Great (but easy-ish) MTB routes?

[Pulse]

I'm looking to get out on the MTB, and fancy doing an interesting route. I don't mind a bit of difficulty, but am certainly not very skilled. To give an indication, my recent trip to Cannock was great fun, but scary!

I'll be on a hardtail, and would rather be doing something which takes in shed loads of nice scenery and covers a decent amount of ground. Hills don't bother me in the slightest, and happy to do something with huge inclines.

Any suggestions for where I could go? I've looked on MBR etc. but they are typically more aimed at those who want to do more technical stuff.

ETA: Ideally something safe to do alone.

Edited by Pulse on Sunday 24th January 20:27

[gazza285]

Other than about three bits of the Black Route I thought Cannock was very tame, I'm not sure anywhere less demanding exists, other than riding on the road.

[celestequattro]

Forest of Dean Blue and Red routes are fun and safe with no scary stuff on them.

[neilski]

El Camino del Muerte in Bolivia.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=143...

Or did you want something a bit more local?

[Crippo]

If you arent far from Cannock then get over to the Long Mynd, some nice singletrack around there. Some of it is very narrow with some good inclines but plenty of easy stuff too, but crucially there are great views everywhere

[Fluffsri]

There are a couple of old railway lines in the Peaks. Some cracking views and easy mileage.

[5678]

Hello mate!

We should look at doing the ridgeway sometime? Swinley is fun and not very technical at all.

[richardxjr]

Seek out some of the published ITT epics. Ridgeway double is the starting point; I've yet to progress beyond that one yet!

www.selfsupporteduk.net

Some others here too

www.mtbepicsuk.co.uk/the-books/

Or hit Strava Heatmap and create your own on Bikehike.co.uk

[Craikeybaby]

Where are you based?

I found the red trail at Sherwood Pines is mellower than the red trail at Cannock.

Most of my riding is from home (Coventry) I looked at an OS map, found the bridleways and went exploring. Strave heatmap is also worth a look.

[phil-sti]

Get into the lakes :-)

[rhinochopig]

Head into the peaks and google for routes around Mam Torr. There are loads of variations covering short or epic routes all taking in a range of terrain and views. A word of caution though the drop down the back of Mam Torr via the old road is very technical so I'd avoid that as a beginner.

[Pulse]

Cheers everyone! Some great suggestions. I have a few places on my list now, having looked through a fair amount last night. I am going to take a few days away and try and take in the Lake District, Peak District, Yorkshire Moors and Shropshire.

I'm based in Swindon, but don't mind travelling a couple of hours each way for a day out, a few hours each way for a night away, or any distance for taking a longer time away. The aim is to explore many different places, and not restrict myself.

5678 said:

Hello mate!

We should look at doing the ridgeway sometime? Swinley is fun and not very technical at all.

Hello buddy, long time no speak.

Definitely up for the Ridgeway. I'm going to ride the whole thing in a day this year, and took the first section in a couple of times last year. I went to Swinley last year (as well as Cannock) and found Swinley much easier (though the ground was better). Managed to flip the bike in Cannock after a stupid off.

I'm nowhere near your level though! More just like seeing the sights and pottering along!

[Eddh]

If you're in Swindon then the Ashton Court / Leigh Woods trails in Bristol are really easy.

Also you aren't a million miles away from Swinley Forrest which is very good too.

[5678]

Pulse said:

Hello buddy, long time no speak.

Definitely up for the Ridgeway. I'm going to ride the whole thing in a day this year, and took the first section in a couple of times last year. I went to Swinley last year (as well as Cannock) and found Swinley much easier (though the ground was better). Managed to flip the bike in Cannock after a stupid off.

I'm nowhere near your level though! More just like seeing the sights and pottering along!

I'm just outside Streatley so right near the ridgeway!

[Ynox]

Swinley is worth a go. The blue route is all easily rollable, but if you go flat out on the berms can be a good laugh.

There's also a green route which is a good laugh to try to time trial, assuming there's no young kids on it.

[JustinF]

Took my lad on a mtb week away in 2014 we did Dalby, Cannock, Forest of Dean & Sherwood Pines; we also do Swinley and Bedgebury fairly regularly.
In order of technicality I'd say Dalby (by quite a margin), Cannock, FoD, Swinley, Bedgebury, Sherwood, the last two very tame indeed.
Swinley highly recommended for approachability with some really well designed singletrack that is great fun as a novice and gets better and better as you do.

Edited by JustinF on Tuesday 26th January 00:43

[Kermit power]

I've only ridden the blue route at the Forest of Dean, which certainly isn't technical at all, but has a lot more climbing than either of the above. I'm not sure what it's like from an "enjoying the views" perspective, as it was foggy when we got up to the top where the views would've been!

I've not ridden Leigh Woods in Bristol, which I believe is supposed to be more technically challenging than Ashton Court next door to it, but I found Ashton Court fairly dull. The riding is dull compared to any of the above, but more to the point, unless you ride up the road from the carpark by the main house, the landscape is pretty dull too. Nice enough woodland to pootle around if you happen to be there, but I think you'd be a bit disappointed if you'd made the trip specially.

I frequently ride Bedgebury and Swinley with my 10yr old, and would say both are roughly on a par with each other in terms of technical difficulty, with some of Swinley being more testing than Bedgebury. If you can happily make it through the bomb holes at the start of the red section at Swinley, you'll make it through anywhere at Bedgebury with ease. As with Ashton Court, neither of these offer much in the way of views, as you're very much in the forest the whole time, but I still find they both feel more special, as there's more swoopy stuff, and the forest is much more open and impressive. It is a forest, as opposed to just a bit of woodland, if that makes sense?

Going a little further West, Haldon Forest in Exeter has some really nice views to ride through! Although it's Forestry Commission and marked as a red (same as Bedgebury), in reality it's way easier than the Swinley blue, and is really an out and out cross country ride, so should fit the bill for "nothing challenging". There are also loads of tracks which aren't signposted, but I've not ridden there often enough to find them.

[Silver940]

Down South, easy day with nice scenery The New Forest. Mostly Fire tracks, you are only supposed to ride on approved tracks but I've never really stuck to that. Just be polite to horse riders etc. If you are off piste you may get shouted at by nimby dog walkers or horse riders, I usually wish them them a nice day and continue. very pleasant on a sunny day, lots of pub stops if that's your thing. ( Can help with routes if you wanted )

And the Purbecks is amazing with proper views. Head over to swanage and as a start follow the route of the wiggle hill-a-saurus to get your bearings.

http://www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk/events/wiggle-pur... ( Linked for GPX file )

[richardxjr]

And come on the PH Swinley day, riding with others will help you progress if you want to.

[Pulse]

richardxjr said:

And come on the PH Swinley day, riding with others will help you progress if you want to.

Already down for it! I've been to Swinley before and enjoyed it, but with other complete novices.

I just have to (hopefully) make my bike fit in a Mk3 MR2!