[Closed] Where's your 'playground'? Tell me about your favourite place...

For me, the closest place is Dalby forest, as its only 15miles away. However it can be numb after a while since i ride a big bouncy bike. Can imagine its no end of fun on a short travel XC or a Hardtail bike!

I never get bored of riding around Chop Gate on the North Yorkshire Moors, as its another of those places where you can just make up rides. Weather it would be an 10mile loop or an all day ride. Plenty of great descents end in Chop Gate. Not to mention some great views too!

But the place I love to ride on a summer lit evening, is Guisborough Woods. Whilst its a good 1hr drive from me, its great for endless amounts of singletrack, and you can soon be out on the moors as well. Its great on a bouncy big bike for messing around on

Most of my very local stuff is mainly bridalways and footpaths that don't lead anywhere...

Holmbury hill and the North Downs.

Thread closed.

I have one long route that I could do every week and not get bored>
My house to Ladybower. I go off road at Holiday Lane and for the first section, it could almost be the Marin Trail. Over Pooh Sticks Bridge and the hammerfest down the tree lined pebble lane. Over the road and up through Chadkirk Singletrack. A bit of abugger of a climb and not always doable, a real test of how I'm going. This is followed by more Marin Trail like woods that is descending down to the canal. A bit of a pootle along the canal and then down to Roman Lakes and then No Dabs Allowed up to the wall below Mellor Cross. Past the Cross and down and round, over the road and down and round, on to the road and then down and up to the Shouty Dog Run at the farm at Birch Vale. Drop onto the Pennine Bridleway and round to Lantern Pike, Middlemoor, Shooting Cabin, 20 Trees, Kinder Res. South Head, Roych, Rushup, Mam Nick, Hollins Cross, Edale, Jaggers, Edale Cross, Hagg Farm, Lockerbrook, Fairholmes.
So many reasons why I love that route but you need a day off and good legs on the day. I've love dthat ride every time I've done it. The views, the peace and quiet, the hard climbs, the fast descents the diet coke and flapjack and some bird seed for the ducks.....the cold grip of fear when you realise you didn't bring a wallet for the train home. The gushing relief when the guard on the train can't be arsed asking you to pay and stays locked in his room reading The Sport.

Sorry, just realised, you meant one single place? any section of the above is just a section on it's own to me. Nothing special. It's putting them all together that makes it.

My fave Rivi pic:
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the view with Liverpool skyline:
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Grizedale forest because its close by so I can ride there on my bike.

Win Hill, so many good trails up and down (and thats not even including the cheeky ones!)

amen Hora.
(apart from whistler bike park!)

Not the public highway..... roadies 😛

On Rivington- I'll happily ride exposed moorland/hills but it is truly evil as soon as you get a hint of wind.

For that reason, forests win EVERYTIME with mountain biking 😀

Ooooo boo hoo a bit of a breeze. Oh bless me! there seems to be a spot of rain, I couldn't possibly take my bicycle out in this. My petticoat would be ruined.

You are, without a doubt, the gayest mountain biker on the planet.

MTFU you faggot!!!

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Versus

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Pretend all you like, same as you lot, stw is my playground.

bolehills. or wharnecliffe.

AMAZING 'scene' at BH too, locals that are sound as a pound. Great place to chill out, or to kill yourself trying hard stuff over and over and over.

Dry dusty and fast with a bit of wind or permanently wet, dark and muddy. 😀

Norland Moor and North Dean Woods, Halifax. Contains every type of riding you can imagine in a small area. Moorland singletrack, rocky singletrack descents, smooth light speed fast singletrack, technical climbs, rocks, roots, steps, jumps, super tech stuff, steep stuff, mellow stuff, woodsey stuff, wide open multi line stuff and lots of places to just sit with amazing views and watch the world go by beneath you in the valley.

The Lakes.........specifically Keswick area. The variety of riding within 3-4 hours riding (usually 15 miles or so) is unbelievable!! It never gets boring - you could do the same route 4 weeks running and it would be totally different each time 😀

Amen to that 😀

I'm sorry, but you cant say Keswick as a local playground. Its just not fair on the the rest of us.

Hora, your nuts. Give me open, rugged moorland over forest every day for the views alone, however Rivi gives you both options if you know where to look.

I'd say Rivi as its my back yard. I can be on the moors in 10 mins of pedalling from my door.

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Here. 10 wooded square miles of singletrack heaven with everything from several hours jeyboy XC to proper gnarly DH descents. All 5 mins from the house. From the viewpoint in the pic you can even sit and watch super high tech jet fighters taking off and landing if you want. Been riding it nearly daily for 3.5 years and I still get excited every time I think about heading up there. Sad eh?

Bolehill for me too

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That's the road to the carpark surely, not the trail itself 😆

North of Cardiff is riddled with trails.

Also love all the stuff between Sheffield and the well known bits of the Peaks.

Devs - where's that then?

I don't really have a properly local playground as there's no decent riding that near to me. Usually go to Farleton Knott for a quick blast which has some nice singletrack DH bits and great views.

