What you reckon???
Blow my mind!!!!
1) Glentress
2)
3)
4)
5) Afan
I've only been to two
I recon unless you have been to all of them you can't answer the question.
But out of the ones I have been to.
1. Afan
2.Brechfa/cwmcarn
3.FOD
4.swinley
5.cannock
But new been north of cannock, doing Scotland/ the north road trip soon I hope.
Of the ones I've done,
1) Glentress
2) Coed y Brenin
3) Innerleithen (if I can include the downhill trails and offpiste stuff
4) Golspie (marked down for being just one big trail
5) Nevis Range (again including DH and forgotten stuff)
GT and CYB win partly because they're very good and partly because there's so much to do there
gt
inners
cyb
1. Penmachno.
2. Whinlatter.
3. Glentrool.
4. Kirroughtree.
5. Marin.
You can stick your gnarr up your bottom bracket.
I like a pleasant ride out with some good scenery and flowy bits 😀
inners
gt
cyb
close jedi you just got the first two the wrong way round 😆
From the ones I've done
1) Kirroughtree
2) Innerleithen (with downhills included)
3) Coed Y Brenin
4) Glentress
5) Afan
For my liking,
1 CYB
2 Guisburn
3 AE
4 Kirroughtree
5 Llandegla
Golspie at number 4 and Glentress at 1!! WTF.....
Glentress is only good if you avoid the crowds and ride the off piste stuff.
Golspie Black, the Laggan Black, Brown and Bottom Red then Kirro
My list:
1 - Afan
2 - CYB
3 - Cwmcarn
4 - FoD
5 - Cannock
But they're all rubbish compared to the Mendip Hills on a stormy Wednesday night in Jan!
From teh ones I have done
Glentress - fantastic facility with huge amount of trails
Laggan - small but (nearly) perfectly formed
Innerleithan -
Dalbeatie
Glentress is only good if you avoid the crowds and ride the off piste stuff.
Its all good if you ride it fast.
1. Inners
2. Kirroughtree
3. Ae
4. Mabie
5. GT
Live in Peebles and had no reason to go further south riding. TBH I spend more time in the surrounding hills than at the trailcentres but the question was asked!
No skywalker it's not - mainly because there are hundreds on numpties to get in the way and the trails are f#cked with braking bumps. That's why off piste is way better!
No skywalker it's not - mainly because there are hundreds on numpties to get in the way and the trails are f#cked with braking bumps. That's why off piste is way better!
Rik - MemberGolspie at number 4 and Glentress at 1!! WTF.....
Glentress is only good if you avoid the crowds and ride the off piste stuff.
Wow, who would have thought opinions could differ eh. FFS, what a tool you can be.
No skywalker it's not - mainly because there are hundreds on numpties to get in the way and the trails are f#cked with braking bumps.
Maybe at the weekend, I went during the week. I don't remember any braking bumps either.
1. Golspie
2. Cwm Rhaeder (if it can be called a trail centre?)
3. Innerleithen
4. Cwmcarn
5. Afan - but only because of the wall final descent.
1 Inners - fantastic decent from start to finish only been 3 times and it's always sunny
2 Afan - got me hooked on the sport
3 Kirroughtree - some amazing sections and nice natural feel
4 Cannock - the best thing about Birmingham
5 FoD- the red has no 'flow' and is IMO a waste of effort but the Blue is fast swoops and great fun plus the off piste stuff is endless
Rik - MemberNo skywalker it's not - mainly because there are hundreds on numpties to get in the way and the trails are f#cked with braking bumps. That's why off piste is way better!
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
I must go to a different Glentress to you
1. Peak district
2. Peak district
3. Peak district
4. Peak district
5. Comrie 🙂
1 ClimachX gnarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
2 Nant stunning
3 Afan opened my eyes to trail centres
4 FOD Flowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
5 Cwmcarn techy
Afan - but only because of the wall final descent.
Yeah, I always go away loving Afan because I finish on that bit - but when I think about it I can't remember any other[i] brilliant [/i]bits there.
It is a really nice ride though, the W2.
1. Kirroughtree
2. GT
3. Afan
4. CyB
5. Mabie
I must go to a different Glentress to you
That's what I was thinking.
Braking bumps? Errr, nope.
Hundreds of people getting in the way? Errr, nope.
Hundreds of people getting in the way? Errr, nope.
