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Planning to visit Forest of Dean for the first time. Mixed group used to reds and blacks at trail centres such as CYB, Llandegla etc. Normally ride Woburn. Advice / recommendation please on where to ride, where to stay ( got tents, vans but might need B&B as well) Thinking June time.
Campsite in Parkend. Fountain Inn does accommodation and has a bunk house I think.
The forrest in pretty quite with NOTHING going on at night. I would stay nearer to Gloucester or Cheltenham, you struggle to find many pubs or entertainment in the forrest. The bike park is great and has an uplift van. Lots of decent varied riding and some nice long XC trails. Really good set up centre with nice cafe, shop etc. Lots of different ability runs. The hills can be cycled up fairly easily but after a few times you will be using the van. You can pay a set fee for the day of a few £ per lift up, or ride for free and cycle back up. We usually ride up a few times and then pay per lift.
coconut - Member
The forrest in pretty quite with NOTHING going on at night. I would stay nearer to Gloucester or Cheltenham, you struggle to find many pubs or entertainment in the forrest.
What's wrong with a night in The Feathers in Coleford? 😉
I'd do the FOD uplift even if you don't feel "uplifty", it's fast and means you can really take the time to explore, it accesses the end of the blue as well if you want a longer run. The dh trails are imo pretty confusing at first, the signage/mapping's a wee bit lacking but the trails are fantastic- they've made amazing use of what's really quite a little hill. Though I think you'll find some of them a bit out of your comfort zone maybe.
The red loop is really nice- there's more to it than you'd expect from the distance and height, it's like they've condensed a normal trail centre and thrown away all the filler.
Get away from the cycle center. Bring an OS map and remember that you can easily use Cannot cross roads as a reference point . Don't cross a road and you can't get lost. Bring a camera, don't make a noise and you can get within a few yards of the boar.
Cinderford has take always but its a dump. It's not called the monkey rump for nothing. Lydney has 2 bike shops or there's small shops at the hire places at Cannot or Park end.
The tails @ Cannop are great. Blue and red and both good and can easily be dome a few times. The DH tracks were getting a little worn (which is a good thing) and are much more natural than BPW etc. As mentioned the uplift service is fantastic and you can get plenty of runs in and the last section of the Blue starts at the top and is really good fun.
Thanks all. Lots of stuff to consider..
If you want to micx pubs with camping investigate Whitemead Park at Park end. A bit "civilised" but its own bar and 2 pubs within 2 minutes walk. No idea on cost as I only live 2 minutes up through the woods.
Check out James at FODMTBGUIDES book him for the day and you'll find some sweet stuff that you'll never find on your own.
Here's a short video of us cocking about today in the woods. Although he followed me down this trail.
Whitemead is great. Food is good, lovely pint of Caffrey's...
We go a couple of times a year.
Easy 15 min off-road ride to the Trail Centre.
It's a win win for me. Kids love the activities, I can head out early, roll back into the site after a ride & straight in the jacuzzi. It's about £35/ night to camp but that includes the use of the pool complex. It's like a mini Centre Parcs.
We had a a great afternoon with James a few weeks ago I'd thoroughly recommend him. There are some amazing trails both natural and built that you'd never find without a guide.
Nick
[quoteWhat's wrong with a night in The Feathers in Coleford?
And I thought I was the only one. ........