Hayfield

Binners notice how the light of God is glowing through the trees on the Forest pic 😉

Hayfield? nbt took me there once. I wouldnt mind a spin round there.

Holmbury and Leith.

Packed with hilly goodness.

Haldon forest. The 'official' loop gives me a trail that's rideable in all weathers and my knowledge of the less than official trails allows me to add a lot of variety on to that in varying weather conditions. It's mellow enough the inbred doesn't feel terrifying there and fast enough (and rough enough on the unofficial stuff)that my coiler is fun there.

Diaryofamountainbikers (not mine)....**** from the top 😯
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+1 Holmbury and Leith

Holmbury hill and the North Downs.

Hora, did you not have part of Park Life named Hora's Elbow in your honour many moons ago?

No! I do now though 🙂 Its all washed out/eroded now that roll-in isn't it?

Puttenham Common - it's Surrey Hills with fewer bikers, and quiet enough I can build some cheeky stuff hidden away!! Oh - and it's right outside my front door!

Is that you on deliverance Hora 😆 😆

No but THAT has got to hurt hasnt it? I mean right from the top OVER the bars?! 😐

yep, i would think thats really going to hurt. God knows how he got in that predicament down there - its not exactly hard.

No! I do now though Its all washed out/eroded now that roll-in isn't it?

Could be, haven't checked it out (the side trail on the left) for a couple of years. Is it true you busted your elbow there?

shoulder, arm, two ribs and my head 😕 all on some soft/loose dirt!

I take it you've not been back to own it then 🙂

I have. With FG as my witness on the first ride out on a Blur4x, I also made sure I didnt scout it first- just rolled up and straight down. I shouted and jumped up and down at the bottom 😆

It was easier though as the 'lip' had gone and it was smoother/rounder at the start due to erosion from tyres.

thats a classic crash pic! how did the rider manage that one then? looks like a fairly easy roll-in?!

Thats a classic crash pic! how did the rider manage that one then? looks like a fairly easy roll-in?!

Deliverance is deceptive- its got a steeper first couple of metres with roots etc and its very very loose fine earth with along (steepish) straight roll in. Its the fine earth etc that catches you out.

I have. With FG as my witness on the first ride out on a Blur4x, I also made sure I didnt scout it first- just rolled up and straight down. I shouted and jumped up and down at the bottom

Nice one. R E S P E C T 😀

Has to be Yair forest in the Scottsih Borders for me which is on my back door (and front door) step. It also plays host to some of the Selkirk Merida. Beautiful views, big climbs, swooping singletrack, rock steps, bomb diving buzzards and so much more. From door to door: 1hr. 45 minutes of 'glad to be alive' bliss.

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🙂

Great thread guys, keep posting those pics

Welsh valleys, the natural trails in the Cwmcarn area as well as the trail centre.

Loving the Border' 😀

The perfect ride locally has to start on the Darwen Moors ride over to Rivi do the local trails, climb up to the mast fly down the other side then ride back over to Darwen for one of the decents from the tower 😀

Bolehillz.
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or the peak?

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one of my local trails, literally 15 min ride from my doorstep - mucho fun
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freeridenick - Member
one of my local trails, literally 15 min ride from my doorstep - mucho fun

Sooo many line choices 8)

 

DaveyBoyWonder - Member
Norland Moor and North Dean Woods, Halifax. Contains every type of riding you can imagine in a small area. Moorland singletrack, rocky singletrack descents, smooth light speed fast singletrack, technical climbs, rocks, roots, steps, jumps, super tech stuff, steep stuff, mellow stuff, woodsey stuff, wide open multi line stuff and lots of places to just sit with amazing views and watch the world go by beneath you in the valley.

Amen! Just up the hill from me, a great playground! First place I head for some bike fun.

another you can really put the hammer down
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Living at the foot of the Quantocks, why would I ride anywhere else?

Same place as this
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and this
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and this
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If I told you I'd have to kill you!

Aye Yair although 1hr 45 wouldn't be enjoyable 🙂

How did Moorland come about? surely its not all the product of fuel burning and ship building?

Not a fan of moorland. Desolate always springs to mind. I remember the thorn/scratches on my arms for summers riding in Surrey.....singletrack sooo close..

Darn you miss it when its gone 🙁

footstomper - thats one of my very regular afternoon blasts too. Its a belter isn't it? 😀

For me it has to be Blacka Moor as part of my from the front door loop, always plenty to choose from depending on my mood at the time, after that it would have to be Lady Bower

Western Park in Leicester, although I can't really waste hours there unless I'm with someone - gets a bit boring riding by yourself

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Haven't seen it that green and dry for ages though!

Cannock Chase is my 'playground' on the MTB, generally stick to Sherbrook and Severn Springs area if I'm just going for a quick blast around since I can ride to Milford/Brocton in 10-15 mins, but good to link into the 'official' trails or even a bit further afield for a longer ride!

