[Closed] Southern riders - your favourite bluebell wood is ...

burnham beeches - but i usually only visit on foot, with the dog

for riding, the ones on my doorstep loop - but im not telling you where that is, sorry. (chilterns)

the green tips are poking through the leaf mulch already!

christmas common balhams farm

Ooooh, two Chilts recommendations already 8)

C'mon on SOOBalias, give us a clue!

tips are showing and the trails are drying out a bit as well. be careful anyone doing the stonor fence desent locals have been blocking the desent every twenty feet with all sorts mate broke a collar bone the other week. have reported to the council. silly old sods must have taken the most of the day to build them half a tree in one place even built a stone wall backed with soil for support. shame a nice quick desent.

ashridge is always good

just google images for ashridge and bluebells

Ashridge - spring bluebell walks (rides for some) are an institution where I live

ETA - beaten to it!

leaving the road on to a footpath, which contours the hill through about a mile of newish plantation, corner sharply right and then left, the trees open up to reveal a large dip, 0.5k across. bluebells as wide as you can see, all the way down, up the other side and across the top to distant left (trail goes right)

obviously you cannot ride there as its a footpath.

Dalepoint

the stonor fence desent locals have been blocking the desent every twenty feet with all sorts mate broke a collar bone the other week. have reported to the council. silly old sods must have taken the most of the day to build them half a tree in one place even built a stone wall backed with soil for support. shame a nice quick desent.

The woods outside Lockeridge (W of Marlborough) are lovely most years.
Chute Forest has some lovely spots of bluebells as well.

However, my current favourite bluebell/bike related memory is of a hot sunny day riding Hermon at CYB, with that wonderful heady scent filling the air.

Oh, and sorry c-g - just to stay on topic: far end of shotover hill, running parallel to the byway. lovely bluebells usually.

Micheldever woods, just north of Winchester. Some good bridleways around there too...

Bluebells? don't really notice them until I'm cleaning their pulped little flowers from my tyre tread at the end of a ride...
Surely this is one for the [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/gardenersworld/2009/05/a_passion_for_bluebells.html ]gardeners world [/url] panel?

Great Widmoor Wood in the Chilterns. A beautiful birch copse that always has a stunning display of bluebells.

+ 1 for Shotover Hill

And the snowdrops up on Boars Hill were looking very nice when we weaved through them on Tuesday night.

West Woods nr Pewsey, Wiltshire. Always manages to make even the dullest of days seem bright and cheery. I think this is the same as CFH has already mentioned good riding around the Vale of Pewsey, going out there on Sunday 21st March!!

Looks like the Chilterns is the place to be for bluebells.

My vote goes to the misleadingly named Grim's Ditch:

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It's far from grim, especially when the bluebells are out. Shame this bit is 'misleadingly' shown as footpath on the OS.

Yep, that's it! West Woods! Had forgotten the name!

Pewsey...happy memories...! 😈

the kings woods nr challock in East Kent and various other parts of blean & thornden

I'm moving back to Oxford soon so looking forward to some chiltern/bluebell rides - i wonder if they are as amazing as I remember them from way back 🙂

Oh, that bit looks lovely Dr B. As we walk our bikes through that part we'll be able to take in their beauty in more detail...

Borthwood Copse (Winford) and The copse on the north of Tennyson Trail by Bowcombe Down both have crackling bluebell patches (Both on the Isle of Wight)

Dalepoint thats bad sh1t. Its totally illegal & highly dangerous - take the obstacles down would be my advice..As for bluebells CG? Well its been a whiles since I rode the Chilterns so Im not totally sure but Im gonna say the slopes above Hambleden..I seem to remember lots of blueness up there.

That's pretty shocking news about the Stonor bridleway 😯

Thanks for all the replies, reckon I'll be a bit busy and saddle-sore next month!

crispedwheel
yep thats the one had troble there on and off for a couple of years worst one was half a tree balanced across the fence and a tree at head height as you round the tree at the top come down to a small drop before it opens up wide. took the gravel rash ripped shorts better than no head. night ride Tuesday starting there were you cant see before you are in it every 20 feet or so. pointless mindless idiots. all the root balls from the locals raiding the compost heap to build the blocks were a bit of a give away. I cleared it as I came down as I had friends following me so they could have a clear run. but be aware in case they have been building again proceed with caution. I have reported it to oxford council but what they can do I dont know.

