[Closed] Riding near Notts

Don't know where about's you are in Notts but there's Bestwood (only been there once cus I can't be doing with a half an hour hilly ride each way!)

I'm at the uni, would be nice to find somewhere within easy riding distance 🙂

after too long living in the middle of Nottinghamshire, I've come to the conclusion that it is worth the hassle of the hour+ drive…
Yes there is Sherwood Pines, Bestwood and all the muddy bridleways you can shake a bike at, but there is alot better stuff not too far away.
Dark Peak & Cannock as you've said already. Dalby forest isn't that far either…

There is some to be had around blidworth bottoms, sansom wood etc. enough for a couple of hours, but not for much more. Can also go the other side of the A614 into Watchwood or into Burntstump for a good fun decent, but that's possibly a bit of a cheeky one. If it ever dries up it's possible for a nice big loop over some of the bridleways out Epperstone, Southwell, Bleasby etc. but a no go area at the moment as they're mainly on clay land

@becky - the 'best' bit near the uni is probably the area around the Hemlock stone, the other side of the road to bramcote park (head along the A52 towards Derby, then right towards Ilkeston, right at the little roundabout and its on your left, probably about 10 mins riding). Its short and steep so lots of quickish up and quick down. there is a few canal paths / bridleways beyond that if you wanted a longer run.

@Megatron - time is limited as I feel bad(ish) for escaping from the kids for too long at the weekend.

I might have to explore the blidworth bottoms / samson wood

Cheers

check STW Trail guide - two routes in East Midlands on there worth bothering with
One just South of Notts (plenty of other bridleways round there - Clifton and south area) and Ticknall south of Derby - again a good fast XC ride

Loads of woods to play in between Nottingham and Mansfield but it'll take you ages to find/learn where the good bits are. Bestwood, Burntstump, Watchwood, Sansom Wood, Blidworth Bottoms, Harlow Wood, Nomanshill Wood, Newstead/Annesley Woods...

And there are lots of options on Strelley Moor going west from the Uni towards Ilkeston, Cossal, Kimberley & Hucknall. Bramcote Ridge is worthwhile if you're heading out that way via the Hemlock Stone.

The finest "urban singletrack" is alongside the A611 Hucknall Road between City Hospital and Bestwood Park.

I ride all of this stuff all year round, as well as South Notts (Gotham, Keyworth, Barton-in-Fabis etc) and the Trent Valley (Lambley, Lowdham, Gunthorpe etc). Just get out and explore!!!

And if you fancy riding with a local club, check out www.natsmtb.com - we ride once or twice a month on Sundays in Notts/Leics as well as in the Peak District.

If you would like a nice big guided route round the bridleways between Burton Joyce, Southwell and the rolling countryside/Trent valley between, [url= http://www.tonyas-challenge.org/ ]Tonyas challenge[/url] may be worth a look?
my regular stomping ground…

as simon1975 says there's loads of stuff on the doorstep and natsmtb are a friendly bunch.
...i went for a [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/goodhank/4463969939/ ]play[/url] in bestwood yesterday 🙂

hemlock is fun and sees an influx of 'you uni types' (becky) but is really only a playground, not a ride.

bestwood is the easiest to find some fun stuff and make it in to a ride, i link it up with annesley, moorgreen and plenty of cheeky bits to keep the interest up. its never going to be the peaks though, just a razz when the drive isnt worth it.

i used to ride local almost all the time, you can make so many variations on the rides out towards mansfield cos theres endless trails in loads of little woods. i just got a bit bored of it not being scary. good for fitness though.

I'm inspired now to take the annesley woods variation on my commute home. It's a beautiful day outside

ive built a few bits in annesley; a skinny little trail that switchbacks and drop-offs its way down a bank, a ladder drop off to sketchy roooty landing and concreted the skinny bridge in over the bog of doom.

your welcome lol

Loads of woods to play in between Nottingham and Mansfield but it'll take you ages to find/learn where the good bits are. Bestwood, Burntstump, Watchwood, Sansom Wood, Blidworth Bottoms, Harlow Wood, Nomanshill Wood, Newstead/Annesley Woods...

+1
Been riding out tat way for four years now, always another moth-balled mine railway or RUPP to find and follow not to mention loads of trails in the woods.
Burnststump/Blidwrth and Haywood Oaks makes for a good trail hack most time sof year. Theives wood is good for night riding.
Sustrans route 6 is always near by to limp home on in comfort.