Loads of fun little areas once you know a few of the main 'landmarks'

Sunny Pic just after popping out of some woods before a long drag upwards to the next little spot!
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cleeve hill, some great descents!

Proper Bo on Pitch Hill is my favourite playground. The trail that just keeps on giving - short but great fun.

Speaking of deliverance, here's my first attempt at it back in 2007:

Cannock Chase as a favourite playground? You need to get out more.

+1 hora - woods over moors any day.

hora - Member

Deliverance is deceptive- its got a steeper first couple of metres with roots etc and its very very loose fine earth with along (steepish) straight roll in. Its the fine earth etc that catches you out.

Obviously I wasn't there, but I'd say a riders biggest enemy on that slope is himself. Commit and it'll be piss easy, falter and it will hurt you, as with most technical features I suppose, he says stating the obvious.

The nearest I've got to that I suppose is Glen Tanar.

Riden it in all weathers and all times of the year.

Has short 1 hour loops to 5-6 hour epics going over the Firmounth and down the Fungle or even bag a monro (and a snakebite puncture or two) on Mount Keen. Usual route has a proper river crossing which can be halfway up your thighs after rain.

Other than that I guess Kirkhill.

Oh, lucky bugger that lives at Yair. I remember an ace race course from there from back-in-the-day...

I used to live near Rivington as a kid and know the area very well having walked and cycled the hills for about 18 years.

I used to live near the Quantock, I'd like to tell you there the best place I've ever ridden a bike, but to be honest they're rubbish*. 😉

I now most like to ride around Northumberland. I'm loving the road biking. Nice big climbs, stunning wild scenery and proper local villages. Mountainbiking is good but it's taking me longer to find the right places as they're spread out. Kielder is probably the place I've ridden most, I'm liking the long routes out onto the hills rather than the main trails.

Cannock Chase as a favourite playground? You need to get out more.

Depends what tracks you ride and how you ride them I guess. Like I said, 10mins ride from my door, playground ain't gonna be a 6hour drive away is it?

Also have some good BMX trails but as this is an MTB site I mentioned where I play on my MTB.

Mike Check- by BMX trail do you mean Wildwood ?

Scruff - Haha yea I do, spent a lot of time digging there in the past! You go down there?

Not necessarily my favorite trail but my local 'playground' is Gisburn Forest. Its ace for an afternoon bomb around. There is a fantastic community spirit feel as well what with all the buzz surrounding the new trails and volunteer built sections.

I love it up there. 8)

Tracknicko - that 1st picture wasn't taken in Holehills, beside the 'sporty', was it?

Bolehills (as it's 100m from my door) and Loxley Common are my favorite play spots.

Soon to be more so, as Bolehills is in the middle of a giant refurb

Mike Ive been over but there too steep for me these days, unless any mellower stuff has been dug ?

They are mostly a bit mental now, the new kids have taken over diggin duties! But there's a lot of new stuff gone up over the winter and they kinda start a bit smaller right up into the woods and get bigger as they work there way down to the bottom.

The big sets now are way too big for me nowadays though!

mike_check - Member

Depends what tracks you ride and how you ride them I guess. Like I said, 10mins ride from my door, playground ain't gonna be a 6hour drive away is it?

Also have some good BMX trails but as this is an MTB site I mentioned where I play on my MTB.

I'll admit I've never ridden the 'good stuff', but ffs, I used to almost drive past there every day (from Wolverhampton) on the way to and from work - home being the Peaks. It can be done in less than an hour (just) - disclaimer - if anyone (associated with the feds) works out the miles per hour average, then I'm quite obviously lying.

However, I digress - Peaks an hour away / Cannock's fave place - still doesn't compute, sorry.

Mine is probably glentress. Sorry! But it's ace, and I ride there so often that I've really got to know it and appreciate it, in a lot of ways it's where I learned to ride again but it's still a blast, every time.

Locally I've got a couple of spots that I can just go and knock about in, paths and reservoir banks at Harlaw, the DH trails at Bonaly, and a thing that nobody else ever seems to acknowledge even exists, 1 mile from my house with a load of short rooty descents and climbs, a "stepping stone" stream crossing, all sorts of interesting features. I've spent a load of time in these wee spots but still, I'd rather be on Pie Run

Nowt wrong with Glentress- I like it.

Devs i recognise those places from my youf 😀

The routes from my house - if it involves driving it's hassle...
so that means anywhere on the South Downs between Chanctonbury (particularly the Upper Horseshoe followed by Woodman's Drop) and Blackcap Hill.
The Bombholes by Keymer Post also deserve a special mention.

TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR

I can kind of see where you're coming from, but I think my definition of 'playground' is differing from yours! I can get out the door and be riding by the time I've got my wheel off and got the bike in the car ready to go!

Woods, singletrack and hills that don't take me forever to push back up along with the fact I have a map of the place inside my head make it perfect for me to thrash about for a couple of hours whenever the mood takes me!

obviously my fave is herts shore. its a mix of north shore,alpine and bmx influences that mkae up a technical challenge that changes every ride 🙂