Woburn, Sherwood, Cannock or...
Discussion
I usually ride at Cannock with FTD as my regular night ride after work and I've ridden the Monkey Trail a couple of times this year.
I've taken the day off on Friday and was planning to go to Sherwood but have read mixed reviews about it, and then realised that Woburn is only an hour away but know nothing about it.
So I fancy going somewhere different, needs to be within 90 mins of Leicester, where would you go and why?
I've taken the day off on Friday and was planning to go to Sherwood but have read mixed reviews about it, and then realised that Woburn is only an hour away but know nothing about it.
So I fancy going somewhere different, needs to be within 90 mins of Leicester, where would you go and why?
I'm in Leicestershire and Church Stretton is about 90 mins away, some great natural riding over the Long Mynd and you can check out the Minton Batch descent.
http://www.mtb-shropshire.co.uk/trails/
http://www.mbr.co.uk/routes/uk_trails/trail-of-the...
http://www.mtb-shropshire.co.uk/trails/
http://www.mbr.co.uk/routes/uk_trails/trail-of-the...
Sherwood Pines is ok. Nothing too technical tho. The red route is about 9 miles around so a 2/3 laps is my usual thing. There are plenty of fast flowing sections & the quicker you ride it the more fun it is. It's relatively flat & new grippy sections have been put in quite recently. It's worth a trip but it's nothing compared to Dalby or Whinlatter. The cafe is very good tho...
andySC said:
Sherwood Pines is ok. Nothing too technical tho. The red route is about 9 miles around so a 2/3 laps is my usual thing. There are plenty of fast flowing sections & the quicker you ride it the more fun it is. It's relatively flat & new grippy sections have been put in quite recently. It's worth a trip but it's nothing compared to Dalby or Whinlatter. The cafe is very good tho...
I did the red route on Sunday for the 1st time. Its a good laugh, but i'm no expert so depending on how good you are, you might not find it challenging enough (its pretty flat which suits me as i'm a knackered old fogey). The bike park 2/3 of the way round has some decent jumps to mess about on too. As said, cafe is top drawer. Its not coed-y-brenin, but I enjoyed it!Thanks for the suggestions chaps.
It's a very rare occasion where I get a day to myself, so I don't want to be disappointed as I may not get the chance again for a while.
I think because Sherwood and Woburn are both within an hours drive, so easy to get up early on a Sunday and get back again for late morning, I might head a bit further afield and try the Long Mynd suggestion - thanks TheBaj - as that looks like guaranteed entertainment.
However, please keep the suggestions coming if there's any others
It's a very rare occasion where I get a day to myself, so I don't want to be disappointed as I may not get the chance again for a while.
I think because Sherwood and Woburn are both within an hours drive, so easy to get up early on a Sunday and get back again for late morning, I might head a bit further afield and try the Long Mynd suggestion - thanks TheBaj - as that looks like guaranteed entertainment.
However, please keep the suggestions coming if there's any others
It Depends is the obvious answer!
Woburn is my local, and there's a lot there, but crammed into a small space, and the best trails can be quite well hidden (less so at the moment as the greenery is down for winter) and making up a nice loop to get in the nice trails without going round in circles / repeating tracks can be difficult.
There is obviously the jumps area, with big sand jumps and some fast more flowing lines / drops around the outside of the main bowl area. The XC stuff is spread over the rest of the area, and tbh, it's more technical / slippy than fast rolling at the moment. There's plenty of stuff to push your skills on however, steeps (in both directions) drops, roots, mud, trees to hop over / cycle along etc.
It's certainly nothing like the open Welsh stuff at the Mynd for example!
Woburn is my local, and there's a lot there, but crammed into a small space, and the best trails can be quite well hidden (less so at the moment as the greenery is down for winter) and making up a nice loop to get in the nice trails without going round in circles / repeating tracks can be difficult.
There is obviously the jumps area, with big sand jumps and some fast more flowing lines / drops around the outside of the main bowl area. The XC stuff is spread over the rest of the area, and tbh, it's more technical / slippy than fast rolling at the moment. There's plenty of stuff to push your skills on however, steeps (in both directions) drops, roots, mud, trees to hop over / cycle along etc.
It's certainly nothing like the open Welsh stuff at the Mynd for example!
antspants said:
I might head a bit further afield and try the Long Mynd suggestion
Good choice 
Check the weather before you head over though, it's all exposed so no woods/shelter to hide in or anything. I wouldn't fancy it too much in a total wash out.
If you're used to trail centres then it's quite a different experience, very natural. There's only a couple of way-posts for the various trails so print off the map or pick one up from one of the bike shops.
TheBaj said:
Good choice
Check the weather before you head over though, it's all exposed so no woods/shelter to hide in or anything. I wouldn't fancy it too much in a total wash out.
If you're used to trail centres then it's quite a different experience, very natural. There's only a couple of way-posts for the various trails so print off the map or pick one up from one of the bike shops.
Forecast on Friday is good which is why I'm making plans Check the weather before you head over though, it's all exposed so no woods/shelter to hide in or anything. I wouldn't fancy it too much in a total wash out.
If you're used to trail centres then it's quite a different experience, very natural. There's only a couple of way-posts for the various trails so print off the map or pick one up from one of the bike shops.
I'll grab a map from one of the shops, it's only £1 and apparently goes into upkeep of the trails. Small price to pay...
