[Closed] Forest of Dean marked routes?

Just looked at the website - trails seem very short? Is there enough unmarked stuff to make it worth a trip or is it going to be an unrideable swamp?

GB

You can spend days on the unmarked trails , parts will be wet and boggy, but not all.

We did the blue trail with added red bits a few weeks back, you could spend a day there. We did 2 laps and then went for high tea, but if you skipped tea you could do 3 or 4 laps going off on any red bits you found. There was 1 pretty bad swamp for 50 yards or so but the rest was surprisingly rideable...

I'm hoping we might have a couple of drier days between now and February!

The man-made trails hold up pretty well in the wet although they're getting a lot of use and are getting a bit claggy in a couple of places. The Family Cycle Trail is an 11 mile cycle trail loop suitable for all users. The Verderers is a mostly 'Blue' grade loop with a couple of 'Red' bits and the Freeminer Trail is a shorter 'Red' loop. Neither is technical. There are a number of Downhill trails and an uplift service (booking advised).

There is a lot of non-marked singletrack stuff which does get wet but it's a wet mud so not claggy and easilh washed off. With a bit of momentum very little is unrideable. Usually I'd say it mostly drains well but after this year's rain that's not the case at the moment. But then, February isn't at the moment...

Thanks. Any suggestions for places to stay?

What sort of accommodation are you looking for ? B&B, bunk house,hotel etc

Either a small 4-6 person cottage or a hotel/B&B.

If you get a copy of the Forest of Dean & wye valley visitor guide there all in there, the Fountain inn in Parkend is ideally placed,the Rock in Symonds Yat to name a couple

Great, thanks. I'll have a look at those ones.

GB

The waymarked routes are good.Downhill stuff great which is marked.The unmarked stuff is brill and the link ups.If you can get a guide then its much better.Was yuk of the verdeerers trail the other day but by Feb hopefully it will be alot dryer.

Gee, someone like you will struggle to spend a full day there unless you get a nice quick guide to take you on the natural stuff.

It's great up there but in terms of amount, Verderers is basically Ashton Court with some gradient, maybe a bit longer. And the Freeminers red is a bit longer than Leigh Woods in Bristol, bit more natural, but with potential for bog.

It's great up there, don't get me wrong, but I tend to have to add in a few DH runs as even two laps of Verderers and Freeminers isn't enough for a day out tbh.

Gee, if you have a gpx download the enduro route and worth searching out

The ride up to the DH trails is fairly quick so it's worth doing a few runs after doing the xc courses. All the DH runs (at least the last time I went) are doable on a trailbike indeed many are likely more fun on a wee bike.

GB, the Ranger that used to look after Thetford now looks ofter the trials at FoD, I can give you his number if that helps.hope you are both well 8)

The Verderers 6 miles x2, freeminers 3 miles x2 and Enduro 10 miles(need GPS)are a good day out for average fitness when you take time for views and tea stops . If you want more milage then substitute some, or all of them and complete the "Chase the boar" route that will take in the forest and wye valley.
There is also the option of taking in routes down to symons yat that hold up pretty well, although not technical but again tea and views worth the effort.

The (latest) Enduro route isn't really a good option at the moment due to ground conditions and harvesting 🙁

I'd say your best bet Gee would be to post again a bit nearer the time and arrange a local to guide. I'd offer, but I don't (can't!) do quick 😳

I get told of some times for being to quick 😆

take time for views

On verderers and freeminers? You need to get out more!

If your over there for a couple of days it's worth heading over to the Brecon Beacons or up to the Long Mynd for some natural trails for at least one day

did the verderers loop (blue) yesterday, bar one glooptastic section its all rideable and has held up well despite the constatn rain. the last 3 kms are great. the red loop is quite rooty and i found it very frustrating. its hard to get much of a rhythm going and its a bit boggier than the blue. didnt venture into the skillz area but assume as its man made its ok.

Get an OS map and a compass - that will keep you busy for days its such a large area.

So many trails you wont need to know which ones, just keep riding. Explore and discover it, you will find some great bits and so OK bits. Its all good biking.