So whilst I'm home from uni for summer I'm hoping to get plenty of riding in, especially now I've got the luxury of access to a car. I'm based in Liverpool and am getting a little tired of Llandegla/Gisburn/Delamere, I've also tried Lee Quarry a few times over the past few years however want to try some new stuff.
If there's any trail centres I haven't tried I'd be curious however I'm also keen to try some peaks rides etc (more natural riding) but have no knowledge of any routes or where to find out about them.
Cheers
Buy an OS map (its a paper thing) that will have routes all over it. Then go out and explore them. Chances are you will find some brilliant ones, cheeky ones and shite ones, but it will be an adventure.
Way better than following a trail at a trail centre or a route you downloaded.
If you're driving to Gisburn from Liverpool Rivington is closer - Lots of locals on here to provide routes.
Peak District isn't too far either - 2 hours to Hayfield
Macc Forest too - although there are closures in place at the minute
Check out where the MNPR lot ride most of that is Greater Manchester area
If you're not quite brave enough for Trimix's line on a map there's
https://www.trailforks.com and the Vertebrate Dark & White peak books
You didn't say how far you were prepared to travel ..
There has been some terrific work done at Hamsterley Trail Centre over the last year or so ..you wouldnt be disappointed.
132 miles / 3 hours in a car according to Green Flag
Get thee up to Scotland. seven stanes for starters plus loads of other good riding
The Peak isn't that far away - and stuffed with great routes. Start around Glossop, you won't go far wrong...
Thanks for all the great advice. I reckon anything over 2.5-3 hrs in the car is moving into a weekend trip type distance away. Last weekend I rode Long Mynd and Hopton Woods in Shropshire and both were great, albeit my climbing ability let me down...
In which case they whole of the Peak District is within an hour to hour and a half from Liverpool...
You're just over 1.5 hours from the south Lakes too. As close as much of the Peak. Easily close enough for a day trip, and some of the best routes in England can be found there.
TBH, there can't be that many places in the country which have easy access to such a wide variety of good riding. N Wales, Peak, Lakes, Dales...
Get some guidebooks and maps and get cracking - this weather won't last forever.
www.southlakesbikefest.com
Great selection of routes over the weekend!
Definitely give ‘natural’ trails a go if you mostly ride trail centres. As recommended above, the Vertebrate guides or the flattyres website are good sources for routes in the Peak or Lakes, I’d recommend a loop round Ladybower as a starter for 10. I use the OS maps app and download gpx files to follow on my phone for new routes, though reception isn’t always great so it might be worth buying the OS maps that come with a download code for offline use.
I'll definitely check out those guides, I've not done much non-trail centre riding in the past so thought it'd be worth looking at some of the more popular and well ridden routes first. Thanks all!
I recently launched my blog which includes two natural routes in the Peak District. I would particularly recommend the '5 Dales' route, it's quite tough, but has cracking views and some excellent descents and climbs. There is a map and GPX files available to download.
https://outbiking.co.uk/category/mountainbiking/
As suggested above, buy some OS maps. Look for the white unclassified lanes and on a 1:25,000 map any route with green dashes, which is a bridleway. Work out a route then go and ride it; you'll be amazed at what you find. Using a map you will be able to see things like pubs and towerist attractions to visit along the way.