Kid friendly MTB in the south?
Discussion
We're near Poole...
Kids are 12, 10 and 10 and vary in ability and enthusiasm. We enjoy Moors Valley although it's getting dull, and visited Coed y Brenin a couple of years ago where the boys really enjoyed the skills loop and the blue.
And I took the 12-y-o to Wind Hill, where he was ok on the blue (which isn't in the best of nick) but hated the push up so he just repeated the top run across with a few jumps.
Swinley is a given, and QECP warrants a look but is there anywhere else? Both those are circa two hours away.
Kids are 12, 10 and 10 and vary in ability and enthusiasm. We enjoy Moors Valley although it's getting dull, and visited Coed y Brenin a couple of years ago where the boys really enjoyed the skills loop and the blue.
And I took the 12-y-o to Wind Hill, where he was ok on the blue (which isn't in the best of nick) but hated the push up so he just repeated the top run across with a few jumps.
Swinley is a given, and QECP warrants a look but is there anywhere else? Both those are circa two hours away.
Bill said:
No other suggestions??
Go to Minley Manor. Well used by Gorrick's 'Brass Monkeys' winter XC/Enduro races, and the Torq 12-hour race in August, plus other duathlon events and army MTB races.Not at all far from Swinley. DON'T try to enter the manor though. Parking is best at Hawley Lake Sail Training Centre. Then hit up Strava's heat maps or 'segment explore'. There are some fabulous sections there and they flow really well into one another to make up laps between 5 and 8 miles. Gorrick use it two or three times per year, and try to never repeat a race route exactly. So they create new sections from nothing and get 300-odd riders to wear it in for them.
There are several places to cross the main 'A' road to get from Hawley over to the Minley side, just take care crossing and then ride. There were other MOD areas great for MTBing around Aldershot, but many have been fenced off now. Minley, though, is still unfenced as far as I'm aware. Or try "Area 51" off the Old Guildford Road (now a byway). Not so easy to find, but it's also a Brass Monkeys race venue, and on the other side of Old Guildford Road is yet more MTBing heading down to the Basingstoke Canal Visitor Centre, which has a little cafe/tea room, and parking too.
Depending on your kids and their ability, it might be an idea to have a dads only recce first. I used to live within a mile of Minley Manor, but now I'm down in Bournemouth. I'm struggling to find decent, interesting, and above all challenging MTBing down here to be honest, as I was spoiled living near Minley.
Here's one Torq race lap at Minley to whet your appetite... https://www.strava.com/segments/10360348
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMSOL1Cxqb4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhrCpCeYa-c
MetalMatters said:
Forest of Dean, but not exactly local.
I ride over the Purbecks with my daughter, through the forest and push up on to the ridge.
We're in the Purbecks. It's great but the mileage:fairly easy fun ratio is low as a lot of the single track is very rutted. I ride over the Purbecks with my daughter, through the forest and push up on to the ridge.
FoD is a good call, I'd forgotten about that.
Uncle boshy said:
It's the same group as Wind Hill which was quite a step up for the eldest, so how easy are the easy bits?yellowjack said:
Depending on your kids and their ability, it might be an idea to have a dads only recce first.
Cheers, that's tricky that far from home particularly when there are more straightforward options to hand.ETA sorry to reduce such a long post to this one point.
Have you tried Puddletown Forest btw?
Weekend away at Bike Park Wales for the win. My kids absolutely love it.
My lads started going aged 10. I'm off there this Saturday in fact with my 12 year old. It's 3.5 hours for us to get there and our normal, non-Covid, itinerary is -
leave late morning the day before
arrive mid afternoon
Check-in to Travellodge at the bottom of the hill (£30 for the night and bikes can be stored in the room)
Cheeky Nandos for dinner opposite the Travellodge
Then walk next door for either the cinema (£5pp), the bowling alley or swimming pool for evening entertainment
Up early doors the next day for a full day on the uplift then drive home that evening.
Our local routes are around North Wales and this is a twice a year treat, but my kids are constantly begging to go. It's also massively improved their technique as they push themselves harder as they're not knackered from climbing.
