MTB in the South East
Discussion
Afternoon folks,
Looking to hit somewhere different this Sunday. Usually do Bedgebury Forrest once a week, have done Surrey Hills and Friston Forrest locally. Also done Afan, Cwmcarn, Glentress etc.
Don't want to drive too far from home (inbetween, Hastings and Tunbridge Wells) Thinking of about a 2 ish hour drive as I'm out on Sat night for a mates 30th so don't fancy a day trip to Wales this time. Any thoughts on Swinley or Thetford, or other ideas welcome.
Thanks in advance.
Aaron
Looking to hit somewhere different this Sunday. Usually do Bedgebury Forrest once a week, have done Surrey Hills and Friston Forrest locally. Also done Afan, Cwmcarn, Glentress etc.
Don't want to drive too far from home (inbetween, Hastings and Tunbridge Wells) Thinking of about a 2 ish hour drive as I'm out on Sat night for a mates 30th so don't fancy a day trip to Wales this time. Any thoughts on Swinley or Thetford, or other ideas welcome.
Thanks in advance.
Aaron
missing the VR6 said:
Cool thanks, where is it? Is it a trail centre or do I need to find the trails?
Actually I should have given more info really. Don't go expecting it to be Afan, it's not. It's a collection of DH trails with a somehwat half-hearted XC loop. The DH runs are fantastic though. I've happily spent a day doing the red, some of the easier proper DH* runs and the 4X track and I'm an XC rider these days really. Plenty of vids on youtube of the trails.There are toilets but not a cafe or anything like that.
- don't miss the turn for the red and do the black run! that's an error i wouldn't wish to repeat!
http://www.rideastonhill.co.uk/
Edited by budgie smuggler on Wednesday 11th July 16:49
Andy_sx said:
Perry woods, near faversham / canterbury.
havent been for ages, plenty of single track runs
Did think about that as they've been recommended to me a few times but they're somewhere we'd probably get to on an afternoon/evening.havent been for ages, plenty of single track runs
This Sunday is more because my mate has a free pass without wife or small child, so want to go somewhere a bit more special.
Swinley is good, I used to ride there a lot but have been doing a lot of road riding this year so have only been there half a dozen times in the past few months. Lots of nice flowy trails, a few short downhill runs in the 'expert area', a jump gully (if thats your thing), some XC type trails, lots of twisty forest trails - a bit of something for everyone!
It used to be very quiet but has had a lot of press and internet coverage in the past 18 months, so the trails can be very busy at the weekends; 2 years ago I could ride for hours on a Sat/Sun and hardly see another rider!
Also, as it is mainly loamy forest floor with a few hardpack trails it can be very boggy when wet, given the rain we have had recently I would expect a lot of very boggy trails and muddy hardpack!
The main trails are quite obvious, but the better ones are hidden so you might need to ask a local for some pointers. That said the majority of trails have GPS traces on the web, so if you do a quick google you will probably find them. Also, most of the popular trails have segments on Strava, so if you do a segment explore near Bracknell you will find them.
It used to be very quiet but has had a lot of press and internet coverage in the past 18 months, so the trails can be very busy at the weekends; 2 years ago I could ride for hours on a Sat/Sun and hardly see another rider!
Also, as it is mainly loamy forest floor with a few hardpack trails it can be very boggy when wet, given the rain we have had recently I would expect a lot of very boggy trails and muddy hardpack!
The main trails are quite obvious, but the better ones are hidden so you might need to ask a local for some pointers. That said the majority of trails have GPS traces on the web, so if you do a quick google you will probably find them. Also, most of the popular trails have segments on Strava, so if you do a segment explore near Bracknell you will find them.
budgie smuggler said:
Actually I should have given more info really. Don't go expecting it to be Afan, it's not. It's a collection of DH trails with a somehwat half-hearted XC loop. The DH runs are fantastic though. I've happily spent a day doing the red, some of the easier proper DH* runs and the 4X track and I'm an XC rider these days really. Plenty of vids on youtube of the trails.
