Recently moved from the highlands to wiltshire (nr chippenham) and need somewhere to explore. Before I get the map out would anyone care to suggest somewhere with a bountiful supply of bridleways/ byways?
A woodbury common type place would be ideal, but exeter is a bit far. Doesn't have to be particularly gnarly.
Ta muchly.
You're welcome to come out with us around Wotton-Under-Edge.
Have a look at www.edgemtb.com.
One of our lot lives in Chippers too.
Erlestoke woods for some interesting bits and Salisbury Plain for the wide open spaces?
you can link interesting stuff up around biddestone and castle combe
other side on the downs past calne and beyond is a not really my thing but if you like miles and open spaces its good
the nearest technical riding, and there ain't that much, is around bath and mostly cheeky cheeky
Mendips has loads of great riding
I'm in Marshfield, anywhere nearby?
I'm in Marshfield, anywhere nearby?
star lane is a laugh (wear waterproofs)
I have a love / hate relationship with Star Lane, when you get it right its ace. When you get sun in your eyes then stack it on a fallen log into freezing cold water running over fist sized rocks its not so fun. Some good cheeky suff in the woods just south of Star Lane / north of Lucknam Park...
All the best riding falls foul of the shooting season, nothing fun about having a shotgun waved in your face by a farmer and his mates... 😕
Thanks for the suggestions everyone (and the invite spokebloke). I'll take a closer look over the weekend at the options.
I went over to cherhill down/ white horse trail east of calne the other weekend but the paths were v wide (as you'd expect from ridgeway byways) and not really my bag.
Thanks again
If you fancy checking some of the trails around bath, be happy to show you. Be warned though, in currently proper unfit!
I have been riding the area for a long time in my experience the best bits are short lived but fun.
Linking stuff together with quiet country lanes bridles and a bit of cheek is probably best.
I am now based in S Glos where it's a similar story so for local riding your going to find yourself doing that kind of thing.
Although at this time of year a cross bike and mud shoes are probably best !
I think the best riding locally is around Wotton or the FoD.
I went over to cherhill down/ white horse trail east of calne the other weekend but the paths were v wide (as you'd expect from ridgeway byways) and not really my bag
Oh dear you've moved to the wrong place then. After Cumbria Wiltshire has the highest mileage of bridleways and byways of any English county. Unfortunately as you've found its not very challenging.
Some short steep stuff and tasty singletrack can be found but it never lasts longer than a couple of minutes.
I gave up MTBing in winter when I moved here, unless its frozen, as the sticky mud we have round here sucks the fun out of it and wet chalk has about as much grip as sheet ice.
Is moving back to the highlands an option?
There are several informal weeknight groups who head out from Chippenham, bath and head out further afield inc cwmcarn fod etc I'd recommend tagging along to pickup some info on some of the hidden gems
[url= http://www.settingascene.com/ ]http://www.settingascene.com/[/url]
Some local rides are arranged on this site, have a look.
There a a few little Singletrack sections around Castle Combe, plus a few little cheeky trails, that are pretty good fun.
I however have packed up with the mountain biking, just ride CX and Road now. As a few previous posters have said, what there is about is fun, just and I'm all for the easier life now...!!!