Just seen the local news and fire services are trying to put out several fires around swinley!
Again? Caught fire a week or two back as well.
Not surprised, very hot and dusty on the weekend.
Yea, went for a walk yesterday, the fire was on the heath in the NW corner, thankfully the wind was blowing towards the road not the lookout as the forrest was pretty busy.
There's now aerial footage on the BBC news website. 😯
Edit: sounds as though we all have to keep away. 🙁
The Look Out and Coral Reef I think are still closed.
When we rode the other day there were a number of those burning Chinese lanterns flying over....
Yes how annoying!
I was on my way there for my 1st visit when I was phoning a mate to pick him up and he told me, doh! Glad I never drove all the way. Hope its put out soon and not too much damage is done..
Saw the smoke from work and thought it was clouds at first as there was so much 😯
I went for a quick spin over at Caesars camp behind Fleet this evening and you can see the smoke from the 'lookout' up there. Lot's of it too.
It's on Mrs PPs way to work. Pretty nasty by all accounts
I hope the Lookout etc is all OK?
http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/news/s/2091913_schools_and_roads_closed_due_to_forest_fire
I think the lookout is OK at the moment. My nephew goes to school in Crowbags and they were told to stay home today as the smoke is quite thick. Sister in law said you couldn't see down the high street earlier.
It's just been on the news again, looks like there's fires all over the place (UK that is, not just Swinley). Nasty business, did I fall asleep and wake up in California?!
No smoke at my end of the Forest.
Rode over there this evening. The whole section between the Crowthorne race start and the corkscrew is on fire, or at least smouldering, and there are further fires on the opposite side of the road. Tree felling equipment was being used to clear fire breaks - proper Thunderbirds-esque.
Nowhere else is affected yet. It is at least a mile from the Lookout.
GB
I live in about 4 miles from Swinley and the air is thick with smoke so it must be pretty bad.
You could see it clearly from a high vantage point at Heathrow yesterday. Big thick smoke plume
gee - were you not spotted and frogmarched out again? Surely you were taking a risk, let alone breathing in those fumes?
Has it 'officially' been closed for business or not then?
Went and had a look at 6.30ish today. Area is roped off but people are not being asked to leave the area I had two guys in a fire truck asking me how to get back to the road. The area I saw was from the cork screw down to the Forrest Road it only seems to be low level ground fires the trees are just a bit roasted not much flame loads of smoke. The fire is on its way to Broadmoor Hospital so that could be a bit of a problem. The biggest threat to the single track is not the fire but the tree felling that may be needed to stop the spread. The tracks that have been in the fire will be safer to ride now as there is no bush to hide the trail in front so no more head on crashes. (Very small silver lining)
Thanks for the update pete.
ive seen quite a few fires whilst out riding lately..thats moor fires...be carefull out there ! 😉
No job's too big for PeteThePlumber - can you install a sprinkler system in there mate? 😆
The fire is on its way to Broadmoor Hospital so that could be a bit of a problem.
Indeed, Evacuating that place could really be quite interesting 😯
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
We have la creme de la creme in there. 😯
Anyone know if the gully, axle and other runs are still there?? Or can we not get as far as that yet?
OK, may have a wee pootle over there provided I can sneak in without being seen.
Anyone know if the gully, axle and other runs are still there?? Or can we not get as far as that yet
The fire in crowthorne woods so no where near gully, axle etc
Brilliant stuff. (but not at the same time) Im going over there after work to see how far i get. I'll let you guys know
Weird. Thought I was the only fool in the forest but saw a couple of others riding. Avoided Caesar's Camp/Corkscrew corner. Headed out on Toboggan Run and then climbed to the ridge. There was even more burnt areas than last week and actually had to ride through a still-smouldering bit which was extremely close to Deer Stalker/Baby Maker areas. That definitely unnerved me.
The odd thing was that the whole time I was there, apart from the above-mentioned bit, there was no smell of burning. I could see in the distance, on the Broadmoor side of the Devil's Highway, some burning right by the telegraph poles.
A3095 still closed as well as other roads.
Any recommendations of where I can get to to park for Swinley, thinking of heading over there tomorrow afters. The road to the Lookout was shut this morning.
You could always approach from the Bagshot/Camberley side, ie park near the church in Bagshot which is just off the A30. Or even park in Bagshot village centre car park.
Alternatively there is a small car park in The Maultway, Camberley (think it's some sort of Army test track) - cross the A30 and pick up a bridleway that goes alongside the school. Just look for the transmitter.
Ta CG, that puts me on the non firey side of the forest too so I shouldnt get burnt to a crisp on me ride.
Did 3rs round the forest this evening. Rode over the Crowthorne side and the fire is up to the fire road opposite the corkscrew and has started to encroach on the trenches you ride through opposite. The area of drops on the other side of the corkscrew is also surrounded by burnt areas. The only trails currently on fire are the various narrow downhills that drop you out on the dog **** fire road - they lead down from the top of the corkscrew, ish. These were fine last night so the fire seems to be spreading. The other dodgy bit was down the bottom of the hill alongside the road at the bottom of Crowthorne where the burnt and smokin areas are right up to the trails. A few small areas along 9 mile ride were also on fire.
The fire service were all over that area. There are also fire pipes to move water from the hydrant at the lower star post all the way over to Crowthorne.
The common area by Surrey Hill is also burnt but no worse than it has been for the past week.
Agreed with CG - the smell is only there when you are right next to the fire. The wind is blowing it all away from the forest, towards Crowthorne.
If you are thinking about riding over there, it seems ok at the moment.
Blimey 😯 Thanks for the update gee. Presumably you weren't asked to leave the Forest by the Fire Service personnel? I would have been terrified, especially with the gusty wind!