My lads started going aged 10. I'm off there this Saturday in fact with my 12 year old. It's 3.5 hours for us to get there and our normal, non-Covid, itinerary is -
leave late morning the day before
arrive mid afternoon
Check-in to Travellodge at the bottom of the hill (£30 for the night and bikes can be stored in the room)
Cheeky Nandos for dinner opposite the Travellodge
Then walk next door for either the cinema (£5pp), the bowling alley or swimming pool for evening entertainment
Up early doors the next day for a full day on the uplift then drive home that evening.
Our local routes are around North Wales and this is a twice a year treat, but my kids are constantly begging to go. It's also massively improved their technique as they push themselves harder as they're not knackered from climbing.
There's a 'Bike Park' place on Okeford Hill northwest of Poole by about 45 mins, but it appears to be closed due to youknowwhat:
http://www.okefordhillbikepark.co.uk/
http://www.okefordhillbikepark.co.uk/
Johnnytheboy said:
There's a 'Bike Park' place on Okeford Hill northwest of Poole by about 45 mins, but it appears to be closed due to youknowwhat:
http://www.okefordhillbikepark.co.uk/
Okeford is more towards the extreme side of venues with quite a long and steep push up.http://www.okefordhillbikepark.co.uk/
Bill said:
Uncle boshy said:
It's the same group as Wind Hill which was quite a step up for the eldest, so how easy are the easy bits?You also have Rogate, also part of the B1KE group and it is superb there. Easy to get back up with some super smooth flowy lines suitable for all as well as the big stuff!
JQ said:
Weekend away at Bike Park Wales for the win. My kids absolutely love it.
My lads started going aged 10. I'm off there this Saturday in fact with my 12 year old. It's 3.5 hours for us to get there and our normal, non-Covid, itinerary is -
leave late morning the day before
arrive mid afternoon
Check-in to Travellodge at the bottom of the hill (£30 for the night and bikes can be stored in the room)
Cheeky Nandos for dinner opposite the Travellodge
Then walk next door for either the cinema (£5pp), the bowling alley or swimming pool for evening entertainment
Up early doors the next day for a full day on the uplift then drive home that evening.
Our local routes are around North Wales and this is a twice a year treat, but my kids are constantly begging to go. It's also massively improved their technique as they push themselves harder as they're not knackered from climbing.
That does sound perfect! Formulating a plan...My lads started going aged 10. I'm off there this Saturday in fact with my 12 year old. It's 3.5 hours for us to get there and our normal, non-Covid, itinerary is -
leave late morning the day before
arrive mid afternoon
Check-in to Travellodge at the bottom of the hill (£30 for the night and bikes can be stored in the room)
Cheeky Nandos for dinner opposite the Travellodge
Then walk next door for either the cinema (£5pp), the bowling alley or swimming pool for evening entertainment
Up early doors the next day for a full day on the uplift then drive home that evening.
Our local routes are around North Wales and this is a twice a year treat, but my kids are constantly begging to go. It's also massively improved their technique as they push themselves harder as they're not knackered from climbing.
How quickly does Swinley dry out?? Thursday looks perfect, but Wednesday is very wet...
nessiemac said:
There are a couple of beginner friendly tracks at Tidworth and the push up isn't too bad either. One of our favourite places to ride.
You also have Rogate, also part of the B1KE group and it is superb there. Easy to get back up with some super smooth flowy lines suitable for all as well as the big stuff!
Cheers.You also have Rogate, also part of the B1KE group and it is superb there. Easy to get back up with some super smooth flowy lines suitable for all as well as the big stuff!
Bill said:
That does sound perfect! Formulating a plan...
It's brilliant - they started on the blue runs and quickly advanced to the reds. The blue runs are totally roll-able with fast berms and small jumps (that can be rolled). The reds will have a few drop-offs, but each section has a "qualifier" at the very start and the "qualifier" is generally harder than anything you'll find on the actual run. My lads (10 & 12) will now do most Reds, although there are one or two points where my youngest may walk the bike round a section.I've just been planning our weekend and Nandos is open, as is the bowling alley with Crazy Golf, but the swimming pool is closed and the cinema doesn't open until 26th August. A game of bowling and a game of crazy golf for the two of us, if pre-booked, is coming to the pricely sum of £12, can't fault those prices.
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