One of my favourite areas in the UK to ride my bike is the Derbyshire Peak District, in particular the roads around Buxton, Matlock Bath, Glossop and Ashbourne.
The most famous road in the Peak District for bikers has to be the A537, better known as the Cat and Fiddle, named after the inn located at the summit of the road.
The Cat and Fiddle runs from Buxton to Macclesfield, sweeping high into the Peak District National Park with plenty of twisty bends and amazing views of the surrounding area. But it can also be full of cars, 4x4s, caravans, police cars, unmarked police cars and bikes (including a Fireblade), and it’s not unusual to see the police helicopter overhead too.
A word of caution
Unfortunately the Cat and Fiddle also has a reputation as the most dangerous road in Britain, according to the Road Safety Foundation, and I have to agree. Many a time I’ve seen not only motorcyclists but car drivers who have pushed too far and ended up having a bad day. This is a great road, but treat it with some respect and don’t ride it like a knob!
