...been a couple of times over a year ago but always with someone else who knew the place. Was planning to go tomorrow on my lonesome - it's easy to follow the route(s) right?? Any tips?
Don't bother, the trails are pretty cr@p.
Where would you suggest I "gotonmybike" instead then??
it's easy to follow the route(s) right??
Yup park at Birches Valley & just follow the red markers
Caution: not the red markers for the wheelchair trail 🙂
eh? cr@p?! Listen its not the Alps (obviously) but I think the trails are excellent. Some fantastic bits of single track and well worth a visit. Don't expect long climbs or descents (its is in the Midlands) but for what elevation there is its really good. Not forgetting the fact that volunteers have put a hell of a lot of work in there over the years!
As for navigation its dead easy, just follow the way markers.
If you start at Swinnertons (the bike shop) at Birches Valley, you should be fine. Both red routes are well signposted, assuming that no scrotes have vandalised the posts.
If you're doing the red, you'll start off on Follow the Dog for the first few sections, go up a fireroad hill then left into another section, and halfway through there's a decision point - left onto the Monkey trail, straight on to carry on with Follow the Dog. The Monkey doubles the trail length pretty much, and joins back up with Follow the Dog back to Birches Valley.
Would have come and shown you how to follow the markers but my little one has the chicken pox... (usually go up Tuesdays)
But as most have said get to Birches Valley find the Go ape/ shop area and the trail starts there.
Cheers. I *have* been at least twice before (IIRC) but always left the navigation to others - just wanted a re-assurance that it was as easy to navigate as it seemed...
You will have no problem this time of year there is a steady flow of people going round
The Monkey trail seemed miles better to me than the FtD loop. So you could park up by the railway and just do the Monkey trail a couple of times.
Saying that, the loops are not super long so it would be no hardship just to go to the main car park and get warmed up on FtD.
went yesterday and loved it. trials were a bit chewed up in places (but makes it more technical) and the newish sections they have added in are fun. ignore the moaners, Cannocks top notch and well worth a visit 🙂
Are there any braking bumps?
I was really impressed with Cannock. With the space and land they had available, the trails easily exceeded my expectations. Really worth a visit.
Are there any braking bumps?
We contemplated adding a 'Chase Trails Braking Bumps of Doom' section by our camp at SITS the other weekend, good job we didn't as people had enough to complain about already..... 😉
Is there any restrictions on parking near the railway? I've noticed quite a few do it, I'm guessing it's free to park there. Not that i mind paying £3-£4 to help pay for the up keep of the place. I'd just prefer to do the monkey trail several times, and not have to safe any energy for the ride back to the car park.
save any energy for the ride back to the car park
Shitbag hill is what maketh the man
The mighty werewolf drop appears to have been upgraded to Black with a new chicken run.
Be careful out there.....
don't just park at the road and do the monkey bit, do the whole thing. The bit from the split down to the railway is one of the best bits.
Aye...you'd miss out tackeroo, too (the last section back to BV after the caravan site) which would be a shame, cos it's great fun.don't just park at the road and do the monkey bit, do the whole thing. The bit from the split down to the railway is one of the best bits.
Rusty Shackleford - Member
don't just park at the road and do the monkey bit, do the whole thing. The bit from the split down to the railway is one of the best bits.
Aye...you'd miss out tackeroo, too (the last section back to BV after the caravan site) which would be a shame, cos it's great fun.
yeah I agree... its only really the first bit to the top of the first climb on ftd thats quite dull. the bit from the split is one of the best sections. If I'm being lazy I will miss out most of the monkey and ride straight up the fire road and just do the cliff section then rejoin the dog. which makes about a 10 mile loop.
Shitbag hill is what maketh the man
has been ridden on a penny farthing! if you can't get your lardy bum up it on a modern geared bicycle you need to cut down on the pies! 😀
+1 tazzy 😀 cannock is alright but i never have that much fun when i ride there. The lower cliff descent is still the best bit. Imo the rollers have been ruined by the rocks they've put in but i can see why they've done it.
Shame about the first reply. 🙄