[Closed] Where to ride 'down south' ?

I asked the same question last year and was reccomended the quantocks ( south west but its all down south) - which I found very good if rather different to Scotland. You need a local to show you the best bits tho - I just followed sharki around but I think he is still out of action.

dorset/purbecks is good and scenic without being technical, lots of cream teas too 🙂

Purbecks should be on your list, you could also spend the day out over lulworth cove, durdle door area walking, swimming, camping etc fingers crossed for the weather..

well you have...

Thetford (Suffolk/Norfolk border)
North downs running from Surrey into Kent
South downs running from Winchester to Eastbourne/Brighton

all the above will give you 50 mile epics 😉

Woods behind Nationwide in Swindon?

Swinley Forest should definitely be on your "to bag" list 😉

http://www.bobmbc.com/swinley.htm

If the weather [i]is[/i] good then it's worth spending a day on the IoW, not 'rad' or 'gnarly' but a nice place to visit if you're down that way....

this is an extension of a local ride which I do...

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The loop I usually ride includes the Wayfarers section from 14 to 21, where I head back to Newbury down from ladle hill through Burghclere. So this ride is an extra bit I need to check out and see what it's like.

Kev

what's up with the linky then ?

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Grrr..

[url= http://www3.hants.gov.uk/whitchurch.pdf ]Watership Down Ride[/url]

Yes TJ, last weekend i was very much out of action..
[img] [/img]

Sue.
Best ridin darn south is to the west, ie, [url=

quantocks [/url] and Dartmoor.

Tox are a total mix with nothing too technical, heard it called natures trail centre from one mag, review.
Dartmoor can be more epic with more technical trails, ie, grantite drops step ups, etc.

Both offer great varity.

If you come down for a visit, a QED ride would be recommended, with Exmoor put in the mix.

RudeBoy - Woods behind Nationwide in Swindon?

You've a week off so are journeying down to the south-east for riding? From Yorkshire? Dear God, why? I mean, with Scotland and Wales so close, and with so much time...

[i]Dear God, why?[/i]

Maybe OP doesn't share your prejudices and wants to experience a different type of riding 😉

Good to know you are back in action Sharki.

Quantocks and Dartmoor are the two places I'd recommend. Exmoor is good too but there's not much there that you can't find in higher concentrations in the Quantocks and Dartmoor and the endless climbs do my head in.

Quantocks has endless, high quality singletrack, nearly all of it rideable by everyone. It just gets a bit trickier the faster you ride it. About as much fun as you can have on a mountain bike.

Dartmoor is a technical treat. Granite boulders are the predominant feature although there is a wide variety of terrain. Perhaps not quite so novice friendly although there is easier stuff if you know where to look. Highest point is 2000ft so it sure has a wild feel to it but you're never too far from civilisation.

There is other stuff in southern England but the Quantocks and Dartmoor are definately the cream of it.

Jimbo - Member

You've a week off so are journeying down to the south-east for riding? From Yorkshire? Dear God, why? I mean, with Scotland and Wales so close, and with so much time...

Cheers all - lots of great sounding places - off to squirrel around the internet checking them out in more detail 🙂

Oh ... and I live in Snowdonia (having previously lived in Calderdale and the west coast of Scotland) ... so I know there's great riding oop north, but I want to head south for a few reasons - the weather forecast ... my injured knees making the mountains and rocks not possible at the moment ... and a desire to put my prejudices firmly to one side and ride somewhere that sounds as though it would be very different but equaly fun to the riding I have here (thus feeling more like a holiday!)

Given the above places - are there any recommended guidebooks or online sources of route info?

Surrey Hills would get the nod from me.

Trouble with any of these places though is that if you don't know where you're going you could easily ride around on fireroads missing all the good trails.

Local guides work best for somerset and devon trails.

Nick cotton do guide books but not as exclusive as a local rider in the know.

My rates are cake and a pint in exchange for a days riding and a guaranteed wet bottom.

Sharki - "a guaranteed wet bottom" - yours or mine?

Dont give him that option 🙄

And theres nothing to see on Dartmoor, I wouldnt bother 😉

All comers get a rather moist one, unless you stay on top that is, but the fun is in the bottom.

Sue:
Good recommendations from our SW contingent ( Sharki, Trailmonkey etc. ) My only concern is what happened today and it's immediatele effects on trails. I'm on the eastern edge of the moor, and I've had heavy rain all day, just about stopped now, so more or less 12 hours continuous heavy rain. Seems like it's cloudy/showery amd more until tuesday at least. If you're coming all that way, it might be worth really concentrating on the weather forecast and/or posting to see if anyone's been out today/tomorrow to find out actual conditions under tyre.
just a thought

Trailmonkey, Sharki, have you been out and about today? if so what's it like under the wheel? Have had a stream running down the lane again all day!
Q

I've not been out in it today, and the drizzle has only just been in for the last few hrs, but the Tox are pretty weather proof as most know, so not such a big issue for real riders 😉

I'll give a more detailed report after my pottle tomorrow pm.