I can get a good dyas riding in from Gedling going down through Calverton, picking up Burnstump, Blidwrth and lunch at either Blidworth suasage van or Newsted abbey and then on to Theives wood and onto Hardwick hall etc before looping round past the M1 down the other side through Kimberly etc.

A good 60 miles plus but well worth it!

i like bestwood for a night ride, just about the ride time to fit in before my lights run out, taking in the 5 best descents. theres also a cheeky little gulley down the side of the railway bridge that drops off the old railway trail down to the road. not sure how else to describe it, it pops out near that little road that dead ends at the tram/railway crossing.

ive ridden back from work through sansom woods this eve

blidworth woods, burntstump, londale lane woods upto sherwood pines then onto sherwood forest, then clumber park thoresby and onto cresswell crags is a good run

its surprising what can be ofund on the doorstep

I live in calverton, and a good network of bridleways around lowdham, epperstone, and down into the trent valley also

I'm at the uni, would be nice to find somewhere within easy riding distance

One other thing you can do is ride to the train station (Beeston or Nottingham), and catch a train out to Matlock, Ambergate, Belper. Tons of riding, and direct trains are 1 an hour on a Saturday. Takes about 40 -50 minutes on the train, and is pretty cheap.

Joe

There is a surprising amount of trails in the woods just north of Notts as several folks above have said, and you can make pretty good 30/40 mile loop out to Sherwood Pines and back, with a surprising amount of good singletrack.

Also, as mentioned, you can get a reasonable loop in out over Ilkeston way, with some added hills there too! If you are feeling fit you can even ride out to Belper, Ambergate etc too!

is there anything in Colwick Woods these days?
I used to live in Snienton as a student about 12 years ago and that place had serious potential even back then

I've always wondered about Colwick woods... but never really had the chance to explore. But on the side of that hill I'd have thought they would have something in there...

Colwick woods can be hard work, but I use it when I want to cut between Sneinton and Netherfield, keeping close to the cliff top above the railway. There are a few places to play in there too, but it can get slippery and nettley.

Used to sometimes go exploring in Colwick Woods on my way home from work when I lived in Carlton. Not such a good idea when you have semi slicks on your commuting bike. I remember riding along this nice bit of trail and the whole bike just sliding sideways off the path and down the hill with me attached.

Colwick Woods is not ridden alot because it is highly Warden patrolled!

Yeah, I've been meaning to go to Matlock!
I've been told there is a bit of an XC country route to Hemlock from the Toby Carvery roundabout vie Bramcote park - does anyone know anything about this? (i.e how to find it)

becky... if you start go up Wollaton Vale, and take the first road on the left, this should be Woodbank Drive. Go up here for a short distance and then take the first left, at the end go left again, down the hill and follow it round the corner. Take the first right into a dead end and there is small path on the left at the end that takes you up onto the ridge which has several tracks along it... the best bit is around Alexandria Plantation at the Bramcote end, which has quite a few nice short little trails.

Nick it's the 2nd right I think 😉

I usually get onto Bramcote Ridge from the end of Cooper's Green or by using the steps up from Heather Rise near David Grove. There are several bits of singletrack along the ridge between there and the other end of the ridge at Thoresby Road. You can then use Bramcote Park to cut across to Coventry Lane if you're heading up to the [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/goodhank/4458139838/ ]trig point
[/url] 🙂

thanks 🙂

Looking at Google Maps it shows you can do both first and second right... so it looks like we are both correct.. :o)

Only just noticed this thread!

I live in Ruddington, south of the river, and there's enough for a few hours of fun down this way if you know how to link it up.

Surprising amount of stuff near Clifton, Gotham etc.

[url= http://www.bramcote-ridge.org.uk/ ]The ridge[/url] is a nature reserve with a bridleway running in the wrong direction so its a bit cheeky.

here's a few routes starting near to Nottingham
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Motorway
watnall brickworks has recently been re-opened after the landowner blocked the bridleway so it would be good to go and mark your territory.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Gotham-East-Leake
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Burntstump
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Stanley

vdubber - please comment on the Gotham one if you think it can be improved (if bikely isn't playing up again)

fwiw I've put a few Ilkeston based routes on Bikely that may help - search under Ilkeston or Derby- but the web site is on a hissy fit most of the time at present!