I guess being a slow rider has its benefits.
Or going during the week and not at the weekend like I said.
It does seems strange that 2 of the main gripes people have about GT are that it's too smooth and all just a big bmx track, but also it's covered in braking bumps and far too lumpy and worn out 
Afon
Fod
Cwmcarn
Brechfa
Only been to these 4 so far
Most responses seem to come from one area.
I live in South Wales and rate all these trails, probably due to the familiarity and the fact that I ride these better than when I visit other centers.
Dying to try some of these Scottish centers.
1. Afan
2. Brechfa
3. Coed Y Brenin
4. Nant Y Arian
5. Cwm Rhaeadr
Visited and don't rate Llandegla, FOD, Marin
Not done many, and last place highlights the fact!!
1. Afan
2. Cwmcarn
3. Cannock
4. Llandegla
5. Sherwood Pines
I'm relatively new to mtb'ing, hoping to get to a few more this year and get to the peaks a few times. Do have a trip to CyB in April so rekon that might go top!
Nantyarian
Gorlech
Whytes Level
Cwmcarn
...
Surrey Hills
Haven't done that many yet, but -
1 Laggan (a bit of everything in a relatively small space).
2 Brechfa (flow).
3 Moray (nothing really technical but some nice flowy sections)
4 Wakerley (not because it's that great, but more because it's real local and still developing).
5 Thetford (reasonably close and makes up for the lack of real gradient with some truly excellent bits of singletrack).
Am off to Whinlatter in a couple of weeks and North Wales in the summer, so this list is likely to change soon I guess.
slainte 🙂 rob
TJ - I think the way you ride and the way I ride a bike are two very different ways of riding a mountain bike, hence the difference in opinions.
There's not much off-piste singletrack at GT really, Rik, given the size of the place. Some gems but they're quite isolated given the size of the forest. It's not like Innerleithern where there are goat tracks left right and centre to explore.
Anyhow, I'd say:
1. Glentress
2. Innerleithen
3. Kirroughtree
4. Dalbeattie
5. Cannock / Mabie (don't really rate these two but haven't been to any others). Never ridden in Wales.
Well glentress any time I have been has not had hundreds of people getting it the way nor has it got loads of braking bumps.
With the trails being general in short sections there is plenty of opportunity to ensure you get a clear run no matter your speed and I can only remember one small section with braking bumps the last few times I have been,
Most folk complain its too smooth
Its a fantastic facility with loads of scope for huge numbers of people of all ages and abilities to enjoy themselves. People seem to forget just how lucky we are to have it.
My opinion for what it's worth.
1. Glentress - Not my favourite and yes it can be crowded but taken as a whole (facilities, different routes, grades, suitability for all riders, convenience to a major city) it is definitely number 1.
2. Kirroughtree - A flowing trail
3. Nevis - Iconic.
4. Laggan - As described a bit of everything in a compact trail.
5. Dalbeattie - Not sure why but I've always liked it.
Not intentionally Scottish biased and Innerleithen or Cwmcarn could displace Dalbeattie (I think both are great for a short sharp XC blast)
I personally do not get on as well with the Welsh Trail Centres. I've ridden most of them, I think, except Penmachno (which in fairness I've heard very good things about).
Likewise, I do not rate the English ones I've ridden and thought Grizedale was particularly poor.
That's fine for you TJ but I'd much prefer to avoid Glentress 9.9 times out of 10 for hidden Inners any day. The steepest, root infested loamy trails you'll ever find and luckily most people are happy at the trail centre (which is far better than Glentress) don't know they are there! Thankfully
Rik - People are entitled to their own opinion, and just because its different to yours, it doesn't make it wrong (or right), just different.
OTOH actual statements of fact- like, "Glentress's trails are ****** with braking bumps", those can be wrong.
1. Anywhere that is not a Trail Centre
2. Laggan....when nobody is there
The only other ones I've done have been Dalbeatie, Whinlatter, Grizedale and Bedgebury and they'd not make it to any list of mine
Llandegla x 5. It's what a trail centre should be about.
Skywalker - I don't believe I have said that you or TJ are wrong I just have a different opinion. And I have said that I would prefer to avoid the crowds at Glentress and go elsewhere and ride much better trails (in my opinion)
1 kirroughtree,long fast flowing
2 gt,live local can ride all day
3 inner's, great climb and decent (XC only)
4 laggen, great skill tester
5 dalbeattie, better than the rest
Out of the ones I have been to;
1 - glentress
2 - coed-y-brenin
3 - innerliethen
4 - ae
I've also been to cannock, Afan and sherwood pines but wouldn't pay them a return visit.
