nuts on the ground which makes cycling even harder. I failed after about two thirds of the slope!
Great way though to gain the height and then travel further along the High Peak trail.

Tip by

1.88 km

Middleton Top Viewpoint

Highlight • Viewpoint

Middleton Top - the views across the valley are fantastic!

Tip by

1.92 km

Sheep Pasture Engine House

Highlight • Historical Site

The Sheep Pasture incline house housed the steam beam engine which used to winch the trucks up the hill from the junction with the Cromford Canal and railway. This section of the railway was completed in 1830, it was the first section on the line from here to Whaley Bridge. The railway was used to transport the minerals and stone from the mines in the Peak District. The railway closed in 1967.

Tip by

3.78 km

Middleton Incline

Highlight (Segment) • Structure

Middleton Incline is a former railway incline in Middleton, Derbyshire once part of the Cromford and High Peak Railway. The incline was one of six gradients along the entire line from Cromford to Whaley Bridge in High Peak, Derbyshire. The incline was opened in 1830 and was in use until 1967 when the entire line from Whaley Bridge to Middleton was closed, with the section to Cromford closing in 1963. Today, the incline is used as part of the High Peak Trail. Middleton Pasture Incline was also 1 in 9 gradient, like the other slopes along the former railway.

Tip by

4.72 km

Middleton Top Engine House

Highlight • Historical Site

Very interesting piece of railway history containing the world's oldest working
steam lift. Take the time to go a little further to theSteeple Grange Light Railway or brave the Sheep Pasture descent to the Cromford Canal.
Refreshments and toilets on site.

Tip by

4.86 km

Middleton Top Engine House and railway wagon

Highlight • Historical Site

Notorious for its steep gradient, Middleton Top is a super climb with majestic views at the top. Plus, there's bike hire and a small cafe here. It has also been part of the Eroica Britannia route for the past few years – imagine that gradient with barely functioning, pre-1979 gearing. At the top of the incline there's the Middleton Top Engine House, as the track used to be the High Peak steam railway.

Tip by

9.49 km

End point

Camper Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.46 km

1.67 km

352 m

Surfaces

8.95 km

532 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (300 m)

Lowest point (140 m)

Weather

Friday 10 July

28°C

15°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 20.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

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Sheep Pasture Incline – Middleton Top Engine House loop from Birchwood Farm

Sheep Pasture Incline

Middleton Top Viewpoint

Sheep Pasture Engine House

Middleton Incline

Middleton Top Engine House

Middleton Top Engine House and railway wagon

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