Looking for some single track MTBing reachable from Nottingham.
Any suggestions where to go / where to research?
We’ve done a week in the Alps. Looking for something other than flat muddy tracks – single track, hills & rocky descents are ideal.
We’re going within the next few weeks so I guess that may rule out many routes as we’re now well into the wet & muddy winter season.

How reachable do you want?

The dark peak is 1 to 1.5h away by car and has some great stuff thats ok in the winter.

There’s nothing like the alps round this way though:)
Martin

I’m heading to the Peak District on tuesday if you want to come along?

I live in Nottingham and the Peaks is my usual playground. Happy to show you around on a Sunday if you like.

from Nottingham the options are almost endless
Peaks
Cannock
Sherwood Pines (I guess not)
Long Myndd
Llandegla
Yorks Moors
Dalby
Gisburn / Lee Quarry

Really depends totally on what you want, natural or TC, and how long you want to be riding over driving (esp this time of year with limited daylight)

Peaks!

Thanks for your replies.
Preferences are single track, rocky, some (maybe lots) of climbing/descents; don’t like mud (too much of that near hemel Hempstead where we’re based).
Which of the areas suggested best match these, and what are approximate travel times from Nottingham?
We’ll probably be going on a Saturday (thanks for your Sunday offer Onzadog). Starting out from Hemel collecting member of party from Nottingham… so we’ll already have been on the road for 1.5hrs plus when we leave Nottingham.
BTW, what’s wrong with Sherwood Pines?

Sherwood Pines is a nice forest but not very ‘exciting’ – great if it’s on your doorstep but you wouldn’t want to travel for an away day there.

“depends on what you want, natural or TC” Please forgive my ignorance – what is TC?

Diane – Member

Sherwood Pines is a nice forest but not very ‘exciting’ – great if it’s on your doorstep but you wouldn’t want to travel for an away day there.

I’d actually go as far as to say that even though it’s on the doorstep, I still wouldn’t ride there, especially these days 🙂

cannock is only an hour or so from nottingham (depending on whereabouts in notts you are) and much better than sherwood pines 🙂

Sherwood Pines in 5 mins ride from my front door, used to ride there 2/3 times a week, but since the trail ‘improvements’ I’ve been there once since the summer.
Some of the trails are very good fun if you can find them away from the main marked trail, but ther amount of traffic on them has wrecked them, especially while it’s this wet.

TC = Trail centre
pines is a shit muddy flat horrible place unless you know the unmarked trails and even then its not great
from what yoy say it has to be Peaks, plenty of good routes to choose from – http://www.monkeyspoon.co.uk

Yep Sherwood Pines is a bit too muddy in the winter- but fun in the summer. I lived in Nottingham for a while and I’m going to be moving back to Nottingham soon. I’d love to find some decent trails rideable from Nottingham? I found a few off Mapperly Top but not enough!