head up over the moors from Llandegla to Worlds End and the Horseshoe Pass
Just because you park where there is a cafe, dosent mean you have to stay within the confines of the forest
There is miles of good hiking to be had around that area, anyone who says its not even rambling is talking rubbish. Offas Dyke long distance footpath passes through the forest, it may not have scenery to rival the lakes but there is definatley no need to go to Whinlatter for a decent walk (Im assuming you suggested Llandegla as its reasonably local)
Part of the Offas Dyke route can be done on the bikes too, its a bridleway boardwalk of railway sleepers type construction, kind of northshore esque in a way. To make it into a loop is cheeky though as strictly its a footpath past the radio masts so I wouldnt condone it (especially at the moment as lots of ground breeding birds that could get disturbed)
If instead of parking at llandegla you parked at Worlds End (the ‘P’ here) – http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=323250&y=348405&z=120&sv=323250,348405&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=820&ax=323250&ay=348405&lm=0
walkers have a choice of places to go, bikers can take the bridleway just to the north, into the forest (across previously mentioned raised boardwalk section) pick up the red route three quarters the way up the first fireroad climb, and easily retrace tyre tracks to meet back at the car
