[Closed] Does anyone on here ride in Southey Woods (West side of Peterborough)?

We saw it as well when we came through a week or so ago. There were arrows pointing out a route and we assumed that it must have been some event. How do you know there has been nothing 'official'?

I do, but haven't heard of anything being run up there.

The doggers must be getting competitive.

I don't know 100% that there hasn't been anything official, but if there has been, I've certainly not heard about it and there was no sign of increased trail use (as you'd expect to see after an event).

So those of you who ride there - any other decent riding spots in the area? I always start out from Ferry Meadows, and then head over to Southey via Castor, then back again, via Castor/Alwalton and along the river.

any [s]other[/s] decent riding spots in the area?

Granted it's not the best mtb-country, but you have to make the best of what you have! I used to drive over to Thetford Forest one evening a week, but just got sick of the drive and the cost of fuel. Plus the advent of the new Red Trail at Wakerley Woods has improved the riding in the area no end.

but you have to make the best of what you have!

I did. I bought a road bike 8)

Hmmmmm. It's a constant dilemma for me - living in this area. I have looked for at least some decent bridleway routes but found very little. There is only very scattered bridleways and no great way to link them together.

Didn't realise there was much riding at Southey woods though; I might head over for a mooch about.

Most of my riding 'at home' tends to be road rides on my Inbred with slick-shod wheels. I keep considering a road bike, but there's always other priorities.

Strike - are Wakerley woods on the other side of the road from Fineshade? I rode that red a few months back and was quite impressed with it. Keep meaning to pop back.

It is hard to make up a varied off-raod route without putting in a few sections of road, but the more I've explored and bolted bits together, the better it's become, and I can now do a decent (for the area!) 2 hour ride.

There isn't loads of riding at Southey, just a few sections of trail, but it's just nice to get off bridleways and in to some woods!

Wakerley woods are on the other side of the road from Fineshade. Have you ridden the family trail at Fineshade? Before you laugh (!!!) it is worth it, as they've put 'skills sections' on the trail which are quite fun ie berms, big rocks etc. I think the riding over there is only going to grow - the manager in Rutland Cycles (at Fineshade) said another £2500 is about to be spent on further trail work at Wakerley, and there are plans afoot for a North Shore section. The design of the red trail at Wakerley is brilliant, considering what they have managed to pack in, in a relatively small area. Apparently it's Clixbys who have built the trails there.

Get over to the Bedford Purlieus area for an explore - not the most rad, but you can link to some cheeky former quarry trails and see some WWII airfield remains - accommodation etc. Nice riding that seems to stay mostly dryish and somewhere different to ride. Some great wildlife to see.

Too Tall - where abouts do you cut in to Bedford Purlieus? The way I know to go in, is turning left off the A47 (direction Leicester) on to the stone road, and then take one of the routes off in to the woods from there.

Get over to the Bedford Purlieus area for an explore

I go running round there, well start over at Wansford and go through the nature reserve.

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I seem to be having trouble with Mapmyride today - but this should work for you:

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The Southern end of the loop near Old Sulehay has some fun areas to play on and a couple of lovely bits of singletrack that really flow quite well. Some of it after there feels miles from anywhere - lovely. Coming back up the Western edge of Bedford P you can see the remains of the WWII accommodation and bunkers from RAF Kings Cliffe. Like I said, not tech, but a lovely ride through very quiet areas.

Wakerley woods are on the other side of the road from Fineshade. Have you ridden the family trail at Fineshade? Before you laugh (!!!) it is worth it, as they've put 'skills sections' on the trail which are quite fun ie berms, big rocks etc. I think the riding over there is only going to grow - the manager in Rutland Cycles (at Fineshade) said another £2500 is about to be spent on further trail work at Wakerley, and there are plans afoot for a North Shore section. The design of the red trail at Wakerley is brilliant, considering what they have managed to pack in, in a relatively small area. Apparently it's Clixbys who have built the trails there.

We did the red not long after it opened. A mate works for Rutland Cycling and tipped us off it was opening. We did a couple of laps of the family route to get some miles in and then headed over to the red. I was really impressed with what they've done with the red.

Never heard of this Bedford Perlieus place before......
Looks interesting. I'm only 10 miles from Wansford, on a direct path past Southey woods so I can feel a day of exploring coming on!

Back when I used to have the MTB I could string together rides upto 40-50m from P'boro up to Wakerly and back. There is stuff there...it's just not laid on a plate.

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The old sand and gravel pit at the bottom of that picture (in the square corner of sulehay road) used to provide the most fun around there. Not sure what it's like now though..

