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Following on from the thread about the Ullswater shoreline trail which apparently is in the MBR top 20, what are the others?
A decent list or just made up of trails we haven't featured in the mag for a while?
I think they are favorites collated by Tom and Steph from the routes they did for the magazine over the years.
Wonder who sponsored 😉
I'm sure it was one of the mags did their best trail centre supplement which was preceded by a call to solicit more ads for the suppliment 😉
Looking at the list, of those I've done I wouldn't include Gunnerside Gill, it's 300 metres of very technical riding but that's totally out of character with the rest of any loop you'd come up with that would include it.
Long Mynd I thought was a bit "Meh" that includes Minton Batch. I've not done any of the "cheeky" stuff though.
If you're ticking them off and do Cut Gate - please stick some money in the pot!
Is it just me, or do none of the links actually supply GPS files or maps as suggested?
Aye they don't supply the GPS routes, did when they were first published years ago.
The routes in the main are poor and most have better riding elsewhere.
Not sure how some of those routes made it into the top 20.
The Doethie Valley is another one that got hyped up but didn't actually deliver that much - as I recall it was miles of fire road, a daft rocky climb, a fast descent you bail out of just as you're getting going, a soggy piece of singletrack and then a fire road slog up hill. And no cake for miles.
It's just a selection of trails spread about the country for a magazine article, not really to be taken too seriously. If it was 'real' than I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be 2 in somerset or any in surrey.
Anyone done the Great Hograh ride? It's right next to where i'll be in sept for a wedding so fancy giving it a blast
Pedalnorth have a route here http://www.pedalnorth.com/content/great-hograh-moor-and-baysdale-abbey
Off the back of this I'm going to give that pedal north great hograh one a go on Saturday so will feedback SoY though in am thinking my curiosity might get the better of me at one point...
Taking this will mean a bike hike or accidents.
Hmmmm what could possibly go wrong.
Taking this will mean a bike hike or accidents.
Indeed what could go wrong?!
Feedback would be great, hope you enjoy the ride
The Doethie Valley is another one that got hyped up but didn’t actually deliver that much – as I recall it was miles of fire road, a daft rocky climb, a fast descent you bail out of just as you’re getting going, a soggy piece of singletrack and then a fire road slog up hill. And no cake for miles.
Did you extend it up to Cwm Rhaeadr? There is a pub on the way there as well..
I rode the Great Hograh route a few years ago with some mates. We were all underwhelmed, it’s not bad but i’d be surprised if many would put it in their top 20 in the UK.
i bet there is some great riding in those moors if you had some local knowledge.
not really to be taken too seriously. If it was ‘real’ than I’m pretty sure there wouldn’t be 2 in somerset or any in surrey.
Well... no. how could you take any "top 20" article seriously? But if you've never ridden in Somerset I honestly think you'd be pleasantly surprised with the variety and quality of trails. From big natural XC rides to DH to dirt jumping. For such a small county it really has a lot to offer. I'd actually rather travel 400 miles to the Quantocks for a weekends riding than trudge around Torridon.
Have a search for mbrmagazine on GPSies and I bet you'll find a lot of these and other tracks.
Just a few notes about that MBR Top 20:
Nan Bield - Definitely a top route but not the way MBR do it. Descending Gatesgarth only to Hike a Bike up the other side is awful, much better to go over Harter Fell.
Rhyd Du - A lot of the Rhyd Du is unrideable, particularly the ridgeline at the top. Don't know if this should be on the list.
Ullswater - There is an entire thread on it
Swinley's not mentioned, I'm out...
As someone who lived in the Lakes for many years and was riding round Torridon etc 20 years ago, I think Somerset has some of the best riding in the UK. Yeah, I was surprised, too...
Re. Somerset- yes. I enjoyed the Exmoor marathon (my first time there).
I live in London and don't have a car and Somerset is surprisingly convenient.
London - Taunton by train = 1hr43m.
London -<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;"> Achnashellach by train = 11hrs minimum. </span>
No mention of the trails behind Nationwide in Swindon?
Feedback would be great, hope you enjoy the ride
Hograh moor was a decent ride not great but good enough. Don't do it in a hail storm though.
If you want a proper "ignore this, do this" drop me a pm.
Not a single Aberdeenshire route.............great, more empty trails for those of us who know where the best 20 routes in the U.K. really are!
As someone who has spent a lot of time riding in the peaks, lakes, yorks sales and a bit of time in other places, I agree with the Somerset items specifically Exmoor. It is absolutely tremendous. The cheeky stuff i found near watersmeet is some of the best riding i have ever done. Never managed to find the opportunity to ride the quantocks unfortunately.
Never managed to find the opportunity to ride the quantocks unfortunately
Do! It's great, and you can do most of the best bits in a big day out.
Almost* impossible to get lost as it's one big ridge with trails and valleys leading off to each side. And each valley, or coombe, generally has one or two cracking descents in it.
There's even a nice area of DH and enduro trails.
*I managed it once, quite spectacularly, on my own in a blizzard. Got properly confused and thought i was going south, but was heading north. Apart from that....easy!
Just had a quick butchers and I've ridden 15 of the 20... some nice stuff in there. Some average stuff too but then it's not always about the 'gnar', just going for a ride in a beautiful or remote spot is mountain biking to me. As mentioned, some of the route choices are off but you'd be in an area where there is some truly amazing riding close by.
I think I'll knock the 5 off I've not done, just for completeness.
Means a road trip to Scotland.... woohoo!