Out of interest where do you start from, and roughly how long do you think I'll be riding for? Apparently there is another descent from Pole Cottage to Little Stretton, so it would be good if I can fit both in, but I need to be back in Leicester for around 3pm so want to set off early enough.
We camped at the MTB Shropshire base which is in Marshbrook. Then went through Minton and up the Mynd to the gliding club on top. Looking at the map we did 1, 2, 3, 5 & 7. I still remember the smell of warm brake pads
Another option is to start from Church Stretton so you can go up or down Carding Mill Valley, we never got round to this but other riders told us it was good fun. Just make sure you include Minton Batch.
There's a few routes here:
http://www.theedgecycleworks.com/mtbroutes/long-my...
http://www.theedgecycleworks.com/mtbroutes/long-my...
Must sort a trip back over myself.
Another option is to start from Church Stretton so you can go up or down Carding Mill Valley, we never got round to this but other riders told us it was good fun. Just make sure you include Minton Batch.
There's a few routes here:
http://www.theedgecycleworks.com/mtbroutes/long-my...
http://www.theedgecycleworks.com/mtbroutes/long-my...
Must sort a trip back over myself.
If you're doing the Mynd, make sure you pop into Plush Hill Cycles in Church Stretton. Have a natter and they'll show you all the good routes on the Mynd cycling map too!
We park in the Co-Op car park (cheap all day parking and easy access to post ride snacks!), and head up via Carding Mill valley, take the steep rocky right fork about halfway up and see if you can get all the way from the Mill to the ridgeline without a) stopping or b) putting a foot down ;-)
(I wouldn't recommend coming down the Carding valley way, as it's very very popular with the ramblers, so you would spend the whole time annoying them / on the brakes. If you go up it, you'll be going so slow that it's not a problem)
Minton Batch is the classic Mynd descent, but plenty more exist, certainly some great tracks off the top of the North end down into All Stretton are pretty ace too. There's a few cheeky downhill tracks in the woods near to the Gliding club too........................
We park in the Co-Op car park (cheap all day parking and easy access to post ride snacks!), and head up via Carding Mill valley, take the steep rocky right fork about halfway up and see if you can get all the way from the Mill to the ridgeline without a) stopping or b) putting a foot down ;-)
(I wouldn't recommend coming down the Carding valley way, as it's very very popular with the ramblers, so you would spend the whole time annoying them / on the brakes. If you go up it, you'll be going so slow that it's not a problem)
Minton Batch is the classic Mynd descent, but plenty more exist, certainly some great tracks off the top of the North end down into All Stretton are pretty ace too. There's a few cheeky downhill tracks in the woods near to the Gliding club too........................
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 12th February 16:44
Shhhhhhhhhhh, Hopton (he whispers quietly in a corner)
As a Shrewsbury resident/Mtb rider born and bred I personally feel the Mynd is overrated. You spend half an hour climbing only to find wide, flat double track paths on the top. Some of the downs are ok, but the best properly technical ones are all off limits as they're footpaths. Yes there is fun to be had, but only when riding in groups IMO.
If you're an xc demon you'll probably love it. But if you prefer AM/Enduro type riding then seriously get yourself to Hopton Castle. Proper unsurfaced flowy signletrack with some decent climbs to keep the lungs going.
That's where I spent my last Friday off...
As a Shrewsbury resident/Mtb rider born and bred I personally feel the Mynd is overrated. You spend half an hour climbing only to find wide, flat double track paths on the top. Some of the downs are ok, but the best properly technical ones are all off limits as they're footpaths. Yes there is fun to be had, but only when riding in groups IMO.
If you're an xc demon you'll probably love it. But if you prefer AM/Enduro type riding then seriously get yourself to Hopton Castle. Proper unsurfaced flowy signletrack with some decent climbs to keep the lungs going.
That's where I spent my last Friday off...
Richair said:
Shhhhhhhhhhh, Hopton (he whispers quietly in a corner)
I started off with a 2 hour round trip and am now considering a 4 hour round trip. I'm going to end up in the furthest corner of Wales for a weekend away at this rate, ooh or maybe the Alps!
I was hoping with it being my day off that I might get to have a lie in, fat chance now!
On a more serious note, at both Long Mynd and Hopton what would the conditions be like at the moment. I spent 3 hours cycling through treacle like mud the other weekend, and would rather not do the same again.
antspants said:
I started off with a 2 hour round trip and am now considering a 4 hour round trip. I'm going to end up in the furthest corner of Wales for a weekend away at this rate, ooh or maybe the Alps!
I was hoping with it being my day off that I might get to have a lie in, fat chance now!
On a more serious note, at both Long Mynd and Hopton what would the conditions be like at the moment. I spent 3 hours cycling through treacle like mud the other weekend, and would rather not do the same again.
Right before this starts getting silly, the absolute limit is 2 hours drive or approx. 100 miles from Leicester.
Now as it happens the Forest of Dean meets that criteria (just about), so given the choice Hopton or FoD?
Just to clarify what I'm after, I'm not going to be doing any downhill runs or jumps, just red runs.
Now as it happens the Forest of Dean meets that criteria (just about), so given the choice Hopton or FoD?
Just to clarify what I'm after, I'm not going to be doing any downhill runs or jumps, just red runs.
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