trails SE

[lickatysplit]

Hi all,

has anyone know any decent trails or Bike parks in the South east? I Live in Rochester so have found a few around there, have done bedgebury but now looking for new ones.

[daddy cool]

Bit of a trek for you, but theres Swinley Forest, just off the M3 at Bracknell (its less than a mile from my front door). Depending on fitness/ability you're looking at 1.5-2.5 hours of riding if you just do the blue & red routes. Obviously you can repeat some of the fun downhill sections if you want, and there is some off-piste areas you can do if you want some extra mileage/saddle time.
Bike Park Wales it aint, but I defy anyone to get around it at a decent pace and not have fun.
Hit me up if youre coming over and want some company/guide to some good bits.

Edit - Oh you also have the surrey hills trails around Dorking, but ideally you'll want a local guide. Ive only been once and followed a route of my garmin with reasonable success - some really good sections, but lots of getting lost in between!

[lufbramatt]

I'm Rochester too.

There's some singletrack at Cyclopark off the A2 but it's nothing special. Ditto Betteshanger near Sandwich. Bedgebury about it in terms of trail centre type riding.

Locally there's some good natural trails if you head to the north downs way on the other side of the Medway. Over the M2 bridge you can go up through Ranscombe farm towards Cobham (theres an off road cycle loop in Shorne park that's quite good fun on a weekday, too busy at other times, the dog walkers are a nightmare) then head east, quite a few bridleways and byways to explore going over towards Trosley country park.

Surrey hills not too far away but I gather some of the trails over there are dubious legally and you need local knowledge to find the good ones.

[river_rat]

Hadleigh Park - the venue for the 2012 Olympic MTB, isn't that far from you.

You can get out of the park and do a loop along the estuary to Leigh On Sea (and probably lots of other places) aswell.

[lufbramatt]

Not as the crow flies, but it's an 80 mile round trip

[Gio G]

daddy cool said:

Bit of a trek for you, but theres Swinley Forest, just off the M3 at Bracknell (its less than a mile from my front door). Depending on fitness/ability you're looking at 1.5-2.5 hours of riding if you just do the blue & red routes. Obviously you can repeat some of the fun downhill sections if you want, and there is some off-piste areas you can do if you want some extra mileage/saddle time.
Bike Park Wales it aint, but I defy anyone to get around it at a decent pace and not have fun.
Hit me up if youre coming over and want some company/guide to some good bits.

Edit - Oh you also have the surrey hills trails around Dorking, but ideally you'll want a local guide. Ive only been once and followed a route of my garmin with reasonable success - some really good sections, but lots of getting lost in between!

+1 for Swinley - was there yesterday, seems most of the runs are quite dry, which makes it quite enjoyable!

G

[lickatysplit]

lufbramatt said:

I'm Rochester too.

Locally there's some good natural trails if you head to the north downs way on the other side of the Medway. Over the M2 bridge you can go up through Ranscombe farm towards Cobham (theres an off road cycle loop in Shorne park that's quite good fun on a weekday, too busy at other times, the dog walkers are a nightmare) then head east, quite a few bridleways and byways to explore going over towards Trosley country park.

Surrey hills not too far away but I gather some of the trails over there are dubious legally and you need local knowledge to find the good ones.

ranscombe is always a good ride, especially in the dark then suddenly coming face to face with a massive cow ha ha

I've looked at the surrey Hills recently, I might have to head over there

[Gareth79]

Gio G said:

+1 for Swinley - was there yesterday, seems most of the runs are quite dry, which makes it quite enjoyable!

G

Much of it is quite well-drained naturally I think, then there's gravel on top. Last time I was there reds 1-5 were a little boggy, being through the trees and having a natural surface.

[lufbramatt]

lickatysplit said:

ranscombe is always a good ride, especially in the dark then suddenly coming face to face with a massive cow ha ha

I've looked at the surrey Hills recently, I might have to head over there

Jeez yea those cows with the big horns are a bit scary!

[Craikeybaby]

There's Penhurst Bike Park (aka PORC), never ridden there though.

[lufbramatt]

A guy I used to work with used to go there, I get the impression it was/is mainly jumps and short DH type trails.

[Craikeybaby]

The OP did ask for bike parks, I'd class bike parks as jumps/DH trails.

[lufbramatt]

no worries just adding what I knew about the place

info seems to be here:

https://www.facebook.com/PenshurstBikePark/?eid=AR...

Open at weekends and school holidays it appears.

Looks fun although probably above my abilities!

[piecost76]

Oldbury Woods in Ightham & stop off at Ightham Mote for a brew

Mereworth Woods & use Spadeworks in Offham for a brew. Can be v wet though!

As mentioned there is a light 10KM trail called the Darnely Trail in & around Cobham & Shorne. Plenty of rest sport there.

North Downs Way...

But yes I have found Bedgebury to be the best/easiest all in one centre.

[sjg]

Craikeybaby said:

There's Penhurst Bike Park (aka PORC), never ridden there though.

I haven't in 20 years but it's changed hands recently and looks like lots of recent work from the videos that pop up in my youtube feed.

Bull Track near Crowborough has short DH and lots of jumps too. It closes over the winter though.

[lickatysplit]

some great ideas there, thanks all