Good trail centres for families?
Discussion
Morning all,
I fancy introducing my offspring to trails, but rather than dropping them straight into the trails we ride in the Surrey HIlls, I figured a trail centre with ability graded trails might be a better starting point.
Obviously Surrey isn't exactly packed with purpose-built trail centres, but my parents in Somerset provide a decent base from which to head over into South Wales, so that would seem to be the most logical destination.
My wife won't ride (buggered eyesight), so ideal would be somewhere with something to keep her occupied whilst I'm out with the kids beyond just a drafty shed at the bottom of a hill, and equally I'd like to get a bit of riding in myself, so somewhere that wife and kids can keep themselves happy for a half day or so would be handy.
Lastly, somewhere with a skills area to gradually introduce the kids to drop offs and the like would be lovely!
I fancy introducing my offspring to trails, but rather than dropping them straight into the trails we ride in the Surrey HIlls, I figured a trail centre with ability graded trails might be a better starting point.
Obviously Surrey isn't exactly packed with purpose-built trail centres, but my parents in Somerset provide a decent base from which to head over into South Wales, so that would seem to be the most logical destination.
My wife won't ride (buggered eyesight), so ideal would be somewhere with something to keep her occupied whilst I'm out with the kids beyond just a drafty shed at the bottom of a hill, and equally I'd like to get a bit of riding in myself, so somewhere that wife and kids can keep themselves happy for a half day or so would be handy.
Lastly, somewhere with a skills area to gradually introduce the kids to drop offs and the like would be lovely!
Swinley Forest would seem to be the obvious one.
There is the lookout centre with it's indoor cafe, for the missus. (also not far from several towns if she wants to go shopping for a couple of hours)
The green trail is perfect for the little ones if they are just starting out, blue is suitable if they are a little bit more confident.
If you want to go off for a ride, there is plenty for the kids to do at the lookout, hands on science centre plus a massive playground.
If you are looking towards south wales, check out the trail centre in the Forest of Dean. It has dedicated family routes and a nice cafe to relax in as well
There is the lookout centre with it's indoor cafe, for the missus. (also not far from several towns if she wants to go shopping for a couple of hours)
The green trail is perfect for the little ones if they are just starting out, blue is suitable if they are a little bit more confident.
If you want to go off for a ride, there is plenty for the kids to do at the lookout, hands on science centre plus a massive playground.
If you are looking towards south wales, check out the trail centre in the Forest of Dean. It has dedicated family routes and a nice cafe to relax in as well
Edited by Matt Sketch on Friday 1st May 08:35
Ashton Court in Bristol sounds ideal, it doesnt have the skills area and there is only one trail but its a very good beginners trail that has a number of well designed features. Its pretty flat but has some challenging sections and there is a bermed section in the wooded area which also has some (small) doubles andbumps. There is a good rocky descent which has a few lines to take, follow the blue trail and take the red option. Drop Mrs Kermit power in Clifton with the boutique shops and cafes...
trail guide
Alternatively, the Forest of Dean is about an hour away and has pretty much everything you want, a longer blue section (10kms) with a few more challenging sections, a small skills area and a red trail which is always damp and rooty... the cafe is ok and there are forest walks too, lock everything down though or the thieves will have it away...
trail guide
Alternatively, the Forest of Dean is about an hour away and has pretty much everything you want, a longer blue section (10kms) with a few more challenging sections, a small skills area and a red trail which is always damp and rooty... the cafe is ok and there are forest walks too, lock everything down though or the thieves will have it away...
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 1st May 08:41
Bedgebury. Good facilities inc cafe, massive play area, family trail (just a path really) and the single 'red' route which has lots of short sections to dive in and out of. There's only one steep uphill section iirc which is easily bypassed.
Parking's £9 though, but it's worth it imo.
Parking's £9 though, but it's worth it imo.
Must admit I hadn't really thought of Swinley, as I found it pretty underwhelming compared to the mostly natural stuff in the Surrey Hills, but then I've not been since they revamped it all a few years back, so maybe worth another look.
The kids love the lookout, although not much for my wife from memory, given that she can't drive...
