Where to ride ‘down south’ ?

“rained for 12 hours” sounds just like Snowdonia! It’ll be strange coming down to that part of the world – I was born and grew up in Devon, but haven’t ben back since I left at 16. Will be good to hear west country accents and drink some decent cider …

The weather forecast does seem to be getting better – even up here – so time for me to head out into the hills before it changes

Thick heavy wet stuff for alot of the night east of the Tox, cleared now but a few dark clouds lurking.

No lasting affect and the super dusty trails will soak up what rain we had and make it grippy again.

Bright in Poole at the moment. Bit of ‘flash and bang’ as my little girl called it last night and 10 minute storm an hour ago.

Ignore all weather forecasts for here, they’re rarely right for the next day, let along next week.

Best of luck hearing a local accent in Devon or Cornwall, every time I go back home the only accents I seem to hear are London or Northern 😕

plenty of proper devon down this way. I have no idea what any is talking about a lot of the time…

LOADS of great riding down South!
Swinley Forest should be up on your list. North Downs has an almost never ending network of trails and is easy access from London. Vertebrate Graphics do a N Downs guidebook which is pretty good. Bit further south is the South Downs which is fantastic in good weather.
Head SW for the Quantocks, Purbecks or even further still and you get Dartmoor/Exmoor.

Have a great week!

Aargh – too many choices!

Going to have to decide between the SE or the SW or otherwise I’ll spend most of the week in the car.

Must admit the the pictures of the Q’s rides look far too tempting to ignore .. and as for the scones …

Is is feasible to be based in the Q’s and also get to the Mendips / Exmoor etc within about an hours drive?

Based at the Tox.

mendips 55mins
exmoor 20mins
dartmoor 1hr 10mins

I’ll just say it again – I was very impressed with the Quantocks and you have the offer of Sharki as a guide.

The trails are very different to what I am used to – short climbs and descents rather than longer ones. all very intense as well. I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend there – some of the best riding I have ever done altho how you compare it to something like Glen tilt is really difficult.

Best of luck hearing a local accent in Devon or Cornwall, every time I go back home the only accents I seem to hear are London or Northern

Yeah, sorry about that. We’re on a mission from the govt to increase the quality of the genepool.

TM: What??
comin’ down yer, getting all the jobs, increasing the price of houses and not even caring for the sheep…………..
an you lot still can’t talk proper!!!!!!!!
Q

….and from what I’ve seen, put up barricades of said houses, unleasing the gard dogs thus keeping ‘the peasants out’, so absolutely *no chance* of mingling the gene pool!!!!!
Not that I mind a bit of outcrossing of course!
😆
hey ho
Q
( born and bred!)

Sorry Q, all that talk of “foreigners” and “incomers” makes my p155 boil. Can you imagine how offensive it would seem if the people being talked about were from overseas ?

Another recommendation for the Quantocks – as well as great and varied riding it is a very beautiful place, especially some of the combes. I think everyone who went on the STW ride earlier this year will confirm what fantastic riding is to be had in such a small place.

You could also spend a day in the Mendips which are less than an hour away – some routes can be found here http://www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/publications/up_160057_bd_bikecard.pdf

Another vote for the sunny south west here. If you do come to the SW and make it as far as Plymouth, we have a womens mtb group who meet every Sat morning at 9am if you fancy it? My email is in my profile!

Qs are ideal all weather venue.

Mendips a bit sloppy after a rainy spell but ace when dryish. The good riding is less obvious and more spread about. I can recommend a best-of-mendip half-day route. I put a basic route on the trail guide here: mendip trail guide[/url]

I’ve done more on Exmoor recently and am really enjoying the number and quality of the singletrack. Though the hills aren’t mountains, it’s extremely hilly: up down up down etc.

When is the Exmoor Explorer? Not heard much about it recently. 14th?

click me

TM: Yeah I know…… and agree with the point made.
Just worry about my kids as there’s no way they’ll be able to afford to live in their own county now.
That’s what upsets me, not who’s come and who’s gone…..
hey ho. can’t turn the clock back
Q

Keva, where are you based? thats very local to me (fallen out of the george too many times to remember).

Wasn’t raining in Barnstaple this morning so thought I’d nip up to them Quantocks (all the best riding in North Devon is in Somerset). Got a few miles out of town and it was pissing down. Went for a bimble around Braunton Burrows with the dog and it was beautiful sunshine. Westcountry is weird.

Still, the riding is mega. Quantocks (my favourite), Exmoor, Dartmoor, Mendips, Woodbury, Haldon, Tavi/Gorton (DH), Cann/Newnham (need to sneak in early evening so you don’t get shot). Plus, decent beaches, clean air and room to swing a cat.

Watch out for that Plymouth ladies team, they’re feisty down that way.

Cheers all … at this rate I’m going to want to up sticks and move there! (although at the moment out of my window I can see the mountains of Snowdonia in one direction and out over the sea to Anglesey in the other – biting cold easterly wind though)

Philby and Buzz – thanks for the routes in the Mendips – definately would like to head there too.

millsonwheels – I don’t think I’ll make it as far as Plymouth this time, but I’m sure I’ll head that way again at some point.

Not going to get into the locals / outsiders / house prices debate – there’s a lot of it up here and I can always understand the concerns from both sides ….

Sue_W & Trailmonkey:
Apologies, didn’t mean to drag down thread…..just feeling cr*p and so in an almighty grump with * everything*!!!

hope you sort out some good riding
Qx

Sponging-Machine – Member

Watch out for that Plymouth ladies team, they’re feisty down that way.

‘ere Rich, you talkin’ about me bird? 😡

All janners are bonkers!