1. Anywhere that is not a Trail Centre
2. Laggan….when nobody is there

The only other ones I’ve done have been Dalbeatie, Whinlatter, Grizedale and Bedgebury and they’d not make it to any list of mine

Llandegla x 5. It’s what a trail centre should be about.

Skywalker – I don’t believe I have said that you or TJ are wrong I just have a different opinion. And I have said that I would prefer to avoid the crowds at Glentress and go elsewhere and ride much better trails (in my opinion)

1 kirroughtree,long fast flowing
2 gt,live local can ride all day
3 inner’s, great climb and decent (XC only)
4 laggen, great skill tester
5 dalbeattie, better than the rest

Out of the ones I have been to;
1 – glentress
2 – coed-y-brenin
3 – innerliethen
4 – ae

I’ve also been to cannock, Afan and sherwood pines but wouldn’t pay them a return visit.

1 – Drumlanrig,
2 – GT,
3 – Inners,
4 – Mabie,
5 – Nevis Range.

1 – Inners XC, DH, Secret stuff combined
2 – Golspie / Balblair – so different but a must to double up.
3 – Maybe XC & secret stuff combined
4 – Laggan – short sweet and tasty
5 – Dalbeattie -XC with snakes in the summer!

Might add that I’ve never riden any Welsh trails, but then why would I living in Scotland..

Haven’t ridden in Scotland or England yet, so:

1. Penmachno (high effort/reward ratio and some sublime trail. Who cares that you can’t get a cappuccino?).
2. CyB (lots of choice and more great descents. Showers welcome too).
3. Cwmcarn (go early, up the Twirch and choice of descent from the top. Loop again do other descent).
4. Afan (fond memories of Penhydd and the Wall).
5. Nant-y-arian/Climach X (only done them when absolutely belting down with rain so need to ride again).

Haven’t ridden Llandegla but the black sounds like fun on a HT.

1)Afan
2)CYB
3)Penmachno
4)Nant yr Arian
5)Llandegla

Oh &……

themightymowgli – Member
4 Cannock – the best thing about Birmingham

Cannock isn’t in Birmingham matey… 🙄

+1 for GT for fun with friends and family. Great XC training. Awesome at night. Easy to navigate. But if you’re a gravity injected adrenalin junky then there are much better places to go.

Out of the ones I’ve been to:-
1. Eastridge (Shrops)(because its back to basics)
2. CyB
3. Hopton Woods (Shrops)
4. Forrest of Dean (although red and blue gradings seem a bit confused)
5. Llandegla

I have ridden at Cannock many times but its getting very tired and the crowds at the weekend can be ridiculous. Having said that big respect to all the volunteers who put in the hard graft trying to keep the trails in good condition.

1. Innerleithen – XC, DH and the secret bits I’ve done pretty much ticks all the boxes of the riding style I like to do.
2. Golspie – only done it twice and loved it. Apart from falling down a chute and kicking the bike away from my face…
3. Kirroughtree – just love it.
4. Glentress – great place to mix up loads of trails. The ‘off piste’ stuff is still the best parts there. Not a fan of Spooky Wood though or Berm, Baby, Berm. Found that a tad dull. The black is worn and rocky in bits. Please leave it that way and don’t turn it into a pavement.
5. Drumlanrig – just a lovely route. Must get back down there soon.

1. Golspie: I’m too crap to ride it (uphill or downhill) but there’s something magical about the location and the imagination behind the trail;

2. Laggan: again, nobody would find me on the black trail but the view from the Crow’s Nest is just about my favourite view anywhere;

3. Brechfa: just really well put together; and

4. Moray Monster Trails: because I’ve had a great time there with friends.

I also like Dalby Forest which no-one seems to have mentioned…

Cannock is alright, not top five for sure, but why the bashing?
Dm

1) Penmachno
2) Afan
3) Nant-yr-Arian
4) Gwydyr Forest
5) Cwmcarn

To my regret I’ve not as yet done any trails in Scotland, which I hope to put right this year. Having done so I fully expect changes to the above list.

1: Glentress
2: Nant-yr-Arian
3: Llandegla
4: Cannock Chase
5: Dalby

I think that’s most of the centres I’ve been to, only Innerleithen and Mabie not making the list.

1. Golspie
2. Laggan
3. CyB
4. NyA
5. Llandegla

Never done a stane yet but will so I suspect at least one of them would feature.

I find cannock to be very entertaining for the height gain it has available to it. Good fun to ride. Llandegla on the other hand is fairly crap in my opinion.

Am I the only one who thinks Glentress might be a bit bland?
I’ve been 3-4 times and, although I love it when I’m there, I can’t picture any of it clearly now when trying to think back. Apart from the freeride park that is. It’s still excellent nonetheless for the range of facilities and expanse of trails.

