I have just started using just go ride to download some routes, but a lot of the stuff I ride near me came from books, like the dark and white peak guide books, only reason I ask is that the books on the whole are full of good rides where as of the just go ride site there is little or no explanation of the ride, so it might not be my kind of ride

You can buy routes at viewranger. No idea what they are like. I just tend to ask on here and someone posts something up.

Magazines often have routes for download too on their website.

… or get them for free?

http://WWW.GPSIES.COM

I guess that is the appeal of trying something new, just downloaded a mac forest route so will give that ago tom on my day of, if nowt else its a bit of a day out

Rough Ride Guide I bought some here. And the book for my area – really nicely made stuff.

+1 for Gpsies.com