Cannock for a couple of hours. FOD for days and days and days…….
+1
There is good stuff at Cannock, it’s just there’s a whole lot more good stuff in the FoD. Sure, you need local knowledge to find a lot of it, but there’s a number of guys on here that know a number of trails. I know one or two, easily enough for a good ride anyway, plenty of guys on here know a lot more than that though. If you just pitch up at either place and only ride the waymarked trails (good as they are) you’re not doing either place justice.
There are places other than these two between Cheltenham and Sheffield. I’ll hastily mention the Wyre Forest, which has tonnes of great natural riding and as its in no way a trail centre (yet) its a lot less busy and the trails don’t suffer quite so badly as a result. Some brilliant riding to be had in there, much of it on a par with trails in the FoD (though the FoD is probably my single favouritist place to ride overall), and again this forum has a number of willing guides usually. Again, I know enough for a good ride or two myself, others know far more again. Would probably save you an hour in the car, and your mate will only have to drive about 15mins more than going to FoD too. You NEED a guide though for the Wyre, as you won’t find much at all without one.