Scartree Trail – Wakerley Woods Northants

Thanks for the details. Just sent them an email.

Be good to get some more technical and (where possible) gravity assisted sections in the new course. The blue skills berm section in Fineshades shows that you don’t need too much gradient to create a great section of switchbacks.

I headed over to the Scartree trail last Friday for the 1st time in a few weeks and some big changes to the official route.

For those who have been before, no more fireroad!!!

Not sure when it opened as wasn’t open 2 weeks ago but today there are 2 new sections which also include some slight downhill berms.

One very long section (is actually about 4 new sections) which bypasses the fireroad, currently a bit rough until it gets ridden in, a few small berms on it as well.

The second section is towards the end of the loop on the straight downhill bit just before the tight section right at the end, this includes some berms. (RHS of map below)

New layout below, yellow bits are new (section at the top opened in August this year)

Klunk & Rossi – “there are some massive “secret” jumps west of Kettering, much to big and scarey for me”

Any clues where? always on the look out for new bits to ride in Kettering

Cranford St Andrew pocket park.

Cheers, Never looked in Cranford before, any tips on finding it? What is to the west of Kettering?

here

ignore the west thing i was just being stupid.

Rode the new sections last week and again today,

Going to be really some nice little sections once they get ridden in – still a bit bumpy for my super stiff hardtail liking at the moment.

Getting much busier now too it seems, although a lot of riders seem to be sticking to the old route.

slainte 😀 rob

That looks alright!

Do you think it’s a good place for beginners to ride? I have a couple of mates interested in getting into riding and I was thinking of taking them there one weekend soon. Oh and where’s the best place to park?

I’d be keen for helping out trying to build some trails, anyone have much luck getting in touch with the forestry commission? Really fancy a jump area 🙂

Should be decent for beginners (my wife rides a bit but lacks confidence on tech stuff and she rides the whole trail with just walking a couple of short sections). Just the little descent & climb section at the start, the ditch section (from about 5m25s on the vid), and the final little techy climb might cause some issues.

Parking – if you don’t mind paying then park at the Fineshades side and do the Green/Blue there (brilliant for newbies) before riding over to the Wakerley side to do Scartree.

If you just want to ride Scartree there’s a free FC carpark in Wakerley Great Wood. Park there and ride back down the road (turn right out of the car park) to the trailhead.

Trail building? I guess speak to the guys at the Rutland Cycling bike shop over the Fineshades side. Not sure whether they are directly involved but they would know who is.

slainte 😀 rob

there is a “jump” area, in a non FC section of the wood, if you follow the airfield dispersal ramp at the end of “niggly climb” all the way to end you’ll hit the trail on your left.

Oh right thanks, I’ll hopefully have a look at those when I go 🙂

If you just want to ride Scartree there’s a free FC carpark in Wakerley Great Wood. Park there and ride back down the road (turn right out of the car park) to the trailhead.

or just ride across the clearing from the carpark past the outoforder toilets and join the trail there.

or just ride across the clearing from the carpark past the outoforder toilets and join the trail there.

True. I just like the way the trail starts & finishes if you ride it from the ‘official’ trailhead better than if you join it at the car park.

slainte 🙂 rob

how big and new are these here jumps, looking at your arrow its just where the singletrack cuts across a couple of ditches ? am i correct ?
i never spotted them before 😥

ooops double post

True. I just like the way the trail starts & finishes if you ride it from the ‘official’ trailhead better than if you join it at the car park.

i prefer doing the start&end section as one complete trail adds a nice flow, you go up and then you swing down. As for the jumps last time I was there, there were some log “table jump” and some lads were building/testing them, not that big though.

I rode this trail the other day and thought it was quite good. Apart from a few people on full suss bikes struggling to ride through a ditch and blocking the trail. WTF’s that all about?

Anyone fancy meeting up one evening at wakerly? Would love to help trailbuilding there too. I noticed some new bits have sprung up also.

ssjeff – Member
I rode this trail the other day and thought it was quite good. Apart from a few people on full suss bikes struggling to ride through a ditch and blocking the trail. WTF’s that all about?

The Ditch section catches a fair few people out, not just those on full sussers.

Besides, on the new sections where it’s still VERY bumpy I reckon a full sus bike is currently quicker (and more comfy) round this trail than a HT despite its lack of real gnarr. Had an Orange 5 fly past me in the middle of the new bits on Sunday looking smooth as you like while the girder-like back end on the Mr Hyde was rattling my fillings out and crunching a large number of vertebrae into bony dust.

slainte ❗ rob

looks like the trail police have been removing the new trail features over near the air field 🙁

Rode this morning, not been for a few weeks. New sections are pretty good. Love the berm bits. A lot of the new stuff isn’t sign posted so thanks to the two fellas who showed me where to go.

Just needs a few sections to be weatherproof and the place will be excellent even through winter.

Was down there this morning too. The new sections are starting to ride in a bit and are getting slightly less bumpy. Some sections were pretty muddy and slippy though – can’t really tell from the video, but the first section here was horrible to ride –

sofaking – not sure which area you were looking in? Some stuff might have been removed, but the trail fairies have still been busy recently –

Had an explore of some of the off-piste areas too. If you look around there are still some cracking (better than the built stuff) sections of trail that aren’t (yet?) part of the official route – the second shot in the first little vid is from a REALLY sweet singletrack section out near the airfield end of things.

