I have a couple of free weekends coming up and I've been given permission to skip some 4th birthday parties. It's imperative that I plan and commit to something otherwise I'll end up in a room full of screeching little Disney princesses.
Where would you go, on your own, to stay in a cheap B&B or campsite and do some life affirming rides in nice scenery?
2 or 3 days. I can take an SL e-bike with its small battery but I'd rather take the 29er and get some exercise. I'm looking for a break from uplift days and the ever present risk of death and injury. I just want to cruise around on my bike and go up and down some big hills.
Scotland, Wales, Lakes? I'm open minded. I wouldn't mind combining a good trail centre with a big natural ride somewhere.
Depends where you are based, but potentially the SDW. Suspect taht it's in good nick for its full length at the moment, and ideal for a weekend
combining a good trail centre with a big natural ride somewhere.
somewhere around the Mawddach estuary/Coed y Brenin? there's the bothy
plus a nice MTB friendly place to stay here too
Cairngorms, Burma Road, High Burnside, Laggan, Ballater/HBR, Aboyne.
There are loads of answers. This is just one
White Peak
Its dry so not muddy and early enough to be not over grown. I was shown this. It’s fab. Great single track, lovely part of the world
You'd be welcome to come and camp here in the middle of the Blacks. Riding from the door in perfect conditions at the moment. Big hills, big views and easy riding for miles when you get up top. Dirt farm 4 miles down the road (though may be a bit extreme), or cwmcARN/RISCA and FOD trail centres under an hour from here
Lakeland 200 or 300? MTB / bikepacking routes. If you don't want the full thing you could maybe do half of it and a day at Whinlatter?
There's a Dales version too, 300 and I think a 200. All in km.
I think from previous post you're Sheffield way? If I have a free weekend I always head to the Lakes, the riding & scenery are both amazing.
Which weekends are you free?
I'm idly trying to work out a plan fur this coming weekend.... 24-26 April. As always I'd love to go to the Cairngorms but will probably end up in the lakes
just want to cruise around on my bike and go up and down some big hills.
The obvious options would be:
Wales,:
Cadair Idris then Snowdon. If before the ban then try the 4321 route: up Llanberis, down Rryd Ddu,up the footpath down Rangers and Telegraph valley. If post ban then miss out Rryd Ddu and the footpath
Lakes:
Best legal options are the zillions of Bridleways in Helvellyn. Add in High Street if you prefer ( very) mellow.
If you're flexible on footpaths then Ullock Pike, Whiteside or Grizedale Pike.
Scotland:
Obvious option is Ballater. Bheinn a Bhuird is brilliant and not insanely hard Morronne is easy to plan and find, and also mellow.
Broad Cairn is fairly accessible. Either descend down Streaked Lighting or continue round the plateau hoovering up loads of Munros to Lochnagar.
If you want gnarr then do the Glass Allt descent on Lochnagar. It is mind blowing.
Or start at Glenshee ski and head over to An t sagairt Mhor and do the Lochcallater descent.
Or Ben Vrackie is pretty accessible.
Or go to Aviemore and do Cairngorm and Macdui.
Then Sgurr Gaoith
Etc
I should have said I'm in Sheffield so want to go further afield than the Peak. I might make it to the Tweed Valley but I'm not going as far as Aberdeen on my own.
I have a 4 day weekend on May bank holiday. The Lakes is probably best avoided on a bank holiday unless there's somewhere quiet.
Very drawn to Wales as I've only done the bikepark stuff there. Wouldn't mind getting out and about on the trails.
I might just be lazy and end up at FOD and BPW again. I do love a good Premier Inn!
I do like Dirt Farm but I just remembered I was dying to visit Twisted Oaks. I think they have camping available but there's not much else in the area.
See, I'm getting distracted and going straight back to sessioning jumps!
You'd be welcome to come and camp here in the middle of the Blacks. Riding from the door in perfect conditions at the moment. Big hills, big views and easy riding for miles when you get up top. Dirt farm 4 miles down the road (though may be a bit extreme), or cwmcARN/RISCA and FOD trail centres under an hour from here
Let me know where you are and I'll put it on the short list.
Near Llanthony Priory.
In your first post you are literally describing the South Downs Way 🙂
It’s great at the moment, good weather, big views, dusty trails and some decent coffee stops.
There are loads of answers. This is just one
White Peak
Its dry so not muddy and early enough to be not over grown. I was shown this. It’s fab. Great single track, lovely part of the world
I'm not being an arse and I might actually do that ride at some point. I'm just scratching my head why you've called it White Peak, it's not even close - probably actually goes closer to the Dark Peak in places
Do the badger divide. Scenery is epic when (if) the suns out.
Sounds like long gravel up in the hills type riding you are after - consider dumfries and galloway - loads out newton stewart, gatehouse of fleet way
just remembered I was dying to visit Twisted Oaks.
Twisted Oaks is fantastic and I could happily spend a couple of days there playing but there is pretty much nothing else in the area. The guys that built it must have had an absolute Field of Dreams moment 😀
welshfarmer is surrounded by a fantastic variety of options for all sorts of riding from big scenic xc loops to bike parks and trail centres.
I'd go for Wales if it's a three or four day trip
Somewhere near Dolgellau to have access to CYB, Mawddach Trail, Pont Scethin, big climbs and Hirnant Pass by Lake Vernwy, Stwlan Dam private road, Machynlleth including Dyfi, lanes around Cadair Idris etc.
But shirley the area will be mega busy around both May Bank Holidays.
North York Moors, big skies stunning views and rolling ridge rides.
If you end up in the Tweed Valley give us a shout and I can show you round.
Everything from big epic out there rides where you won't see anyone for miles to the steep hand cut stuff we have an abundance of.
You can even combine both things in the same ride.
Grand tour of the Berwyns one day, and the hills to the north of Llangollen on another. Followed by the option of the Clwydians to finish off.
White Peak
Its dry so not muddy and early enough to be not over grown. I was shown this. It’s fab. Great single track, lovely part of the world
That's originally my part of the world, was down this weekend and walked a couple of "trails" I've not known before around Cutthorpe & Barlow. Bookmarked this route for a return visit hopefully soon. As you say, right now trails are in amazing condition. And some decent pubs around that route...
I did something very similar a year ago on my lightweight ebike to escape toddler duty
Day one drove from Buckinghamshire to Cwmcarn and did both reds and the blue trail. Could easily have done FoD or one of the other south wales trail centres though.
One night at the premier inn Ebbw Vale
Day two get up early and drive to Talybont-on-Usk to do the Gap route which is a great XC route in some decent hills. Then drive back to Buckinghamshire
Good mix of trail centre and XC epic and if e driving is a bit far could always add an extra night in a premier inn somewhere on the way
I did a big 50 mile in the peask ages ago... similar to this
KOMOOT.COM but went down round hayfield as well. I don't know the area at all btw, just wanted a big day long solo epic as was up there with (non biking) friends.
Ended up 55 miles 6500ft. Think it was most tiring ride I've done (on my old 26" marin wolf ridge too) , though trying to get fit enough for south downs in a day now.
