Leigh woods / Ashton court

Looks like I might be in Bristol for a night or two in the next few weeks. planning on an evening ride there – is parking and the trails self explanatory? Looks like you park in the country estate bit, is it free / any gates open late?
Ta.

There is paid parking in the Ashton Court estate, but they close the gates at dusk. People generally park on North Road near the entrance to Leigh Woods. The marked trails are easy to find and follow. You’d be better with a local guide to find the good stuff though. There is a group of us from here that go out regularly on a Wednesday evening. If you can do Wednesday I’d recommend that. If not post up what day and someone may be free to show you round.

Park on North Road (BS8 not BS6) and head into Leigh Woods first. The trails are well marked but not very interesting. If you can, meet up with a local (loads on here) as the best trails are off-piste, steep techy stuff and more natural trails. Ashton Court is just across round the corner and across the road.

Edit: great minds etc.

We’re meeting tonight at 6:30pm, as above!

Thanks guys! might well be around next weds so will keep in touch!

People drive there to go cycling??

It may be fairly tame, but I think the Nova trail at Ashton Court (not Leigh Woods) is pretty fun. Good for a quick blast now and then.

People drive there to go cycling??

I go there about once a year and live about 50miles away, so yes I drive…..
Even when I lived in bristol, it was a 7mile (each way) ride to get there and back so I’d drive it at the weekend.

The trails are well marked but not very interesting.

It always annoys me when I see things like this. Yes there is good natural stuff but the marked trails are fun for a blast and the locals are flippin’ lucky to have them on their doorstep IMO!

If you can hook up with a group OP then great, but if not the various marked trails in the area will keep you more than occupied. I used a GPS map the first time but it’s fairly self explanatory once you hit the trails

Super Nova on my new rigid single speed gave me the biggest grin I’ve had from riding an MTB period.

A bit like Swinley not a place to crash but great for a blast

I used to do a lap of the man made trail at Ashton Court on my way home every evening. To spice things up I tried a lap in under 30 minutes (including the zig zags), seeing which of my highly unsuitable bikes I could get round quickest on, etc. LWs is fine. If I’m pushed for time it’s still a great way of cycling without cars trying to remove your ears with there wing mirrors……….

Put together AC, 50 acre and LW and you have a fair amount of riding.

Had a mooch round Leigh woods this evening, went earlier than your group meet as was done with work by half 4, did see streams of mtb-ers heading out when I was returning. Got thoroughly lost in there veering off the yer ”tis trail at every opportunity. Found some really fun off piste stuff, a section with loads of linked bomb holes and a bunch of trails running down into a Jurassic park like gully. Few bit were a bit rowdy for me on my own on an xc race bike. Wasn’t wild on the actual man made trail, didn’t trust the surface, the little skills loop was fun though.

We were out but later at the usual 6:30 time. Glad you had fun and found some off piste to play on. Some bits are a bit steep and rowdy as you put it. Though at the moment at least the off piste is grippy. Come back in the winter and it’s a different matter. Yes the man made trail is a bit polished and not the grippiest surface dry or wet, but at least it’s something to ride and avoid the winter slop. Are you around next week?

It’s ok and you’ll be ok finding your way to the trails. Through the big archway at Ashton court and park next to the cafe/bike shop/golf place