Any decent XC / DH routes around... Swindon?

[Fetchez la vache]

Got a new job coming up which will mean me living in the well known mountanous region of middle England known as Swindon...

Are there any decent places to take the bike within 1/2 hr drive in the evenings? There must be somewhere closer than Lee woods in Bristol

[neil_bolton]

If you're just doing Leigh Woods in Bristol, then you're missing a lot of decent riding!

Ashton Court/Timberland Trail
50 Acre Woods
Still Woods

Bit further out towards the airport:

Shipham/Mendips

[Fetchez la vache]

Hi Neil, I'm not doing anything round Bristol at the moment as I live on the west coast of wooley wales, but I've done bits and bobs round Bristol years ago.
I'll no doubt be riding Bris (and looking for Rabbit infested pubs!) too so I'll make a note, cheers

[RB Will]

Plenty of riding across the downs, Ridgeway, lots of forrest sections all within 20 miles of swindon. A lot of them you can ride to in 20mins.
There is also a fun MBK trail that has been specially made opposite Nationwide on Pipers Way.

[Mr E]

Ridgeway as suggested - it's not huge fun though.

Good riding in the forest of dean, with a serious DH course...

Within swindon I tend to take a relaxed pootle to the pub to be honest.

[CooperS]

I've just moved to Bristol so was hoping something like this might get discussed. Can i ask is the bits and pieces that are around Bristol/Swindon fairly newbie friendly.

I dont get out all that much so am use to techy single track with a small number of small dropoffs (which my 5 handles with ease tbh) but nothing as massive like whats been built up in my head in Wales?

[caiss4]

To the OP, the nearest place to find any reasonable DH (and XC) is 20 miles south of Swindon around Bratton/Erlestoke/Lavingtons on the edge of Salisbury Plain. I'm sure there are other places along the Vale of Pewsey too but this is an area I've used and of course on most weekends the army ranges are open for (track based) x-country.

[CatherineJ]

Yes up at Barbury would be good.