Good work on reporting to the council. We ride with a couple of local police officers so might be worth mentioning it to them.

sheepscombe, cranham and painswick in gloucestershire. beech woods loaded with bluebells and wild garlic. some great trails through them also!

Bluebells? In Hampshire?
Well, Itchen Wood and Parnholt Wood are both pretty good.
The wood on top of Moundsmere (the lumpy bit between Ellisfield and Bradley), I think I met you up there last year CG.
There's usually some in Longwood Warren and the tracks around Marwell and Owslebury.

Kings wood near Winscombe in Somerset is also nice on the bluebells front.

[url= http://www.multimap.com/s/AwwiVbWB ]here[/url]

the NW Alps is usually abundant with bluebells, we are the the biggest Uk exporter

Yes West Woods are superb, although avoid going on the weekends when the tracks are fully open to vehicles in early May, they get hundreds there and its rubbish for riding. Plenty of orchids in the woods as well.

Another couple of sites in Wiltshire are the woods at Great Ridge near Salisbury and Cranbourne Chase near Shaftesbury, Wilts/Dorset border, decent riding in both places along with good pubs and tea shops!

The Angmering Park Estate in Sussex has loads of bluebell woods - you could ride for 45 minutes without seeing the same part twice, mostly on singletrack 😀

+1 for tang's suggestions up there as well. Oh, and a few beers at the Butcher's go down a treat too!

Leigh Woods, Bristol has a couple of very good bluebell spots - on in particularl has a great bit of singletrack right through it which makes for great pics.

flash im up the butchers now as it happens....quick ride up to cranham, rude not to! dont drink anymore but when i did, pint of 'pigs ear' please!

Another vote for Grim's Ditch along the way to Nuffield in't Chilterns. Haven't been up or down Stonor for a while, will check it out.

Forgotten the name, but the one up on a hill by Gatwick. Not ridable in any sense and at times, barely walkable if you don't want to kill off bluebells.

Well, this place never ceases to amaze me! So many replies to a bluebell thread. My maps will be well-marked with places to visit. 😀

[b]UnderThewood[/b] - oh yes, the singlespeeders meet in the woods!

[b]rOcKeTdOg[/b]

the NW Alps is usually abundant with bluebells, we are the the biggest Uk exporter

I do hope you are not picking them!

Second what tommo999 said, Wepham Wood between Worthing & Arundel. Has a few bridleways through it.

Yes West Woods near Marlorough is beautiful when the bluebells are out

Voila

Some hidden trails in the Forest of Dean

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Was up west wood on the weekend with the nipper. It's just the odd snowbell and plenty of mud at the moment. Loads of little green heads already poking out though.

If you really can't wait, can I highly recommend this:

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Available directly from www.lily-flame.co.uk (who included a delightful hand-written note with my order) or Waitrose, John Lewis etc. There are some gorgeous scents in their range and you can still enjoy the aroma even when the candle is not lit. 😀

Tommo99.

Angerming park estate isn't that far from me at all ( Peoples republic of Hayling) Are the tracks legal or cheeky trails? If I was to bumble over there this afternoon would I be able to find enough to keep me happy for an hour or 2?

Cheers

rob

Whippendell Woods in Watford. All off-piste though...

Plenty of places round Wendover Woods, I've got some pictures somewhere....if not then I'll be taking some new pics soon!

singletrackmind, there's plenty of legit bridleway in there & most of the footpaths get ridden by the local horsey crowd. It gets very churned up in the winter by the horses & woodland management vehicles. It was still pretty muddy last weekend. There's also some hidden tracks that i rarely see another tyre mark on that i assume get created by walkers. My favourite ones were trashed last year by logging 🙁

I'm not sure i'd want to make a special trip over from Hayling just to ride in there (or at least not until the bluebells are out). You're probably better off incorporating it as part of a bigger loop, maybe out to the SDW around Springhead & Kithurst Hills or out west over to Rewell Woods & Houghton Forest.

rocketdog's right.....

Thanks Grahamb. Was looking at that on Multimap, lots of contour lines very close together if you go any distance northwards.
Cheers

My first Bluebell of 2010 🙂 .... Only one, but it's a keen one.