My favourite trail centre is probably Laggan, followed by CwmCarm – for the climb, would you believe!

although I love it when I’m there, I can’t picture any of it clearly now when trying to think back

Meh, most of my life is like that.

allyharp – Member

Am I the only one who thinks Glentress might be a bit bland?

A lot of it is well surfaced path amongst trees – the level of traffic dictates that the trails are built to a high standard. meaning a lot is like a big smooth BMX track

However some bits are very different in character – Zoom and bust, pie run, magic mushroom are all a bit rooty and slow for example. As is betty blue.

1. Brechfa
2. Coed y brenin
3. FOD – but to short
4. Every other one.
5. Afan – which needs Penhydd back.

Pie run and magic mushroom slow? You can rattle through those no problem.

I’m going to glentress next week for 1st time can’t wait hope Im not going to be disappointed

1. Kirroughtree
2. Coed y brenin
3. Penmachno
4. Marin
5. Cannock

What the hell are braking bumps?

Braking bumps are caused by non-stw riders coming into a corner too fast for their meagre skills and grabbing the brakes. The rear wheel skid erodes the trail – enough people do this and you get series of depressions and bumps just prior to the corner. Kids have been lost in the braking bumps at Cannock Chase.

Later on, a stw-level rider steams down the trail looking to rail the corner and gets a bumpy ride. He is dismayed and angered at the noobs and their foolish ways.

1 – Glentress/Inners (I say it counts as one)
2 – Llandegla (if you’ve not been in a while get down there – the new trail additions are awesome, B Line in particular)
3 – Gisburn (bit of everything)
4 – Stainburn (just for being a right beeatch that I still can’t tame)
5 – Marin (still love it)

P.S. – Any MTBer who moans about trails being too rough should be forced to ride in the Lakes on a rigid Muddy Fox from the early nineties. In neon lycra. And toe clips.

drookitmunter – Member

What the hell are braking bumps?

Something that Rik hallucinates

Braking bumps are caused by stw riders

More like

1. Kirroughtree
2. Innerliethen
3. Penmachno
4. Glentress
5. Dalbeattie

I’ll play!!

Again out of the ones I’ve been to.

1. Machynlleth (don’t think it’s been mentioned yet).
2. Brechfa.
3. Afan.
4. Nant Y Arian.
5. Newcastleton.

fathomer – Member

Not done many, and last place highlights the fact!!

5. Sherwood Pines

Does Sherwood pines have a trail centre??? 😕

1. Glentress
2. Penmachno
3. Llandegla
4. Marin
= 5. CYB
= 5. Dalby

Apart from one section I think Gisburn is pointless. I’ve not ridden Afan or the rest of the 7stanes.

Penmachno and Marin are just old school flowing trails aren’t they? 8)

Well I’ve only ridden 6 trail centres so I guess mine would have to be:

1)Glentress – I think deliverance is one of my favourite bits of trail anywhere but just for the shear quantity of good, flowy singletrack.
2)Whinlatter – The long downhills make the climbs up worth it everytime!
3)Inners – Only road it once but thought it was a great ride
4)Gisburn – local trails and I really respect the work put in as you see it constantly evolving
5)Grizedale – TNF isnt great in itself but add in some bridleway action for a good day out.

The only other one i’ve been to that didnt make the cut is hammsterly. Just didnt really do it for me.

Who put Cannock?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😆

Drumlanrig – maybe I’m biased
Mabie – including all the old and new hidden gems
Kirro
Sutherland / Bonar Bridge – gotta love all that natural rock
Dalbeattie – for a batter round after dark it’s a giggle

I;ve been to quite a few and would place them in terms of the enjoyment I got from them…

1)Penmachno
2)Lee & Cragg Quarries
3)Kirry
4)GT
5)Afan

Quick glance through this thread and I didnt see ANY votes for Lee and Cragg… Tis a brilliant place for a day out on the bike.

1- Laggan
2- Glentress
3- Innerleithen
4- FoD (if that even counts, what with all the trails littered all over)
5- Coed y Brenin… or perhaps Aston Hill… or maybe one of dem other Stanes.

Lowey – good shout for Lee and Crag quarries. Makes a good ride with them linked together. Would deffinately bump grizedale off for Lee and Crag!

1: Golspie
2: Kirroughtree
3: Innerleithen
4: Drumlanrig
5: Either Laggan or Whinlatter. probably Laggan as it has a better cafe

Pretty sure Glentress should be in there somewhere, have ridden it loads and very rare to have a ride I dont enjoy. As for the braking bumps, they are there but just treat it as part of the trail and enjoy 😀