Damn, 10+ years ago this whole area (P'boro) was my play ground, Bmx at Bretton then at Orton. Off road at Ferry meds and the weir, A sets of old pits somehere though you could never call it Mountain biking. you could put together a days riding and get all of 50 meters elevation. (though there was some great bits to be had if you know where to look... Fishermans' Walk anyone)
So it was funny when on a ride on my dad's old Kona at the weir and a bunch rode passed calling themselves proudly.. The Peterborough Mountain Bike club. funny how I was mocking them and wanted to join all in same instant.

Fishermans Walk - do you mean the nice piece of undulating singletrack that follows the river from the bottom of Alwalton to Ferry Meadows?

That I do, really if'y in the wet on old cheap tyres anyway and a nice Pint awaits at the Cuckoo (not sure of the name of the pub but they had a great fish menu back in the day at Alwalton)

Yeah - noticed the tape as well.

I was following the Torpel Way from Bretton and there were a series of black arrows on a white background that led out towards Helpston, and then a red arrow pointing back towards P'boro with 'Off Road Cycle Route' written on it on the farm track between Woodcroft Rd and Helpston.

I've seen similar arrows for a horse riding event in the past so I figured they were related to that, but then folowed one in Southey Woods that led to the shimano tape - and the trail there was a bit narrow for horses.

If you followed the arrows on the track from Southey Woods towards Upton then they led you into Castor Hanglands and down a track that I didn't think was a bridleway - couldn't really figure out what they were?

Wonder if the tape is from the Sky Ride that rode out of Ferry Meadows a few weeks back? Or has it appeared more recently than that?

Not got out to Southey yet. Tend to head over to Fineshades/Wakerley when I'm not still trying to discover more sections to map out my complete 'inner city' off-road route through the Peterborough suburbs. Good to hear that Scartree only going to improve still - if what they've done so far is any indicator we're going to end up with a fine little trail centre on our doorstep.

Good as ever to see the P-town riders creeping out of the STW woodwork

slainte 😀 rob

Crikey, I did not realise there was so many posters on this site that rode our glorious mountainous area!

My house is pictured on the routes posted above as I live in Wansford. Normally we stitch something together that includes Bedford Purleus, Sulehay (woods and quarry), Kings Cliffe, Wakerly etc in our weekend rides.

Coming from the north, Market Deeping, you can link in a few bridleways through Maxey and Helpston through Castor Hanglands and into Southey Woods - then on via the fishermans walk through ferry meadows and the embankment - then you can head down to the whittlesey washes and flag fen and complete the loop via the greenwheel through Eye Green and Newborough. Not hilly but mainly off road and super fast in the dry.

The sram tape was from a charity ride from the blue bell pub in glinton.

Hi guy i have an anwser to your question there was a charity bike ride that went through the woods part of a 20 mile loop which was setup.
also good places to bike around peterborough is ferry meadows via woods near castor, police training ground at yarwell, wakley woodsred route plus there is some new bits being added which are hidden jumps and downhill section short but very steep.
green wheel back end via hampton has some trials off them.
within two hours drive i would recommend cannock chase,aston hill,chicksands,thetford and sherwood pines

if anyone in the boro area ever whats to meet up for a bike ride you can post on the peterborough mountainbike club facebook page

I rode out to Southey woods on Monday morning, out from Ferry Meadows > super claggy near Castor!

Wow great to hear of Wakerley Woods will give it a try normally just give a spin around rutland for local ride, agree the trek to thetford is a pain for the quality considering you can be in Hope / Edale within 1h 30min now the A1 has no roundabouts V 1h to thetford

Any other hidden gems local to peterborough

merida3000d - Member
also good places to bike around peterborough is ferry meadows via woods near castor, police training ground at yarwell, wakley woodsred route plus there is some new bits being added which are hidden jumps and downhill section short but very steep.
green wheel back end via hampton has some trials off them.

Woods near Castor - do you mean the 'hanglands' just north of the village?

Yarwell - is that the area near Sulehay Lodge? Keep meaning to go and have a nose round there. What's the access like (ie are you likely to get booted off if riding there)?

slainte ❓ rob

Rob, if I ever get another MTB I will show you around.

...for the record, apart from the odd walker, there is no major headaches with access.

Did a big loop today over stamford/wakerley & back peterborough way the sulehay woods are riding nice not to muddy 2/3 trees have come down in the wind but you can get round them fine,been riding there 25 years & have never had any probs.

ngeddie - Member
Any other hidden gems local to peterborough

One of my pet little projects for my own amusement is a collection/loop of all the off-road stuff within 3 or 4 miles or so of the city centre (kind of an unofficial urban trail centre thing). Will post it all up once it's all mapped and linked up etc. sometime later this year.

slainte 💡 rob

The-milkybar-kid - Member
Did a big loop today over stamford/wakerley & back peterborough way the sulehay woods are riding nice not to muddy 2/3 trees have come down in the wind but you can get round them fine,been riding there 25 years & have never had any probs.

slainte 😀 rob

Hi all.

