I've a weekend staying with my sister in Suffolk at the end of January, and plan to get a ride or two in.
I dug out this closed thread ...
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/thetford-trails-wtf/
Lots of non-complimentary comments!
But, assuming I mange my expectations and don't get too over-excited, is it worth a ride?
I'm perfectly happy pootling around 'just going for a ride', and I'm under no illusions that Thetford red is anything other than a green or blue anywhere else.
I've a gravel bike (45mm tyres), Rigid HT, or SS HT. (I've also a 160 travel FS, but know that will be overkill)
Worth it?
Anything else to consider? Any natural riding in the area? (Bearing in mind the weather/forecast/likelihood of mud!)?
Ta.
I've a gravel bike (45mm tyres), Rigid HT, or SS HT. (I've also a 160 travel FS, but know that will be overkill)
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Not been to Thetford in years, but the black route was always fun but usually pretty busy. The other side of the road in Brandon had plenty of unmark trails, but it might have changed since I was last there (lots of forestry work).
The Viking Trail at Tunstall Forest is def worth a look, with either the HT or the SS. It has 9 miles of waymarked singletrack, just don't expect big descents 🙂 There also a fair bit of off-piste, but that needs a bit of local knowledge.
There's also Twisted Oaks if you like your wheels to spend more time off the ground than on it.
If you're riding in the Ipswich area stay to the East of the town. There is clay to the West starting at Claydon, clay that will fill forks and chainstays, clog tyres and making the bike kilos heavier.
I spent a few hours there early one morning when we were staying at Center Parcs a couple of years ago. Took my single speed Stooge and done a lap of each marked trail. I enjoyed it for what it was, nothing technical just an enjoyable xc ride really.
Thetford High Lodge way marked trails are fun if you don't mind pedalling but if you coincide with a school holiday they'll be rammed. If you're happy being a bit more DIY then heading over to Santon Downham will get some more Techy singletrack and far fewer riders. Just watch out for the mushroom scavengers!
Tunstall is more like Santon Downham than the High Lodge Trails. The way marked trail is easy to follow but since the official route was marked out the off-piste has been neglected so is hard to find and ride. The local club TROG has just disbanded so the FC are taking over the trail maintenance now.
You can string together a good gravel/xc outing by roughly following the Sandlings Trail from Woodbridge/Melton to Lowestoft so good for arranging transport by train.
@johnystorm ... The Santon Downham trails, are they 'built'/weatherproof, and if not, how do they hold up in the winter/wet weather? Do you have a GPS of a good route you could share? Or are they also fairly self-explanatory to find and follow/navigate?
I rode Thetford a few times when down that way for work and with family at center parks.
It was fun in a
But, assuming I mange my expectations and don't get too over-excited, is it worth a ride?
I'm perfectly happy pootling around 'just going for a ride', and I'm under no illusions that Thetford red is anything other than a green or blue anywhere else.
I've a gravel bike (45mm tyres), Rigid HT, or SS HT. (I've also a 160 travel FS, but know that will be overkill)
Worth it?
I rode it on an orange segment so 120/110mm travel,a 140/130mm bike and a 160mm hardtail.
The short travel full suss was best but they were all fun.
I'd suggest your gravel bike/ HT or SS would all be fun. The 160mm would be overkill.
Ride every week there. Its flat with minimal downhill. I ride rigid or hardtail. Easily loop 30 miles together. You can also do multiple loops out of rhe trails out to Brandon to Lakenheath and round to the monument on the A11, even down to Stowmarket.
It's not busy and if the car park is the trails rarely are.
I’ve ridden Thetford a few times when working locally and staying at the Premier Inn.
I’ve ridden it on various bikes, the Rigid single speed was fun, to a point. But my normal gearing was too low for the flatness.
Let us know how you get on hardtailonly, I'm over that way at the end of Feb.
Suffolk is quite a big county so Thetford might depend where you're staying. If nearby it might be worth it.
If you're near the coast just take the gravel bike, get on the little unclassified roads and enjoy the excellent pubs and cafes.
I grew up near Ipswich and have spent 30 or so years going back regularly for family visits.
Unless I was meeting up with someone there's no way (any more) that I'd drive 45-60 minutes to Thetford for a ride.
Twisted Oaks is good if you like flying. Not really my bag.
I road Thetford last Saturday as I was up that way, took a HT which I think is ideal for Thetford. Parked at Brandon Country Park then popped over the road and used the trails to join the Red at the bottom of the beast, did a lap of the Red and then crossed the road and just followed my nose round some of the trails on the Brandon side.
Considering how wet it has been everywhere, Thetford was dry, got back with a clean bike and no mud on me which was a bonus.
Like everyone says, not technical, but a good place to blast round for an hour or two, and Saturday afternoon was a lot quieter than I expected.
Tunstall is my 'local' forest. Much more of a natural feel than Thetford, but it really isn't graced with much elevation at all - my regular 15mile loop is barely 600ft of elevation - but it's still good fun.
Some of the off piste is now getting slightly overgrown but it's still rideable. I can send you a GPX if you like 
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And Twisted Oaks is excellent. A small hill with short runs but so very well designed and built. Well worth a visit!
It is what it is - I enjoy a blast round Thetford. In the last 2-3yrs, on the red, they have managed to put in a few little rock drops here and there, as well as a new swoopy/bermy section towards the end, so it might not be quite a boring as people remember. Still manage your expectations though!
I'm a regular(ish) rider around Thetford (Brandon).
As above it's all very tame but is still quite fun. IMHO a big full squish bike is overkill*. It is very much a series of XC'esque routes and plenty of false flats 😀
All the trails, way marked or off piste, drain well and unless you are incredibly unlucky have very little in the way of mud. That said it's like grinding paste where it's present!
All the riding can be easily accessed from the Brandon Country Park carpark which is markedly cheaper to park in than High Lodge.
As above Tunstall is a good option too but IIRC less way marked - or at least it was last time I was there. @ready - if I drop you a PM could you also share your GPX with me?
If you are a wheels on the ground rider (like me) the XC route at Twisted Oaks was good (when I last rode it) and also caters for those that shred to the power of gnar.
https://www.phoenixcycleworks.co.uk/ may be worth a look too. I've not been despite living nearby as I will almost certainly injure myself there 🤣
* I'll often take a single speed 29er but have geared it up as of you live anywhere even remotely hilly you will be spinning round in a thoroughly unenjoyable fashion.
Righto. Just making final preps for this weekend. I've got a GPX for Tunstall (Cheers @ready) ... Anyone got a GPX/Strava link for Thetford with 'the best' bits of both the Brandon side and the High Lodge side (or is it really just very easy to follow the way-marked trails?)
Also, some mention up there of Santon Downham - anyone got a good route?
And, bike choice? I've a geared On One Vandal, with rigid forks and very XC tyres. Or Singlespeed Moxie with a Pike and trail tyres. Which to take? 🤔
Cheers all.
I'd pick the On One - Thetford is flat but it's pretty much constant pedalling all the way around. I'm fairly local, so if you want someone to ride with and I'm free would be happy to show you around the High Lodge side. But it's all really easy to find your way around.