It can only be an anti climax if you have built up to be something it isn’t.
Bedgebury, Swinley, Thetford and Sherwood Pines all spring to mind as similar places. They are not trail centres based on a mountain but forest centres aimed at families. They have twists and turns because they are trying to fit as much trail as possible into a fairly small area.
True enough, some trails don’t live up to hopes/expectations but mountain biking is really just biking and the simply pleasure of riding a bike always tends to win out for me.
Personally I like the twists and turns. I tend to view every corner as a way of gaining speed and love the challenge of carrying speed through the bends.
One thing I have noticed is that a good level of fitness greatly enhances the ride, allowing me to ‘play’ in the corners.
As for Surrey Hills being better, well it is so long as you can handle a bike and have some fitness. If not then it will ride a lot like anywhere else.
Plus you don’t get the ‘comfort’ of a waymarked route. Though for me exploring and getting lost on my bike is part of the appeal.
A trail is a trail, a bike is a bike… the organic mass that gets involved is the discerning factor when it comes to whether putting the two together is any fun or not.
Now I have to drive into London…. where I can guarantee there will be very little in the way of flow!!