Top UK Cycling Trails
Top UK cycling trails
If you fancy a day spent whizzing round the British countryside on a mountain bike, there are plenty of great trails dotted around the country where you can do just that. Here are some of the best.
Swinley Forest, Berkshire
This 2,600 acre pine wood is a great place for novice and experienced bikers alike to hone their skills. The fact that there aren’t too many hills makes it ideal for novices, but there are a few more demanding runs here to test the skills of more seasoned bikers. Riding permits for Swinley Forest are available for £2 per day.
Coed Llandegla, North Wales
This beautiful private wood contains a wide variety of trails to suit bikers of all experience levels. For beginners, there is a 12 kilometre trail with a gentle uphill section followed by an exciting downhill track with a few small jumps to add to the excitement, and there are plenty of more testing runs for experienced riders. They also offer bike hire, so you don’t need to take your bike with you unless you particularly want to.
Glentress, Scotland
Widely regarded as the UK’s number one mountain biking destination, and one of Scotland’s famed Seven Stanes biking centres, Glentress is well worth a visit if you are in the area. With runs that range from ‘green’ beginners runs to top-level ‘black’ runs, there is something for everyone at Glentress.
Grizedale, Cumbria
The intimidating-sounding North Face Trail at Grizedale Forest in Cumbria offers a killer combination of testing climbs, tough technical challenges, and astounding views. It’s not particularly suitable for beginners, but there can be few better places to go biking if you have a bit of experience under your belt.
Machynlleth, Mid Wales
This cycling centre is intended for more experienced cyclists, with a number of thrillingly difficult runs. The jewel in the crown is the Cli-Machx trail, a gorgeous 15 kilometre round trip around Dyfi Forest with eight tricky banks at the end. Not for the faint-hearted, but well worth a visit if you are after a challenge.
For more information about mountain Bikes and bike trails in the UK, visit the British Bike Association website.