Thinking of checking this out but have heard it might all a bit free-ride and ambitious for my delicate 40 something XC based riding abilities...
I’m reasonably fit but over recent years I’ve not done much beyond slogging out the miles on South Downs and the odd loop of Bedgebury
Will I die/humiliate myself?
Haven’t been for a few years but def a step up from Bedgbury. You have the ability to injure yourself quite badly on some of the jumps and it gets super muddy.
Worth a jumps / drops course with Jedi first if you are injury prone..
A skills course sounds like a good plan.
Are there chicken runs in most places so you can have a decent ride with some easy jumps to build confidence?
Pretty sure it's completely closed/flattened.
Try rogate once it’s open. Trails have a nice progression.
Depends how far you are travelling. There are chicken runs but not a nice progressive series of jumps to learn on. Personally I wouldn’t travel more than 30 mins for it if not used to jumps / downs in the mud.
There are a few areas at Swinley you can session and Surrey Hills if you fancy a change from Bedgebury. Frosting if you fancy a change with a few hidden jumps dotted around. Sure others will let you know other place for learning jumps.
PORC is only about a 15 min bike ride away so would be ideal to be able to go there any have a try but sounds like all closed? Seems weird as I know there is a cafe etc there. Wonder why the new owners wouldn’t want a bike park magnet?
I thought it was sold for housing?
Not been for years but spent most of my teens there. Mike sold off the bit that is now Kingdom a while ago. They had plans for a roadie circuit but don't think that ever happened. Website now is just cafe, yoga and wedding venue stuff.
He'd been trying to sell the MTB bit for years, it got a brief reprieve as Penshurst Bike Park but apparently now has a new owner. There's planning permission granted to knock down the old "Shimla" house and build a modern new one. https://pa.sevenoaks.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=QF0EXOBKJT400