Christowkid - good point (I just caught something on the news about Devon being submerged today!). I'd probably only head down if there was a reasonable chance of some dry weather - but does it take long for the area to dry - if it's wet all this week but then stops would it have drained by the next day or two? (Up here in Snowdonia it tends to run off pretty quickly due to steep mountains and slate - trouble is it rains so much!) If the forecast loos good closer to next week then I'll post up again t see if I can get a heads up on the trail conditions.

Sharki - any response to comments about moist up top and wet down the bottom will only lead to innuendos 🙂 However, I will assume you are talking about the effects of geology and water run-off ...

lead too........?? they were meant as such and i should not behave that way to young ladies like you. Forgive me. 😉
But yes, most of the downs run along side their spring fed streams/rivers so at the bottom as the combes level out, the shallow streams need to be crossed, though even in deep winter they're no deeper than several inches.

Dartmoor has it's wet weather trails for when sustained rain has fallen, so other than exposure the riding is still great.

Quantocks is all weather.

Rudeboy - did you want a guided tour of the woods behind Nationwide?

Purbecks hold up pretty well to weather. When you coming down, mid week evenings and weekends there's usually people about to tag along with.

Cinnamon girl seems to know every trail and track in the south, and seems to have a route for everywhere, so she could be worth contacting.

This months issue of Singletrack has Eastern Dartmoor's best legal routes in it apparently.

Sue - normally I would love to show some Southern trails but this week is going to be a bit difficult for me. Please feel free to e-mail me (address in profile) and let me know what area you will be in. I didn't think the weather was going to be that brilliant this week though?

rusty - thanks for the compliment! I just love exploring the countryside on my bike 😀

Only just realised you mean for next week.

I'm free all week bar early weds morning for my x ray.

Forecast at this stage, is clear through Monday with over night showers, sunshine and showers for tuesday, weds, lighter showers, with thursday being the best day before showers return late on friday.

So weds and thurs would be choice days allowing for the weekends rain to drain off the hill.

But as already said, it's mostly free draining here on the Q's, i'll even promise an innuendo free guide..

Could even do a day each on both the Quantocks and Dartmoor.

My addy is in my profile if you're interested for now or another date.

Sharki

aleigh - Member

Rudeboy - did you want a guided tour of the woods behind Nationwide?

Yes please!

The best riding I have done in the South is on Dartmoor - Surrey Hills are good too, though it took me a couple of trips to find the good stuff.

ah - by 'next week' I meant starting on Sunday 14th - not today / tomorrow ... so, depending on the weather, I was thinking of heading south probably on Monday 15th if anyone is around then.

Looks like the Quantocks are going to be on the cards .... off to find somewhere bike friendly to stay.

[url= http://www.thehoodarms.com/ ] Hood arms [/url]at kilve for pub based accomodation bike friendly indeed.

[url= http://www.parsonfarm.co.uk/ ] Parsonage farm [/url] for a basic but good B&B

Also B&B or self catering at the coach house, right next to the trails, Mary is generally always full but give her a call on 01984656224.

There are B&Bs in a nearby hamlet called Nether stowey, but unsure on the cyclist friendly ones...

Or for camping [url= http://www.equinetourism.co.uk/caninetourism/moorhousefarm.asp ] moorhouse farm [/url]

I should be able to free up some days around that week for you..

Cheers Sharki 🙂

Mornin' all!
Sharki/sue: It's bizzarre the thunder that hit parts of Exeter causing flash floods in the most odd places is only 'just over the hill' ( Haldon) from me. didn't have any of that! Neighbour did day she heard the odd rumble, then it rained for ~ 12hrs Sharki - you were incredibly lucky with drizzle only. It's so localised.
No wonder we're all obsessed with weather in UK!!!!!
( well, i seem to be.....!!)

Anyway, by the following week we might be back to 27-28C of early this week!!!
cheers all
Q

it's gonna piss down! mind you that was today's forecast and it's sunshine (berkshire)

"rained for 12 hours" sounds just like Snowdonia! It'll be strange coming down to that part of the world - I was born and grew up in Devon, but haven't ben back since I left at 16. Will be good to hear west country accents and drink some decent cider ...

The weather forecast does seem to be getting better - even up here - so time for me to head out into the hills before it changes

Thick heavy wet stuff for alot of the night east of the Tox, cleared now but a few dark clouds lurking.

No lasting affect and the super dusty trails will soak up what rain we had and make it grippy again.

Bright in Poole at the moment. Bit of 'flash and bang' as my little girl called it last night and 10 minute storm an hour ago.

Ignore all weather forecasts for here, they're rarely right for the next day, let along next week.

