Which European MTB destination for kids riding?

Inspired by t’other thread, what recommendations do people have for destinations with some kid friendly riding?

A family friendly resort is great and a bonus, but where has some good routes for young kids (she’ll be 9 next year in my case) who are comfortable on blue level trails? Anywhere that’s lift assisted?

I’d like to head somewhere mountainous next year, but don’t want to go to morzine say if all she will be able to do is ride about on forest/fire road type stuff because everything else is too bonkers!!

There’s plenty of blues in morzine. They are at the tougher end of blue compared to UK bike parks, though. There are also a few greens, which are probably closer to a UK blue. Start on the greens and build up through the week. We’ve taken kids there many times and they’ve had a blast, heaps of other kids there too. There are lots of other things to do as well: ice skating, tennis, swimming, go ape, skate park. It’s also an easy place for you to sneak out for an extra ride and get back easily if you feel the need.

Sölden has lots of blue trails and also some red & black bike park trails and natural trails which are shared hiking trails. It’s ok for a couple of days but gets boring. Area 47 not far away too.

Tignrs

We did Saalbach, Verbier, Serfsuse, la plagne, merib….etc

Tignrs was by far the best.

Serfauss was pretty good too

Morzine. The greens are fantastic fun for all abilities. Some of the blues are really good and some are closer to a UK black…when the kids were smaller we learnt that I had to ride a blue without them before riding it with them. The comedy value of the blue ‘family’ trail on the Pleney hill is the standard example of this.

The other non-riding stuff on offer in and around Morzine makes it a winner for us.

Thanks for the replies, sounds like morzine might be the no-brainer for the first trip.

Next question, any campsite  recommendations that put us on striking distance of the town and/or lifts?

I’ll be looking myself, but recommendations are always good. Will be going in a campervan for the second week of half-term may/June next year

second week of half-term may/June next year

Lifts usually open middle to end of June so that might not work so well

Bloody idiots

Can they not organise the weather and their season around my child’s school holidays!?

Depends how comfortable they are riding and how they/you cope with being passed by other groups, etc. Bigger resorts have people using the easier trails to move around so can have big speed differentials to manage, if kiddo is nervous it can be off putting, also bigger resorts can have bigger braking bumps that for a slow moving small wheeled rider can be a bit miserable.

Of the places I’ve been to BsM is decent for a family holiday, things in the valley to do (swimming lake, parc ecuriels) but Les Arcs doesn’t work particularly well as a kids riding area, the useable routes don’t link well which makes it a bit of a PITA, one bit of bad weather stopping a lift and you’re suddenly in a tricky spot. You can go to Tignes/Val D’Isere which works better but some of the runs are long. The best trails we found for younger riders were in Puy St Vincent but there aren’t many of them, Vars & Risoul were also pretty good but still not huge numbers however the Durance Valley doesn’t have the “resort” thing particularly and you need to travel.

Vars & Risoul were also pretty good

Nah. If you’re holidaying in that area, camp on the lac de Serre-Ponçon and drive up to Les Orres* the blues and greens are perfect for what the OP is looking for.

*Won’t work in mid May, but then nowhere in France will.

We went to Morzine this year for the first time since having kids and found there was lots to do both on and off the bike (especially with a cheap Multipass). Lots of blues and greens for them to ride in the area

Nah. If you’re holidaying in that area, camp on the lac de Serre-Ponçon and drive up to Les Orres* the blues and greens are perfect for what the OP is looking for.

It was busier and far more chewed up, and riddled with Enduro bros smashing down those routes scattering kids when we were there. Made it fairly miserable for the kids, not too bad for the adults though. Vars and Risoul have quieter routes with marmots all around.

There are hardly any campsites in the Morzine valley from what I remember.

You can go to Tignes/Val D’Isere which works better but some of the runs are long.

This is true for the Val d’Isere side, but the runs on the Palafour side are pretty short + friendly. If your daughter is happy on say Sixtapod at bike park wales, then she’ll be fine on Flowy Jump Trail (top to bottom of Val). I think I’d recommend a full suss to help with the fatigue for small riders.

The good thing about Tignes is that it’s quiet on the trails, no worrying about who is behind you.

The Tignes card gives you access to the swimming pool with a water slide, lake activities (pedalos/sups/kayaks), crazy golf, etc. There is a campsite below the dam with a navette with 8 bike trailer to get you up to the lifts. DM me it you want more details.