Peak District's Eroica festival on the move for 2017 in site rethink

The Eroica Britannia cycling and vintage lifestyle festival is on the move to a new home in the Peak District.
Eroica Brittannia bike show at BakewellEroica Brittannia bike show at Bakewell
Eroica Brittannia bike show at Bakewell

Held for the past three years on the Bakewell Showground, Eroica is relocating for June 2017 to the farmland surrounding Friden Grange, in the hamlet of Friden, near Hartington.

The Grange is a Grade II listed building, where the DSF Refractories & Minerals firm is based.

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Organisers say Friden is seven miles from Bakewell, and that the new site gives access to the High Peak Trail running through the grounds.

The routes of Eroica’s three cycle rides of 30, 55 and 100 miles – which tour villages in the Peak, pausing for ‘feast stops’ along the way – will also change.

A spokesman for the race said the move allowed organisers to ‘refine and develop’ the ride and the three-day festival.

“The deciding factor for our move is the High Peak Trail which cuts through the festival site.

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“The new festival site also gives us more space to organically spread out for camping and parking as well as to expand on key activations for the weekend. It is a beautiful location and one we are proud to put our name on.”

It is also thought Friden Grange is better placed if bad weather strikes.

“The good thing is it’s not down in the valley, it’s higher up,” a spokeswoman added.

This year organisers battled to make sure the festival went ahead after a spell of heavy rain.

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Early bird festival tickets will go on sale on November 18, when ride places will be available too. Eroica Britannia – inspired by an event in Italy – was brought to the UK by a group of businessmen, including Gian Bohan of Nonna’s on Ecclesall Road.