At Pedal & Chain, not only do we want to help you find the perfect bike but also help you find the best routes. Check out our top 5 this week and explore some of the best mountain bike trails the UK has on offer.
Forest of Dean - Gloucestershire
The Forest of Deal trails will take you on an adventure deep into the forest whether you’re a novice or experienced biker. With a mix of wide forest tracks, DH trail and XC routes, the Forest of Dean is home to some of the best mountain biking in the UK.
All equipment can be hired plus they have an on-site shop, café, toilets, showers, workshop and bike wash.
Here’s a few of the popular routes at the Forest of Dean…
Beginner
Name: The Verderer’s Trail
Distance: 7-miles
Terrain: All-weather surface with fast, flowing corners. Gradually winds uphill before a steep descent to the cycle centre.
Advanced
Name: The Ski Run
Distance: 353 metres
Terrain: The first and most infamous downhill trail in the Forest of Dean. Short but packed with rocks, roots, turns and jumps.
Expert
Name: Sheep Skull
Distance: 778 metres
Terrain: A steep downhill route from start to finish filled with jumps, thick roots and sweeping turns.
Cannock Chase - Cannock
Home to the award winning and highly popular Follow the Dog and Monkey Trail routes, as well as Stile Cop’s downhill trails, Cannock Chase is a must visit. Situated in the middle of England, they are easy to access and very popular at weekends.
The trails are free to ride and open all year round.
Follow The Dog (10.8KM, RED)
Follow the Dog was the Midlands’ first dedicated MTB trail. A technical singletrack and aimed at beginner to intermediate riders. The trail is a mixed affair – fast and flowing, with some tight and technical sections.
The Monkey Trail (22.8KM INC. FOLLOW THE DOG, RED)
The start of The Monkey Trail is accessed via Follow the Dog. It’s more physically and technically demanding, with some trickier trail features and several black options. The trial finishes with the awesome ‘Lower Cliff’ descent.
Afan Forest - Wales
Afan Forest boats one of the best riding spots in the UK. With over 130km of well-maintained trails to discover in the forest, it has everything from flowing singletrack through to more exposed trails on the wide-open hills with exceptional views.
Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre and the Glyncorrwg Mountain Biking Centre – which both feature a bike shop and cafe. Here are just a few of the routes available at Afan:
Rookie (5.5KM, GREEN)
Perfect for family's and newcomers to mountain biking. This route is a great one to develop your skills. Enjoy the low level route with views and wide trails.
BLUE SCAR (7KM, BLUE)
This trail is designed for riders progressing from green to blue trails. Expect some amazing views, with a few technical features and a fun return down the valley.
W2 (44KM, BLACK)
A massive trail and one to make sure you’re well prepared for before starting out. This route combines The Wall and White’s Level with a high and exposed linking section above the trees.
Grizedale Forest – The Lake District
The Lake District is a favourite amongst mountain bikers, with some of the best trails the UK has to offer. Grizedale is situated in the middle of two lakes, with serious elevation, it has some outstanding panoramic views. Grizedale is home to some brilliant MTB trails and singletrack including the infamous North Face Trail.
Grizedale has tracks suitable for all abilities from green graded family routes to some red and black trails full of jumps, berms and steep descents.
THE NORTH FACE (16KM, RED)
The North Face trail is an entertaining route, with some adrenelising single track descents and some leg-burning climb. This challenging trail also provides some tricky board walk sections, rocks and high speed areas. Be rewarded with some outstanding views along the way.
Fort William - Scotland
Famed as a World Cup venue, with all three courses open to the public to ride (DH, XC AND 4X). Whether you’re an extreme mountain biker or a complete beginner, Nevis Range has a route for you. Take on the ultimate challenge with the World Cup downhill track or explore the Scottish Highlands on one of the gentler beginner routes.
The two longest, most extreme tracks are from the Gondola Top Station, so make sure you’re ready to take on the challenge!
THE RED GIANT (5.5KM, RED)
Intended as a less gnarly alternative to the world cup track. The red giant is a steep, rugged and tough technical trail. Expect berms, rocks and drop off’s, this ride will keep you on your toes.
WORLD CUP DH (2.8KM, ORANGE)
The UK’s only World Cup DH track is long, rough and not for the faint hearted. Mostly made up of wide singletrack, with lots of unavoidable trail features.
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