I've heard that this is a fantastic place to ride (think there was an XC race there t'other week) but not heard much about it.
Is it public access and how much of it can be accessed and importantly - is it any good ????
Thanks
It's pretty small but lots of trails all over. It's Fc land though there seems to be no problem in general with access. It's on the side of a steepish hill so generally it's either up or down. It's bloomin good for local riders but it's not the sort of place I'd advise travelling far to get to. It's smaller by a long way than Cannock Chase and even Delamere. Good riding if you can ride with someone who rides a lot. Have a look at Tims blog at Sideways Cycles. There used to be a regular Thursday night ride and often at Hanchurch. Though regular rides have gone a bit by the wayside last couple years.
It's my playground,as much fun as anywhere,but you need to know your way round. Wouldn't advise travelling any distance,unless you know a local.
it's 10 minutes from my house and tops for a quick before work ride or a new bike shakedown, but as previously mentioned I wouldn't bother unless it's local to you.
i've ridden there for the last 20+ years if you know it well you can string together a longish ride. some of the singletrack is as good as any i've ridden anywhere and i've done a lot of riding in a lot of countries. its shit in the winter though....
Blimey, it's been 8 years since I've been up there (or, indeed, on a bike, since my knees packed up).
It's a compact area, mostly rubbish in winter as others have noted, but did have the 'Uncleanable Climb'. That did however lose it's name one afternoon :wink:.
I remember an article in the magazine a long time ago about the best 2 minutes of singletrack, or something. One paragraph in and I KNEW it was Hanchurch!
some trail fairies have been doing a good job recently
The trail fairies have done sterling work,following the logging in the winter.
I prefer it to Cannock and Llandegla and thankfully those two places help keep the traffic away from Hanchurch.
Enter the XC race next year,it's great fun.
I'LL be there tomorrow night, after work blast!
The Goldtec boys have a tuesday ride there- meet at 6pm by the Harvester just down from Trentham Gardens
As everyone says it's nowhere near as large as Cannock but is good for a few hours if you link a few bits together (Beech, Trentham Park, Trentham Gardens (cheeky!) etc)
The Midlands XC race was there a few weekends back. For a short XC race loop it had to rate up there with one of my favourite courses ridden to date.
Is it definately FC land? I thought it was owned by Lord Stafford?
Is there a Lord Stafford? Is it Big John ?
Maybe it is Lord Stafford (Do you mean Lord Stafford?, is there a Lord Stafford) land but if so it appears that FC manage it as most of the signs are FC labelled. Trentham Park was given to the people of Stoke-on-Trent by the Duke of Sutherland for their free use and access to open space. Hasn't stopped Trentham Estate from slowly encroaching in to it and limiting it's use by the general public.
and charging you to walk around the gardens....
Is that Pikie the Bikie?
NO