UK ‘good rides’ list

Lots of people mentioning places to go or specific rides that they wanted to do on another thread got me thinking of compiling a UK ‘good rides’ list. I (and hopefully others on here) could plan to tick them off over the coming years.

To keep it simple and easy to use as a reference, any rides listed should be specific rather than a general area (e.g Cutgate, not the Peak District). It can include natural trails, trail centres and bike parks and anything else people think is worth riding. Also, please add one of the following numbers to the ride listed:

1 – genuinely class and worth travelling to from afar

2 – decent and worth doing but only if you’re in the area.

So, using my own system as an example for places I’ve ridden recently.

Cutgate 1
Bike Park Wales 1
Dalby Forest 2
Leeds Urban Bike Park 2

Please post up your recommendations! Comments on ride length, ease, helpful tips, gpxs etc all welcomed.

Your mum 1

I think this is what the archive of rides is that already exists here https://singletrackworld.com/category/classic-ride/

Your mum 1

Louise 2

Pah, my mum is 72 and about 17 stones, so no one is going to listen to your ride advice. :)

Too many to mention but here’s a few off the top of my head that I’ve ridden in the last 12 months.

Gravel:

• John Muir Way
• Pilgrim Way
• Aberfoyle Loch Katrine Loop
• Kielder (125km Dirty Reiver loop is the perfect length IMO).

Mtb

• Cairngorm loop (inner for more hike a bike and outer loop for a bit more easier riding).
• Devil’s Staircase (both ways) and the Ciaran path.
• Gypsy glen loop from Peebles.
• Glentress
• Innerleithen (Golfie and Traquair)
• Dunkeld

As for destinations to use as a base, I’d say:

• Tweed Valley
• Lake district
• Cairngorms
• Ballater/Braemar
• Dunkeld
• Fort William

I’m putting ‘in the area’ as within an hour driving of the location.

Cutgate 1

Forest of Dean 1

Hamsterley Forest 2

Cannock Chase & Stile Cop 2

Road To Hell long climb (Denbigh to Llyn Brenig) 1

Prestatyn to Gwaenysgor climb 1

Needs a third category;

3 – Not if it was the last ride on earth

Cannock Chase – 3

Swinley – 3

Cut gate 3 , swinley 3 Surrey hills 1, cheeky peaks 1, Inners 1, bpw 2,

arrpee

Free Member

Your mum 1

Made me chuckle :  )

1 Torridon

Fort William. The uplift and more natural stuff

Dyfi

Bpw

The peaks white+ dark

Mid Wales

North Wales

South Wales

The lakes

Glentress- still love the black run

South downs

All that is a list of where I’ve ridden and would love to go back to of I had a sudden weekend to myself and could just piss off on a Friday. With two wee ones every trip is a negotiation

2 – Sherwood Pines Red – for the most part gravel bike friendly as well.

2 – Stainburn – off-piste and marked

1 – High Street Ullswater – must be 10 years since I did that loop but it was good.

1 – Gunnerside Gill – or various surrounding routes in Swaledale.

blimey, 12 posts and trails round the back of Swindon Nationwide not even getting a mention? These other rides must be incredible.

Never mention behind the nationwide in Swindon. Too many know already ? ?

Fluffy Kittens – 2

This is going to be an incredibly useful resource…

Pah, my mum is 72 and about 17 stones, so no one is going to listen to your ride advice

Pics or we don’t believe you

I love seeing Cut Gate pop up on these things.  Makes all the effort we put into getting the slabs done worthwhile

I went over Cut Gate last week, it’s a good ride for what it is IMO.

Slabs have been sensibly placed and blend in well with the existing trail.

I went over Cut Gate last week, it’s a good ride for what it is IMO.

Does it get a 1 or a 2 though? I think the point of this thread is to keep things as objective as possible?

I only discuss number 1s and number 2s with my GP, sorry.

Cut Gate isn’t a 1. Fair enough, it’s streets ahead of other Peak routes, but you’d be mad to travel there from the northern half of the country in preference to the stuff you pass on the way.