The kids love the lookout, although not much for my wife from memory, given that she can't drive...
richardxjr said:
Bedgebury. Good facilities inc cafe, massive play area, family trail (just a path really) and the single 'red' route which has lots of short sections to dive in and out of. There's only one steep uphill section iirc which is easily bypassed.
Parking's £9 though, but it's worth it imo.
I'd agree with this. Parking's £9 though, but it's worth it imo.
For the last 18 months since he was 5 we've been taking my godson round Bedgebury, and he loves it. Now he's 6.5 he's a bit stronger and can cope really well with it. The trails are pretty easy for the most part and there's plenty of ways to cut out sections if the little legs aren't up to it.
You can also avoid the absolute rip off that is the car park by parking in the lay by on the A21 and riding in, also avoids the long slog out the car park, although you do miss the final section which is very good. If you get on with it for £50 a year you can get a car park pass.
Kermit power said:
Must admit I hadn't really thought of Swinley, as I found it pretty underwhelming compared to the mostly natural stuff in the Surrey Hills, but then I've not been since they revamped it all a few years back, so maybe worth another look.
The kids love the lookout, although not much for my wife from memory, given that she can't drive...
Swim/Sauna/health club over the road?The kids love the lookout, although not much for my wife from memory, given that she can't drive...
missing the VR6 said:
richardxjr said:
Bedgebury. Good facilities inc cafe, massive play area, family trail (just a path really) and the single 'red' route which has lots of short sections to dive in and out of. There's only one steep uphill section iirc which is easily bypassed.
Parking's £9 though, but it's worth it imo.
I'd agree with this. Parking's £9 though, but it's worth it imo.
For the last 18 months since he was 5 we've been taking my godson round Bedgebury, and he loves it. Now he's 6.5 he's a bit stronger and can cope really well with it. The trails are pretty easy for the most part and there's plenty of ways to cut out sections if the little legs aren't up to it.
You can also avoid the absolute rip off that is the car park by parking in the lay by on the A21 and riding in, also avoids the long slog out the car park, although you do miss the final section which is very good. If you get on with it for £50 a year you can get a car park pass.
Having just watched a Youtube video of 15 or so minutes of the red route, it looks pretty ideal for the kids (7, 9 & 12), as there looked to be a reasonable amount of swoopy stuff without any real sudden challenges of the sort you might encounter in "the wild".
I was even vaguely tempted to head over there after work rather than down to Peaslake, until I remembered it's the start of a BH Weekend!
caiss4 said:
Usget said:
Pedalabikeaway at Forest of Dean has a good family trail. And a good cafe.
Another vote for this although entertainment for your wife is a bit limited!And another thumbs up for the 9 mile FoD family loop. My daughters have all enjoyed it.
Gargamel said:
Have a look at Alice Holt forest in South Surrey.
Nice paths, not too hilly, and a nice cafe too.
Though to be fair, it is not a trail centre as such, just a nice forest ride.
We've taken them there. Nice enough, but definitely now looking for an introduction to MTB as sport rather than simply as a transport mechanism from which to look at squirrels and Jays. Nice paths, not too hilly, and a nice cafe too.
Though to be fair, it is not a trail centre as such, just a nice forest ride.
Kermit power said:
We've taken them there. Nice enough, but definitely now looking for an introduction to MTB as sport rather than simply as a transport mechanism from which to look at squirrels and Jays.
The FoD family loop has a few skills sections along it with berms etc that you can either have a go at or carry on your merry way.Kermit power said:
missing the VR6 said:
richardxjr said:
Bedgebury. Good facilities inc cafe, massive play area, family trail (just a path really) and the single 'red' route which has lots of short sections to dive in and out of. There's only one steep uphill section iirc which is easily bypassed.
Parking's £9 though, but it's worth it imo.
I'd agree with this. Parking's £9 though, but it's worth it imo.
For the last 18 months since he was 5 we've been taking my godson round Bedgebury, and he loves it. Now he's 6.5 he's a bit stronger and can cope really well with it. The trails are pretty easy for the most part and there's plenty of ways to cut out sections if the little legs aren't up to it.
You can also avoid the absolute rip off that is the car park by parking in the lay by on the A21 and riding in, also avoids the long slog out the car park, although you do miss the final section which is very good. If you get on with it for £50 a year you can get a car park pass.