Yes, I saw equipment had been moved to Lower Star Post.
As I said earlier, suggest caution is exercised if accessing the ridge via the Toboggan Run. Certainly the RMA side does see a lot of fires.
Mind you, sounds as though we're in for showers over the weekend. Trails do need damping down.
No - they didn't say anything. I rode past a lot of personnel and said hi.
The toboggan run was ok too - that area has stopped smoking now.
It wasn't really scary - no flames or anything - just smoking ground. It was eerily warm riding up the trails alongside the smouldering ground by the road by the Crowthorne race start bridge. I think it is a lot worse the other side of that road, but I didn't head over there at all.
Bring on some rain to get rid of all this sand... Oh, and put out the fires too.
GB
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-13286937
Seems they have arrested two little scrotes for starting the fires at Swinley.
Spoke to the fire fighters on my way out tonight, they seem t o be trying to keep the Crowthorn area clear but there seems to be a bit of confusion. They now have two pumps at the lower star post and 4km of pipe running to the damager area. The last fire fighter I talked to reckoned they will be there for the weekend.
i thought you'd get flamed for admitting you were riding over there when you're supposed to stay away.
sorry.
has anyone done that one yet?
Well, according to the Bracknell Forest Council website, Coral Reef is now open but The Look Out is still closed.
Do you get a lot of forest fires in the UK? I never see anything about it on the news here in the US, but this post got me to thinking about it.
We have lots of fires here in New Mexico, but a lot are grassland fires on the eastern plains during the spring wind season----we do get our share of forest fires each year as well---bet more than half human caused and the rest from lightning.
Just back from a saunter round the forest. Its still on fire a bit near the corkscrew but otherwise its business as usual. I only saw one other person apart from fire people in forest the whole time I was there, a kid sat at the jump gully it was, felt like I had the whole of the forest to myself.
I was there catfood - saw (probably) the same kid at the gully! 😀
2 ladies on hossback too, but that was about it.
Ohhhh, i'm off for a ride then, anyone else fancy a pootle this evening?
Haave they opened 9 mile ride yet?
yes (I think)
Coral Reef is open, but the roads seemed to be open/closed depending on the smoke as I was driving around earlier and couldn't drive back the way i came.
I had an e-mail from The Windsor Crown Estate yesterday telling me that they were closing access Swinley Forest until it rains.
Dave.
www.eekonoo.co.uk
PS
I administer the sled dog permits in Swinley for the estate
Avoiding Swinley currently sounds sensible. I'm sure the fire brigade have enough on their plates without having to worry about bikers/walkers/horse riders etc etc potentially putting themselves at risk.
So, open or not? I quite fancied an early morning bash around there tomorrow before my "proper" ride on Sunday.
Open(ish) , just not by car to the lookout, I was riding round Crowthorne woods yesterday and no one stopped me, lots of fire engines if that's your thing.
I personally think you'll be doing MTBers no favours if you ride there currently.
http://www.gorrick.com/swinley/news_item.php?id=413
Are we sure about this? Our intrepid roving reported Woppit didn't report anything amiss. Frankly I'm sceptical that there have been any fires at all.
Agreed (with allthepies). There's enough places to ride without putting yourself or others at risk, not to mention all the tut-tutting that'll come from the bike haters. It'll rain soon enough, why not wait til then before going?
Well there were some four years ago.....
a) Swinley has barely been touched, Crowthorne woods is a bit singed around the edges but not as bad as it looked on the news. We were out walking as were probably 1000+ people on Monday, didn't see or smell the fires.
b) It's going to rain tonight anyway.
According to another Forum, a Warden is claiming that rights of way have been revoked and will be patrolled by bikes and horses.
So ... will I get arrested?
c) "The local authority and the Crown Estate have closed The Look Out Discovery Centre and other local amenities till probably the weekend. [b]They have requested members of the public to stay away from the area and this includes Swinley Forest to allow for emergency services personnel to continue working together to tackle the fires[/b]."
But if you must ride it because there is nowhere else you can ride in Southern England then feel free.
So is the RMA side out of bounds?
Dunno. Personally I'd use some nouse and would ride well away from the area. But I'm odd like that.
Just got the FS back from being repaired - it's goading me. 😉
Edit: Looks like Sunday will be dry.
I'd see this as a chance to show that MTB'ers as a whole can follow reasonable instructions and act responsibly by steering away this weekend.
There are plenty of folks who already think we don't follow the rules (permits, unsanctioned trails, not just here but elsewhere - we've had enough discussion about the MOD land recently too) - so how will it go down if someone stacks and they have to send ambulances / air ambulance into swinley while it's 'closed'. Will just add more fuel to the fires of those that wouldn't shed a single tear if we were to be banned from Swinley for good.
Pls spread the word; it's one weekend, go explore somewhere else instead. You might find something 'better'
theotherjonv- Here, here!!!!!
I'm a woman, I don't like bossy men. 😉
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIINNN!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀 😀 😀
I don't think I've ever been this happy to have wet trails! We've had enough rain overnight and this morning to (hopefully) get right into the ground and sort out the fire 8)
"The local authority and the Crown Estate have closed The Look Out Discovery Centre and other local amenities till probably the weekend. They have requested members of the public to stay away from the area and this includes Swinley Forest to allow for emergency services personnel to continue working together to tackle the fires."
Seemed to be having an epic tea break on Saturday and doing monkey impressions with a banana when we chatted with them.
20 engines on Saturday, 8 left today, judging by this mornings rain they'll be out soon too 🙂
You went to Swinley and survived!
#Swinley Forest fire fight 'scaled down http://bbc.in/lkOMsS
However, there is currently no public access to Swinley Forest.
Dave