Best of luck hearing a local accent in Devon or Cornwall, every time I go back home the only accents I seem to hear are London or Northern 😕

plenty of proper devon down this way. I have no idea what any is talking about a lot of the time...

LOADS of great riding down South!
Swinley Forest should be up on your list. North Downs has an almost never ending network of trails and is easy access from London. Vertebrate Graphics do a N Downs guidebook which is pretty good. Bit further south is the South Downs which is fantastic in good weather.
Head SW for the Quantocks, Purbecks or even further still and you get Dartmoor/Exmoor.

Have a great week!

Aargh - too many choices!

Going to have to decide between the SE or the SW or otherwise I'll spend most of the week in the car.

Must admit the the pictures of the Q's rides look far too tempting to ignore .. and as for the scones ...

Is is feasible to be based in the Q's and also get to the Mendips / Exmoor etc within about an hours drive?

Based at the Tox.

mendips 55mins
exmoor 20mins
dartmoor 1hr 10mins

I'll just say it again - I was very impressed with the Quantocks and you have the offer of Sharki as a guide.

The trails are very different to what I am used to - short climbs and descents rather than longer ones. all very intense as well. I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend there - some of the best riding I have ever done altho how you compare it to something like Glen tilt is really difficult.

Best of luck hearing a local accent in Devon or Cornwall, every time I go back home the only accents I seem to hear are London or Northern

Yeah, sorry about that. We're on a mission from the govt to increase the quality of the genepool.

TM: What??
comin' down yer, getting all the jobs, increasing the price of houses and not even caring for the sheep..............
an you lot still can't talk proper!!!!!!!!
Q

....and from what I've seen, put up barricades of said houses, unleasing the gard dogs thus keeping 'the peasants out', so absolutely *no chance* of mingling the gene pool!!!!!
Not that I mind a bit of outcrossing of course!
😆
hey ho
Q
( born and bred!)

Sorry Q, all that talk of "foreigners" and "incomers" makes my p155 boil. Can you imagine how offensive it would seem if the people being talked about were from overseas ?

Another recommendation for the Quantocks - as well as great and varied riding it is a very beautiful place, especially some of the combes. I think everyone who went on the STW ride earlier this year will confirm what fantastic riding is to be had in such a small place.

You could also spend a day in the Mendips which are less than an hour away - some routes can be found here

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Another vote for the sunny south west here. If you do come to the SW and make it as far as Plymouth, we have a womens mtb group who meet every Sat morning at 9am if you fancy it? My email is in my profile!

Qs are ideal all weather venue.

Mendips a bit sloppy after a rainy spell but ace when dryish. The good riding is less obvious and more spread about. I can recommend a best-of-mendip half-day route. I put a basic route on the trail guide here: [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/trailguide/uk/the-mendip/ ]mendip trail guide[/url]

I've done more on Exmoor recently and am really enjoying the number and quality of the singletrack. Though the hills aren't mountains, it's extremely hilly: up down up down etc.

When is the Exmoor Explorer? Not heard much about it recently. 14th?

[url= http://www.exmoorexplorer.com/Explorer/Home.html ]click me[/url]

TM: Yeah I know...... and agree with the point made.
Just worry about my kids as there's no way they'll be able to afford to live in their own county now.
That's what upsets me, not who's come and who's gone.....
hey ho. can't turn the clock back
Q

Keva, where are you based? thats very local to me (fallen out of the george too many times to remember).

Wasn't raining in Barnstaple this morning so thought I'd nip up to them Quantocks (all the best riding in North Devon is in Somerset). Got a few miles out of town and it was pissing down. Went for a bimble around Braunton Burrows with the dog and it was beautiful sunshine. Westcountry is weird.

Still, the riding is mega. Quantocks (my favourite), Exmoor, Dartmoor, Mendips, Woodbury, Haldon, Tavi/Gorton (DH), Cann/Newnham (need to sneak in early evening so you don't get shot). Plus, decent beaches, clean air and room to swing a cat.

Watch out for that Plymouth ladies team, they're feisty down that way.

Cheers all ... at this rate I'm going to want to up sticks and move there! (although at the moment out of my window I can see the mountains of Snowdonia in one direction and out over the sea to Anglesey in the other - biting cold easterly wind though)

Philby and Buzz - thanks for the routes in the Mendips - definately would like to head there too.

millsonwheels - I don't think I'll make it as far as Plymouth this time, but I'm sure I'll head that way again at some point.

Not going to get into the locals / outsiders / house prices debate - there's a lot of it up here and I can always understand the concerns from both sides ....

Sue_W & Trailmonkey:
Apologies, didn't mean to drag down thread.....just feeling cr*p and so in an almighty grump with * everything*!!!

hope you sort out some good riding
Qx

Sponging-Machine - Member

Watch out for that Plymouth ladies team, they're feisty down that way.

'ere Rich, you talkin' about me bird? 😡

All janners are bonkers!