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The full display shortly is looking to be good 🙂

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Better watch out redthunder cos I'm going to be stalking you again 😆

Can I ask where this was, and has the colour been 'enhanced'?

Blakes wood.. Little baddow/Danbury Essex

@CG

I liked being stalked 😉

The woods are in Gloucestershire.

[url=www.retrobike.co.uk][url=[img] [/img][/url]

got this from retrobike.co.uk. Just wanted to see if I could post an image! Bit new to all this, to be honest

@shermer75

This years batch ?

One or two spotted in mid-Hampshire this week. They looked lonely! Reckon it will be a bumper year though, so many shoots. 8)

Possibly some pics this coming week from me, fingers crossed.

Saw one or two coming through in the forests below the snow line today.

I know it's not in England but the Bluebell woods on the east side of Loch Lomond are stunning. You can cycle through them along the West Highland Way. I would recommend parking at Balmaha and cycling to Rowardennan or Rowchoish bothy and back. Conic Hill looks like it would be a laugh too but not done it yet. Spring midweek is a good time to do this route as there aren't too many walkers. The flowers aren't up yet but the leaves are emerging.

Getting better...Yesterday

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More Here:
http://www.zooomr.com/photos/15397@Z01/

Mid-Hampshire today:

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Awaits redthunder to produce more "enhanced" snaps. 😉

I grew up and also once lived in West Woods, now you must all forget about its existence! oh and it used to be good for riding in but the FC dug it all up 🙁

Is West Woods worth a visit then MrNutt? I could include the Wansdyke as well as ..... ooh could easily get carried away by visiting the relics too. 🙂

West Woods is the best I've ever seen for bluebells. About the only thing I miss from not living near Wantage any more.

The deer park at Castle Drogo is pretty good too - and the woods at the top of the Newnham course.

if you go to west woods you're spoilt for choice for good eating too, Theirs The Red Lion (Michelin Bib Gourmand) at East Chisenbury, the Triple Crown in Marden (good quality robust food) or The Seven Stars in Bottlesford (French/Canadian). but don't tell anyone about it 😉

Have you actually started your new challenge then?

I always take a picnic. 8)

West Woods is not near Wantage. We're talking Wiltshire here. 😀

Bramingham Wood in Luton.
It used to be a no-go area. Think Central Park at night and you are on the right lines - but they have done a lot of work on improving it and it seems like planting vast swathes of bluebells has been a big part of that.
Nothing special for riding, but if you want too many bluebells thats the place to go.

Swinley has a nice track at the back of rapley lake. bluebells all over

I know West Woods isn't particularly near Wantage but it's a lot nearer Wantage than the edge of Dartmoor where I live now. It was a favourite place for a Saturday trip taking in Marlborough and a nice walk, away from the craphole of Stanford in the Vale where I lived at the time. 😕

Today 🙂

"It's happening Reg... It's really happening!"

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There must be other Bluebell pix ??? Come on, dig them out 🙂

Wow!

Mine (in the garden and our woods) are about to come out - will photo when they do.

Collingborne woods andover, there just out! Pics soon

Wow! That looks pretty good redthunder. 🙂

Hampshire ones are still looking rather sad but it does sound as though a trip to Collingbourne Woods, together with its singletrack, will be on the agenda.

A HDR'esque version... it's a bit light but I'll play with the image later.

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C_G, I was out in Collingbourne Woods last Tuesday evening and the conditions are perfect. Definately worth a trip over to them. 😆

Create your own bluebell wood:
first take wood then add bluebell seeds.

Either:
Bluebell(Wild Hyacinth)Hyacinthoides non-scripta

or

Scottish Bluebell (Harebell)
Campanula rotundifolia
(aka Gowks Thumles)

http://www.scotiaseeds.co.uk/

Macavity - if I planted some, would they flower next year?

Everyone - any pics from the weekend? Did see some on the Purbecks but not at their best!

@CG Here you go.
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The rides around here are like the above, no 'full carpet' yet, but getting closer each day, just a bit more rain needed 😉

I don't live there now but Cann Woods in Plymouth used to have this singletrack section that you only ride when you're heading back to the car. Quite an open space with sparce trees but was covered in bluebells. There used to be a monster double that made for some awesome photos with the bluebells in the background