Abductee.

Comments re the Gotham one. Presuming the route goes north out of Gotham? 1) When you get to the top of the hill, go through the woods rather than along the southern edge- there's some interesting singletrack in there.

2)When you get to Wysall, instead of the road section, you can follow the Mishires way off road back to Bunny wood.

3) Although there is single at the base of Bunny Old wood, if you climb up to the top of the hill (actually where the midshires way brings you in), there's some excellent singletrack followed by a set of steps.

Other than that you pretty much do one of my loops there...

🙂

I usually get onto Bramcote Ridge from the end of Cooper's Green or by using the steps up from Heather Rise near David Grove. There are several bits of singletrack along the ridge between there and the other end of the ridge at Thoresby Road. You can then use Bramcote Park to cut across to Coventry Lane if you're heading up to the trig point

If you are feeling fit you can even ride out to Belper, Ambergate etc too!

You can do Belper 95% off road from Wollaton - by going along the top of the ride, then - go down to Erewash Canal in Stapleford (about 5 minutes ride from Bramcote Park), canal / bike path up to Shipley Park (some naughty trails off to the side in here too I understand), obvious bridleway to Smalley, tiny bit of road, obvious bridleways to Denby, 'special bridleway' up to Openwoodgate, little bit of road then bridleway which comes out just at the back of Belper Park. It is a bit boring mind, almost all dead easy riding, sustrans / easy bridleway stuff and about 20 miles, but it is an okay way to get out to that riding if you have the legs to do a 20 mile easy ride, then do a proper off road ride - was great in the snow.

Joe

Thanks vdubber I will try to include those bits next time.

Here's the Belper route without the special bridleway
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Belper

Unless you like riding through hub deep slurry, don't take the bridleway out the back of the farm in Smalley... the farmers obviously take great delight in making it as muddy and as covered in cow poo as possible...

Funky Nick - Yes I've experienced that farm which is why I didn't put it on the route. I can feel another rights of way campaign coming on. There is a grass lane off to the east of the farm which I'm sure the council could get it moved to

Have you seen the farm on google maps? It looks like the road to Baghdad with wreckage scattered all over the fields
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=53.002854,-1.396379&spn=0.003738,0.011276&t=h&z=17

The farmers seem to be a nice enough bunch, and are quite happy to chat and move vehicles, but I think the bridleway would do better if it could be moved...

And I think it looked worse than that in Google Maps last time I went through...

What's the mysterious camoflaged circle in the middle of that farm!?

If anyone fancies Matlock/Darley Dale they are welcome to join our Thursday night rides for medium paced fun.

If you're fit, then check out DVATC for their Tuesday night rides....

[url] http://www.dvatc.co.uk/Newsite/ [/url]

Other than that - if I lived in Notts I'd quite possibly kill myself. That's if some gun toting drug dealer didn't do me first 🙁

😉

vdubber... at a guess it's a slurry tank..

TAFKASTR... last time I went for an evening ride up that way it almost killed me! I think I need some fitness back before attempting that again...

And I'm okay, I escaped Nottingham, and now like in Ikleston!!

funkynick - Member
vdubber... at a guess it's a slurry tank..

TAFKASTR... last time I went for an evening ride up that way it almost killed me! I think I need some fitness back before attempting that again...

And I'm okay, I escaped Nottingham, and now like in Ikleston!!

It nearly f'in kills me every time I go out, but we aint that fast - hence our not riding with DVATC any more.

Ilkeston - I hope that isn't a brag........... 😉

funkynick - thanks for the heads up on the "medium pace" invite I was thinking about it for a moment.

vdubber - I think its the silo full of sh!t they use for lubricating the bridleway.

abductee... oh, I've not been out with those boys, at least I don't think so anyway!

It's just that's it's a fair bit steeper out that way than round here, and came as a bit of a shock!

TAFKASTR... I'll probably take you up on it closer to the summer, when I can actually ride up hill again!

THEARTIST - I'm interested on a thursday ride. How do I contact you about meeting up?

Cheers

Living in Ilkeston is nothing to brag about.

West Hallam, of course, is a whole other issue, and home of the world famous West Hallam Wobbly Wheelers Cycle Club.