1 - Drumlanrig,
2 - GT,
3 - Inners,
4 - Mabie,
5 - Nevis Range.
1 - Inners XC, DH, Secret stuff combined
2 - Golspie / Balblair - so different but a must to double up.
3 - Maybe XC & secret stuff combined
4 - Laggan - short sweet and tasty
5 - Dalbeattie -XC with snakes in the summer!
Might add that I've never riden any Welsh trails, but then why would I living in Scotland..
Haven't ridden in Scotland or England yet, so:
1. Penmachno (high effort/reward ratio and some sublime trail. Who cares that you can't get a cappuccino?).
2. CyB (lots of choice and more great descents. Showers welcome too).
3. Cwmcarn (go early, up the Twirch and choice of descent from the top. Loop again do other descent).
4. Afan (fond memories of Penhydd and the Wall).
5. Nant-y-arian/Climach X (only done them when absolutely belting down with rain so need to ride again).
Haven't ridden Llandegla but the black sounds like fun on a HT.
1)Afan
2)CYB
3)Penmachno
4)Nant yr Arian
5)Llandegla
Oh &......
themightymowgli - Member
4 Cannock - the best thing about [u]Birmingham[/u]
Cannock isn't in Birmingham matey... 🙄
+1 for GT for fun with friends and family. Great XC training. Awesome at night. Easy to navigate. But if you're a gravity injected adrenalin junky then there are much better places to go.
Out of the ones I've been to:-
1. Eastridge (Shrops)(because its back to basics)
2. CyB
3. Hopton Woods (Shrops)
4. Forrest of Dean (although red and blue gradings seem a bit confused)
5. Llandegla
I have ridden at Cannock many times but its getting very tired and the crowds at the weekend can be ridiculous. Having said that big respect to all the volunteers who put in the hard graft trying to keep the trails in good condition.
1. Innerleithen - XC, DH and the secret bits I've done pretty much ticks all the boxes of the riding style I like to do.
2. Golspie – only done it twice and loved it. Apart from falling down a chute and kicking the bike away from my face...
3. Kirroughtree - just love it.
4. Glentress - great place to mix up loads of trails. The 'off piste' stuff is still the best parts there. Not a fan of Spooky Wood though or Berm, Baby, Berm. Found that a tad dull. The black is worn and rocky in bits. Please leave it that way and don't turn it into a pavement.
5. Drumlanrig – just a lovely route. Must get back down there soon.
1. Golspie: I'm too crap to ride it (uphill or downhill) but there's something magical about the location and the imagination behind the trail;
2. Laggan: again, nobody would find me on the black trail but the view from the Crow's Nest is just about my favourite view anywhere;
3. Brechfa: just really well put together; and
4. Moray Monster Trails: because I've had a great time there with friends.
I also like Dalby Forest which no-one seems to have mentioned...
Cannock is alright, not top five for sure, but why the bashing?
Dm
1) Penmachno
2) Afan
3) Nant-yr-Arian
4) Gwydyr Forest
5) Cwmcarn
To my regret I’ve not as yet done any trails in Scotland, which I hope to put right this year. Having done so I fully expect changes to the above list.
1: Glentress
2: Nant-yr-Arian
3: Llandegla
4: Cannock Chase
5: Dalby
I think that's most of the centres I've been to, only Innerleithen and Mabie not making the list.
1. Golspie
2. Laggan
3. CyB
4. NyA
5. Llandegla
Never done a stane yet but will so I suspect at least one of them would feature.
I find cannock to be very entertaining for the height gain it has available to it. Good fun to ride. Llandegla on the other hand is fairly crap in my opinion.
Am I the only one who thinks Glentress might be a bit bland?
I've been 3-4 times and, although I love it when I'm there, I can't picture any of it clearly now when trying to think back. Apart from the freeride park that is. It's still excellent nonetheless for the range of facilities and expanse of trails.
My favourite trail centre is probably Laggan, followed by CwmCarm - for the climb, would you believe!
although I love it when I'm there, I can't picture any of it clearly now when trying to think back
Meh, most of my life is like that.
allyharp - MemberAm I the only one who thinks Glentress might be a bit bland?
