What's the Forest of Dean like?? Any recommendations?

I’m staying at a place called Clearwell next weekend, any recommendations for rides in Forest of Dean or around those parts?

Hunting the Internet has found loads, but only have one day on the bike so need to make the most of it. Will be taking my transition patrol so that should handle whatever the forest has.

Cheers

Avoid the red, enjoy the blue, do some of the DH tracks.

Job jobbed.

I don’t know much about the non trail centre bits other than there a LOT of it, but the trail centre is good fun.

Was there yesterday, rode blue, red, launch pad and sheep skull and enjoyed them all and went home pretty tired but not dying on my feet.

It’s ace. Is there space on the uplift? It was full last time we were there or I’d have just razzed that all day. TBF I could do sheepskull and flatland for hours 😆

I’m kind of split about the red… The original, shorter red is pretty great imo. The longer one with the extension’s very different, I got pretty into it but it was a bit of a slog and I did kind of feel at the end like we’d gone up more than down…

Great place to stay for off-piste riding – can you follow gpx files?

Stay away from the marked trails if you want a great ride. Gpx files can be downloaded to get you to some descent stuff. Could probably share some if needs be. We park at pedal a bike away (cannop) then ride the start of the old enduro route then head over to dowies and the across to shutcastle via loamalicious riding back via Worcester lodge and ending on the one of the enduro stages. Works out to be about 25-30k and is a fantastic mix of trails.

Unfortunately I can’t follow gpx files….but will take screen shots of the routes.

The red route looks really short, is it really only 4.5 miles????

Gpx file? Yes please! I’m heading over there in a week’s time.

My wife said, “where shall we go on holiday this year”. Rookie mistake….

We park at pedal a bike away (cannop) then ride the start of the old enduro route then head over to dowies and shutcastle via loamalicious riding back via Worcester lodge and ending on the one of the enduro stages. Works out to be about 25-30k and is a fantastic mix of trails.

this +1 – probably your best bang per buck (without having a local with you)

Dont discount the red, it is a challenge

I would like a copy of an updated Enduro route please! 😉

I like the Red Freeminers downs, but the ups are killer, it certainly doesn’t feel like 4.5 miles 😯

Definitely finish by doing a couple of the DH runs, they are good fun! Here’s a link to the DH trail map.

I’ll take a gpx as well. Get up there fairly regularly and was there yesterday.

Dusty trails make for an interesting experience with my front tyres! Wash all rolling very quickly.

I can download some GPX files from recent rides off Strava if you like, or happy for people to add me so they can do it themselves. I plan to ride the old Enduro route tonight with an alternative finish which makes an excellent 15k loop (about an hours and a bit riding) Email is in profile should you want any.

Russ

I did 4 blue laps on Friday, v nice and you get to eat in the café at the end of each lap. There is also tons of off piste but I tend to need to follow a local…….

loads of awesome off piste stuff. Talk to james at FOD MTB guides as he knows the place the back of his hand

Russ, i’d be interested in some of your GPX files of FoD also. Like everybody says there’s loads of stuff in there but its just knowing the better bits that link it up well.

when you guys thinking of going to FoD, I could be around to take you to the off piste stuff

Hi RussyH, I’ve just dropped you an email, I’m down here for a few days so would love a GPX.

If anyone is organising a ride this week to show any of us non-locals some of the trails then I would definitely be keen.

WiFi where we are staying is very sketchy and no phone’s working – it’s like being cut off from the world!

cheers
Iain

Hi

I would love a GPX too. Or maybe a link to a strava ride would do?

Thanks

It’s one place I’ve got to visit but it’s a hike from MK . It always sounds excellent.

I’m there on Saturday, will try the suggestions/trails…starting at cannop then. Cheers for the suggestions!

We’re back again soon, what’s better than the last part of the verderers trail? I could do that bit over and over, if I didn’t have arm pump!

Second riding Sheepskull all day, I pretty much did last time I did the uplift apart from a couple of runs of GBU.. Keen to try some off piste stuff next though

badabing

You ok finding those trails? I know the area and will be around Saturday. Post up if anyone needs some local knowledge.

Hi pawsy

I was gonna park at pedal away and just at work it out from there. Probably about 1030-1100. In clear well right now

How about starting from http://deanforestcycles.co.uk cafe at 10:30? All the off piste stuff is centred on Parkend. Parkend is just down the road from Pedalaway. Free parking too 🙂 Let me know.

Ok cool. 10.30 works for me. I’ve got an orange transition patrol, very unfit, and see you at 10.30 at the cafe. Got the post code so see you there

Agreed see you at 1030.