We're off to BPW in a couple of weeks, from Hull (or thereabouts). It's a few days trip, so I'm looking for options to ride on the way.
The Long Mynd is currently top of the list - it's mebbe an extra hour of driving, but I quite fancy a day there (I rode there once mebbe six years ago and remember it being decent if chilled, which is about right for what we need).
Is there anywhere else on the way? Mebbe Malverns? We ride the Peak quite often so probably not there.
Open to suggestions!
(Current itinerary is Long Mynd Friday, BPW Saturday, Brecon Gap Sunday, either FoD or just come home on Monday)
We stopped off in the Forest of Dean.. er but we wuz travelling from the south. Was good at FoD though, must say. Aw reminds me of ol Weeksy.
Aye we've done Forest of Dean before and liked it, just fancied something a bit different (and more on the way) this time.
Cwmcarn is'nt far and kinda en route, The Twrch trail apparently had diversions running on it but the Cafell trail and Pedalhounds black are good fun.
I love the Long Mynd. Such incredible scenery. More of a trail ride than a winch and plummet.
Relatively nearby you have Eastridge woods. There's some Dh tracks plus you can do quite a cool loop up and past Stiperstones from where the can see the Long Mynd.
Relatively near that you have the Wrekin.
One hill. Very steep tracks in places. Push/ride up the main path.
Then you have all the Shropshire classics such as Bringewood, Bucknell and Hopton.
Hopton did have a marked trail which I always quite liked. Not been for years so not sure if they may have had felling etc.
Bringewood has had some felling but I believe there's stuff there. Same for Bucknell.
I would expect Long Mynd to be very busy so watch out for walkers coming up Minton Batch etc but get there early. There's a few dh trails in the woods below the gliding club end.
Love the Long Mynd and Eastridge, though quite different trails and as long as you know where to ride.
Have you tried the trails at Dirt Farm nr Abergavenny, uplifted on an open trailer hitched to a tractor. Great day out in good weather.
Dirt Farm is fantastic but maybe too far along the journey?
To be honest a more chilled trail ride is what we're after - don't want to spangle ourselves or our bikes before the main event!
Are you on e-bikes or human powered? And what do you like or are comfortable with, very steep tech, gaps and drops?
I am local to the Long Mynd and Eastridge; very different, Long Mynd is more big scenery and chilled trails, fantastic fun and I love it there (funnily, Minton Batch is far from my favourite descent!), big old climb though. Eastridge, especially Snailbeach, is brilliant tech, with some mega steep stuff, hard climb but shorter.
If you want spectacular trails then the Hopton direction also has some rather special trails, the loops we do though are primarily ebike suitable as the pedal up is vomit inducing. Gaps, drops, hips, steep tech, fast tech and epic berms and g outs… lots of fun. Maybe also a bit full on as it’s very easy to spanner yourself! 🙂
From my limited knowledge Long Mynd seems like it would fit the bill. I’ll hardly expert but I’ve enjoyed my rides there
I rode Hopton on Thursday. There are trees down in a couple of places, but there are easy ride arounds. It's running very well. As well as the marked red XC route, there are a number of downhill runs there which are used in the Pearce cycles race series. I haven't ridden them recently so don't know how clear they are. Mortimer forest (opposite Bringewood) is my local and has some great winch and plummet riding, but it's not marked so you'd need local knowledge. The long Mynd is excellent and as well as great views and XC riding, there are some fast techy descents if you know where to look.
Pro tip, the cafe at the Midlands gliding club on top of the Mynd goes great cake.
We'll be on a mix I think. I don't own an ebike so deffo won't be on one!
We're not adverse to some steep tech (Dalby off piste is fairly regular) but for this we're after something more scenic and chilled. So sounds like Long Mynd is probably a goer.
We've done Cwmcaen and FoD a few times, fancy something a bit different.
I do this trip annually (also from Yorkshire) with my kids and we stop at FOD as theres a load of stuff to have a go at and its basically en-route.
