With hotels in the Peak District and Scarborough, Bike & Boot have ignored the trend for esoteric property naming for a functional title. Set in the village of Bamford on the main A6187 road, Bike & Boot marks a midpoint between Sheffield and Manchester and a central departure point for runners, cyclists and hikers exploring this elevated heart of England.

Made of 60 rooms, Bike & Boot’s form mirrors that of a motel with the intimacy of a guesthouse. The convenient location caters to motorists looking for a place to park up and sleep (the car park has a one way IN and OUT system). Those attempting the Hope Valley with a vehicle are equally well connected with public transport, with Bike & Boot serviced by the TransPeninne Express (which connects Manchester and Sheffield), as well as the 272 Peak Express.

Rooms at Bike & Boot are spacious with clean finishes, decorated with cycling and railway-themed artwork. A Nespresso coffee machine is centrally placed on a a sturdy set of drawers. Plenty of hanging space has been installed along with a wall radiator in the bathroom – the toils of a damp or wet Peak District are easily resolved.

Additional facilities include a diner serving wholesome and un-fancy dishes, with an elevated cocktail programme across the room at the 10-seat bar. A cosy lounge is available for guests before their arrival and to use liberally during stays – the peak hour is 4pm when free cake is served. There’s no gym at Bike & Boot, Peak District.

Training Notes

The 272 Peak bus (route map) and TransPennine Express trains give Bike & Boot guests a useful extension when thinking about ambitious running, cycling and swimming in the Hope Valley.

Road running routes from Bike & Boot are few, so head onto a new trail in the direction of Ladybower Reservoir, due north. The trail is flat and hardback from Thornhill, also placing you at to the foot of the reservoir and routes up Bamford Edge. Stanage Edge is another option to the West, with the option to use the 272 Peak Express to get back to Bike & Book (note Colemans Deli or Open House in Hathersage to warm up and kill time before the hourly bus arrives).

Rent a Sonder Gravel or Road bike via Alpkit in Hathersage. A gravel route along the west edge of Ladybower Reservoir provides a good orientation route. To the south is Chatsworth House which works well for a coffee route – Winnats Pass the qualifier. Snake Pass is nearer to Bike & Boot but gets busy with traffic, especially on weekends from 9am.

Nearby Hathersage is unusually equipped with a heated lido – Hathersage Swimming Pool – completed in 1937 and well maintained at a length of 30m. The pool is open year-round.

Based a stay in room #106 in February 2025. Learn more at bikeandboot.co.uk