Having just watched a Youtube video of 15 or so minutes of the red route, it looks pretty ideal for the kids (7, 9 & 12), as there looked to be a reasonable amount of swoopy stuff without any real sudden challenges of the sort you might encounter in "the wild".
I was even vaguely tempted to head over there after work rather than down to Peaslake, until I remembered it's the start of a BH Weekend!
We do a 'lads and dads' camp & bike trip in the summer, when they open the camping site up for a very limited number of nights.
As for the parking, yes it may appear steep, but I am keen to pay my fair share for using such facilities and hope it enables Forestry Commission and other landowners to grow and maintain trail centres generally.
richardxjr said:
Kermit power said:
missing the VR6 said:
richardxjr said:
Bedgebury. Good facilities inc cafe, massive play area, family trail (just a path really) and the single 'red' route which has lots of short sections to dive in and out of. There's only one steep uphill section iirc which is easily bypassed.
Parking's £9 though, but it's worth it imo.
I'd agree with this. Parking's £9 though, but it's worth it imo.
For the last 18 months since he was 5 we've been taking my godson round Bedgebury, and he loves it. Now he's 6.5 he's a bit stronger and can cope really well with it. The trails are pretty easy for the most part and there's plenty of ways to cut out sections if the little legs aren't up to it.
You can also avoid the absolute rip off that is the car park by parking in the lay by on the A21 and riding in, also avoids the long slog out the car park, although you do miss the final section which is very good. If you get on with it for £50 a year you can get a car park pass.
Having just watched a Youtube video of 15 or so minutes of the red route, it looks pretty ideal for the kids (7, 9 & 12), as there looked to be a reasonable amount of swoopy stuff without any real sudden challenges of the sort you might encounter in "the wild".
I was even vaguely tempted to head over there after work rather than down to Peaslake, until I remembered it's the start of a BH Weekend!
We do a 'lads and dads' camp & bike trip in the summer, when they open the camping site up for a very limited number of nights.
As for the parking, yes it may appear steep, but I am keen to pay my fair share for using such facilities and hope it enables Forestry Commission and other landowners to grow and maintain trail centres generally.
http://www.boarsonbikes.co.uk/
There's a couple of green trails at Bike Park Wales actually that are suitable for any age - under 12s are free, but adults will have to pay £5 to ride - they're on the other side of the car park and completely separate to the main trails so there's no chance you'll come across a lost stormtrooper trying for Strava glory. No drops on the Greems, but an excellent Café.
Afan has the Rookie trails, they're a bit swoopy but very wide and flat - there's some nice scenery and a cool mini-skills park which has small / easy drops, but the trails themselves are no different to what you'll find at most parks and woodlands really - my 9 year old can ride Blue Scar quite well now, but it's been riding for a couple of years there's enough there to get little ones (and adults) into bother if they're new to it - café with a nice balcony area at Afan, food is okay-ish, but a bit like School Diners, eggs beans and chips etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kas0wQrfSoo
Further west Brechfa has a brilliant Green Trail, it's suitable for kids, but it's very easy to throw on a lot of speed on it so you need to makes sure they don't get to carried anyway, my lad has binned it a few times going too quickly. A couple of tiny drops and a lovely pub - the 'trail centre' amounts to two Portaloos
Afan has the Rookie trails, they're a bit swoopy but very wide and flat - there's some nice scenery and a cool mini-skills park which has small / easy drops, but the trails themselves are no different to what you'll find at most parks and woodlands really - my 9 year old can ride Blue Scar quite well now, but it's been riding for a couple of years there's enough there to get little ones (and adults) into bother if they're new to it - café with a nice balcony area at Afan, food is okay-ish, but a bit like School Diners, eggs beans and chips etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kas0wQrfSoo
Further west Brechfa has a brilliant Green Trail, it's suitable for kids, but it's very easy to throw on a lot of speed on it so you need to makes sure they don't get to carried anyway, my lad has binned it a few times going too quickly. A couple of tiny drops and a lovely pub - the 'trail centre' amounts to two Portaloos
Edited by P-Jay on Friday 1st May 14:31
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