Took a drive out to Thetford on Thursday and apart from the bombholes to play in I reckon that Scartree (if you count in the off-piste stuff) now has more to offer us trail starved East Anglians than the bigger centre does.

slainte 8) rob

+1 colournoise. As for the ditch, i was busy gassing to my mate and watched two riders blow it completely today!

Scartree is really coming on. Went to clipstone the other week and that still has a little more to offer but is obviously quite a trek in comparison. Feels like the trail fairies are starting to use the gradient to the best it can. Can’t help wondering what fc land round Stamford/ Rutland with more gradient that could have some trails built in.

Bit of a thread revival. Popping over to Scar Tree tomorrow as its only a little way from me, as far as i can see parking is at Fineshades Top Lodge. Is there any alternative area or should i not be a tight arse 🙄

You can park at the Wakerley side for free. Just drive past the trail head and turn left.

Was getting a bit sloppy in places when I rode it last week.

Does anyone know the state of the trail building situation, is it now complete or are they still adding sections?

My thoughts are despite the new additions the trail still lacks excitement. I would like to see the bermed section near the trail start/end extended much further up the slope. Once I have finished the section in the pine trees I’d like to cut straight across and get some good flow and make the most of the gradient.

After the uphill switchbacks there could be a down hill section on the opposite side of the grass track. It could then cut back up hill and join the grass track at the top.

Wakerley is in waling distance and I have considered modifying the trails but I’m not sure it the FC would be too happy.

I went up there this weekend. Can’t see me going back when woburn is approx. 79! times better & 20mins closer (to me).

There still seems to be building going on, but not sure how much is FC sanctioned and how much is locals.

I guess the guys at the Fineshades Rutland Cycling shop would know.

slainte ❓ rob

“The sign says DON’T CYCLE IN THE COURTYARD!”

jesus, it was only a trackstand, chill the **** out car park attendant dude.

There is a new Wakerley woods forum http://www.wakerleywoods.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=9

The not so secret trail located above the limestone switchbacks is well worth a try. This section is quite narrow and needs widening, plus there are a couple of small trees that could disappear soon as they catch my handlebars. I assume it’s used as an uphill trail but I use it as a downhill section as Wakerley loop lacks gradient. To do the trail uphill ride past marker 2 then down a rooty slope that bears right then left onto the start of the grass track. Immediately look out for a limestone excavation and you’ll see the start of the trail to the left of this limestone bank between two trees. To start it downhill go up the grass slope after the limestone switchbacks and look out for a small track on the left just before the entrance to the field.

luckypierre – Member
The not so secret trail located above the limestone switchbacks is well worth a try. This section is quite narrow and needs widening, plus there are a couple of small trees that could disappear soon as they catch my handlebars. I assume it’s used as an uphill trail but I use it as a downhill section as Wakerley loop lacks gradient. To do the trail uphill ride past marker 2 then down a rooty slope that bears right then left onto the start of the grass track. Immediately look out for a limestone excavation and you’ll see the start of the trail to the left of this limestone bank between two trees. To start it downhill go up the grass slope after the limestone switchbacks and look out for a small track on the left just before the entrance to the field.

Most do use this as an alternative climb to avoid the switchbacks so I reckon caution is advised if you try to use it as a downhill.

slainte ❗ rob

Not sure the new sections of trail (or even some of the older ones) will survive the winter in easily rideable condition. Sections aren’t draining well and are getting cut up and muddy (Wakerley mud seems to be that odd type that is both slippy and sticky at the same time).

slainte 😳 rob

Interesting music there ^

I used to be quite into sitting in the dark, off my tits, listening to stuff like that

They have 100 ton of hardcore to go down soon.

Went here a couple of weeks ago, fun to do a couple of laps. Its pretty flat so keep your speed up to get the most out of it, there are a couple of nice berm sections. The LBS told me that they are planning more technical features including some woodwork.

Went to Fineshades earlier, not sure if its a different thing to Wakerley Woods (is it?) but its alright for a quick ride. Went with a mate on his first mtb ride (first time on a bike in 8 years!) and he loved it, so looks like its got him into biking 🙂

Was a bit weird though, its just like fire road with smaller singletrack loops/sections off to the sides. Is Scartree different and is it just one longer singletrack loop?

_tom_

Fineshades is the other side of the A43 to Wakerley. The route at Fineshades is a Green family route of mostly surfaced fireroads with a few (admittedly big fuin if you blast them) Blue graded ‘skills loops’.

If you ride out of the car park at Fineshades, down the hill, straight across the crossroads on the A43 and ride on for about 1/2 mile you will come to the start of the Scartree trail in Wakerley Great Wood. This is a Red graded trail (though a pretty easy one) that is now pretty much all singletrack. Check out my little helmetcam vid above to see the type of riding you’ll find there.

slainte ➡ rob

Good to see this new trail is still generating alot of interest – I love it!

Does anyone actually know what firm plans (if any) there are for Wakerley, going forward, after the current trail work has been completed?

I’m also wondering how unofficial trails will be ‘tolerated’? I can imagine that modifying the existing trails is a big no-no (and would never advocate that), but I’m wondering what the reaction would be if you cut in some more sections leading off existng routes?

The only thing that does concern me going forward are potential clashes with other users of the woods. I’ve already had a a few deathly stares from dog walkers on Sunday mornings, even though I’ve been courteous and slowed down….