I am new to the area...just moved up here.

Is there any riding spots recommended around this area? I am mainly into free riding, but will do anything really, even a little xc.

I know about thetford, chicksands and woburn but these are a fair drive away. I am looking for something more local.

I hear there is meant to be a jump spot near Ikea, is this still around? I have also been to the BMX track a few times but this is all I know locally.

Are there any groups of riders that head out locally that are into the same kind of riding, would love to meet some fellow riders from around the area and into the same riding scene?

hi ya leewo, I am currently trying to get a peterborough group started on endomondo here is the link if you have it -
http://www.endomondo.com/teams/vzWimxgVH4w
On there you can see others routes etc, once more local riders join it, it should be good
😀

leewo - Member
I hear there is meant to be a jump spot near Ikea, is this still around? I have also been to the BMX track a few times but this is all I know locally.

leewo - Member
Are there any groups of riders that head out locally that are into the same kind of riding, would love to meet some fellow riders from around the area and into the same riding scene?

slainte 😉 rob

"Plus the advent of the new Red Trail at Wakerley Woods has improved the riding in the area no end." HAHAHAHAAH.....I'm from near there....it's shit...I'm going to have to move to Sheffield or Wales as I seriously can't handle it anymore. Have to drive everywhere...that'll be one to tell me missus...."We're moving up north!"...."Why?"....."Cuz the mountain bikings shit round here duhhh".

Check my post here - http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/happy-new-year-first-ride-of-2012/page/2 - It's not THAT near IKEA but is in that general area. Don't want to post the exact location publicly, but if you're interested email me (in profile) and I'll send you proper directions.

I know where you mean, went past there the other week and was amazed at how much work had been done since I last rode around that area when most of it had been flattened. I'm not brave enough to try those jumps and to be honest made a dogs dinner of the 'easier' slopes!

Just a bit disappointed about how much rubbish appears to have been left behind 🙁

Lantern Rouge - Member
Just a bit disappointed about how much rubbish appears to have been left behind

slainte 🙁 rob

Do any of you guys either ride at fine shades, wakerley or these trails near Ikea that would like to show a fellow rider some of the singletrack areas that are worth looking at?

Or any other areas worth a look within the area?

Check my post here - http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/happy-new-year-first-ride-of-2012/page/2 - It's not THAT near IKEA but is in that general area. Don't want to post the exact location publicly, but if you're interested email me (in profile) and I'll send you proper directions.

I couldn't find your email to contact you in your profile? I am interested in finding the location from you if this would be possible and just have a scout down there before taking the bike...

Hmmmnnn, I thought email addresses showed up in our profiles.

Mail me at rrrooobbbppp [at] googlemail [dot] com

slainte 😀 rob

If anyone on here who rides in the peterborough stamford area is intrested Local living LTD publish a booklet of 20 local rides in the
stamford, rutland,and nene valley area.These are rides useing country lanes and bridleways.
avalable online at www.bestlocalliving.co.uk or PO Box 208, Stamford PE9 9FY cost is £3.50

Hi Leewo, We meet across the road from Cross Keys Pub in Kings Cliffe every Sunday morning (7:30am) and go out for 2-3hours around Wakerley or the routes posted earlier in the thread.

Not much freeriding to be had round our way though.

My email address is in my profile if you want to contact me.

Might have to order one of those books, kmax!

Clobber - I might tag along at some point if that's OK? Will have to find a weekend where I can get out on a Sun morning.
I'm Deeping way, so not too far to get over to Kings Cliffe.

You'd be very welcome Stumpy, if you send me your email address I'll add you to our mailing list so you can see what we get up to. (my email address is in my profile)

We generally do a Wednesday evening ride as well and some trips out, cannock, swinley, 3 days in Wales this coming May etc...

Thank you everyone good to see although the area is quite flat there is still an interest in the sport this way. Will hopefully meet some of you on the trails soon...

Been riding Southey a bit over the last few weeks as the surface there seems to be holding up better than other trails round here. Short but sweet loop with a couple of singletrack sections that are going to be cracking when things dry and warm up.

Was down there today (couldn't resist the snow). The weather (and road conditions) obviously put off the usual hordes of dog walkers on the main paths - evidence of them being there by way of a few footprints but only other person I saw was someone as cool/stupid as me who was out for a snow ride on his orange Soul (nice looking bike if it was you I said hello to).

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slainte 8) rob