There are toilets but not a cafe or anything like that.
oh and here's their website:
http://www.rideastonhill.co.uk/
That sounds pretty good fun, done the Forrest of Dean a few times and have really started to enjoy the DH side of life although no too extreme!There are toilets but not a cafe or anything like that.
- don't miss the turn for the red and do the black run! that's an error i wouldn't wish to repeat!
oh and here's their website:
http://www.rideastonhill.co.uk/
Edited by budgie smuggler on Wednesday 11th July 16:49
MadDad said:
Swinley is good, I used to ride there a lot but have been doing a lot of road riding this year so have only been there half a dozen times in the past few months. Lots of nice flowy trails, a few short downhill runs in the 'expert area', a jump gully (if thats your thing), some XC type trails, lots of twisty forest trails - a bit of something for everyone!
It used to be very quiet but has had a lot of press and internet coverage in the past 18 months, so the trails can be very busy at the weekends; 2 years ago I could ride for hours on a Sat/Sun and hardly see another rider!
Also, as it is mainly loamy forest floor with a few hardpack trails it can be very boggy when wet, given the rain we have had recently I would expect a lot of very boggy trails and muddy hardpack!
The main trails are quite obvious, but the better ones are hidden so you might need to ask a local for some pointers. That said the majority of trails have GPS traces on the web, so if you do a quick google you will probably find them. Also, most of the popular trails have segments on Strava, so if you do a segment explore near Bracknell you will find them.
Is there one big loop or lot's of small runs to link together?It used to be very quiet but has had a lot of press and internet coverage in the past 18 months, so the trails can be very busy at the weekends; 2 years ago I could ride for hours on a Sat/Sun and hardly see another rider!
Also, as it is mainly loamy forest floor with a few hardpack trails it can be very boggy when wet, given the rain we have had recently I would expect a lot of very boggy trails and muddy hardpack!
The main trails are quite obvious, but the better ones are hidden so you might need to ask a local for some pointers. That said the majority of trails have GPS traces on the web, so if you do a quick google you will probably find them. Also, most of the popular trails have segments on Strava, so if you do a segment explore near Bracknell you will find them.
missing the VR6 said:
MadDad said:
Swinley is good, I used to ride there a lot but have been doing a lot of road riding this year so have only been there half a dozen times in the past few months. Lots of nice flowy trails, a few short downhill runs in the 'expert area', a jump gully (if thats your thing), some XC type trails, lots of twisty forest trails - a bit of something for everyone!
It used to be very quiet but has had a lot of press and internet coverage in the past 18 months, so the trails can be very busy at the weekends; 2 years ago I could ride for hours on a Sat/Sun and hardly see another rider!
Also, as it is mainly loamy forest floor with a few hardpack trails it can be very boggy when wet, given the rain we have had recently I would expect a lot of very boggy trails and muddy hardpack!
The main trails are quite obvious, but the better ones are hidden so you might need to ask a local for some pointers. That said the majority of trails have GPS traces on the web, so if you do a quick google you will probably find them. Also, most of the popular trails have segments on Strava, so if you do a segment explore near Bracknell you will find them.
Is there one big loop or lot's of small runs to link together?It used to be very quiet but has had a lot of press and internet coverage in the past 18 months, so the trails can be very busy at the weekends; 2 years ago I could ride for hours on a Sat/Sun and hardly see another rider!
Also, as it is mainly loamy forest floor with a few hardpack trails it can be very boggy when wet, given the rain we have had recently I would expect a lot of very boggy trails and muddy hardpack!
The main trails are quite obvious, but the better ones are hidden so you might need to ask a local for some pointers. That said the majority of trails have GPS traces on the web, so if you do a quick google you will probably find them. Also, most of the popular trails have segments on Strava, so if you do a segment explore near Bracknell you will find them.
missing the VR6 said:
Is there one big loop or lot's of small runs to link together?
If you know where you're going, you can do a loop of about 18 miles or so at Swinley. Try taking a look on Garmin Connect or somewhere like that and downloading a route.I was at Swinley this morning and with all the heavy rain recently it's a mess! The fire roads were underwater and most of the trails were pretty badly cut up.
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