A lot of it is well surfaced path amongst trees - the level of traffic dictates that the trails are built to a high standard. meaning a lot is like a big smooth BMX track
However some bits are very different in character - Zoom and bust, pie run, magic mushroom are all a bit rooty and slow for example. As is betty blue.
1. Brechfa
2. Coed y brenin
3. FOD - but to short
4. Every other one.
5. Afan - which needs Penhydd back.
Pie run and magic mushroom slow? You can rattle through those no problem.
I'm going to glentress next week for 1st time can't wait hope Im not going to be disappointed
1. Kirroughtree
2. Coed y brenin
3. Penmachno
4. Marin
5. Cannock
What the hell are braking bumps?
Braking bumps are caused by non-stw riders coming into a corner too fast for their meagre skills and grabbing the brakes. The rear wheel skid erodes the trail - enough people do this and you get series of depressions and bumps just prior to the corner. Kids have been lost in the braking bumps at Cannock Chase.
Later on, a stw-level rider steams down the trail looking to rail the corner and gets a bumpy ride. He is dismayed and angered at the noobs and their foolish ways.
1 - Glentress/Inners (I say it counts as one)
2 - Llandegla (if you've not been in a while get down there - the new trail additions are awesome, B Line in particular)
3 - Gisburn (bit of everything)
4 - Stainburn (just for being a right beeatch that I still can't tame)
5 - Marin (still love it)
P.S. - Any MTBer who moans about trails being too rough should be forced to ride in the Lakes on a rigid Muddy Fox from the early nineties. In neon lycra. And toe clips.
drookitmunter - MemberWhat the hell are braking bumps?
Something that Rik hallucinates
Braking bumps are caused by stw riders
More like
1. Kirroughtree
2. Innerliethen
3. Penmachno
4. Glentress
5. Dalbeattie
I'll play!!
Again out of the ones I've been to.
1. Machynlleth (don't think it's been mentioned yet).
2. Brechfa.
3. Afan.
4. Nant Y Arian.
5. Newcastleton.
fathomer - MemberNot done many, and last place highlights the fact!!
5. Sherwood Pines
Does Sherwood pines have a trail centre??? 😕
1. Glentress
2. Penmachno
3. Llandegla
4. Marin
= 5. CYB
= 5. Dalby
Apart from one section I think Gisburn is pointless. I've not ridden Afan or the rest of the 7stanes.
Penmachno and Marin are just old school flowing trails aren't they? 8)
Well I've only ridden 6 trail centres so I guess mine would have to be:
1)Glentress - I think deliverance is one of my favourite bits of trail anywhere but just for the shear quantity of good, flowy singletrack.
2)Whinlatter - The long downhills make the climbs up worth it everytime!
3)Inners - Only road it once but thought it was a great ride
4)Gisburn - local trails and I really respect the work put in as you see it constantly evolving
5)Grizedale - TNF isnt great in itself but add in some bridleway action for a good day out.
The only other one i've been to that didnt make the cut is hammsterly. Just didnt really do it for me.
Who put Cannock?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😆
Drumlanrig - maybe I'm biased
Mabie - including all the old and new hidden gems
Kirro
Sutherland / Bonar Bridge - gotta love all that natural rock
Dalbeattie - for a batter round after dark it's a giggle
I;ve been to quite a few and would place them in terms of the enjoyment I got from them...
1)Penmachno
2)Lee & Cragg Quarries
3)Kirry
4)GT
5)Afan
Quick glance through this thread and I didnt see ANY votes for Lee and Cragg... Tis a brilliant place for a day out on the bike.
1- Laggan
2- Glentress
3- Innerleithen
4- FoD (if that even counts, what with all the trails littered all over)
5- Coed y Brenin... or perhaps Aston Hill... or maybe one of dem other Stanes.
Lowey - good shout for Lee and Crag quarries. Makes a good ride with them linked together. Would deffinately bump grizedale off for Lee and Crag!
1: Golspie
2: Kirroughtree
3: Innerleithen
4: Drumlanrig
5: Either Laggan or Whinlatter. probably Laggan as it has a better cafe
Pretty sure Glentress should be in there somewhere, have ridden it loads and very rare to have a ride I dont enjoy. As for the braking bumps, they are there but just treat it as part of the trail and enjoy 😀