MTB trails and venues.

[Andrew G]

Someone at work has asked me about any MTB trails they can go to this weekend. They live in London, so South East area.

I know of Penshurst, and that's the sort or thing I think they are after - i.e. closed off venue with car parking and marked out trails. What sort of MTB stuff is at Penshurst? Do they have good cross country trails as well as jumps, burns and stuff?

I know one was mentioned on here before (Alex I think) but can't remember the name of it.

Thanks a lot.

Andrew.

[Grahame]

I'd suggest Bedgebury for more cross-country oriented riding. Penshurst is very downhill and jump oriented.

Bedgebury is [url=http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=572189&y=133659&z=5&sv=572189,133659&st=4&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&ax=572189&ay=133659]here[/url] just follow signs for Bedgebury Pinetum. There's lots of parking, family oriented and singletrack trails, a decent cake shop, a bike rental place and a nice lake to chill out looking at after the ride. Oh, and there's the Pinetum and the "Go Ape" adventure playground stuff for those who don't want to ride.

The "downside" is parking is £6 per car (take plenty of pound coins), but all of this money goes into developing the facilities and trails.

I like it there.

[Sylv]

Haven't ridden the mtb trails at Penshurst in ages, last time they weren't fantastic in my opinion.

Are you thinking of Bedgebury Forest maybe? Likewise there are parking and facilities there, and trails both for beginners and more experienced riders.

Or maybe it was the trails near Bracknell Alex mentioned - should come up with a search

[Will]

I remember someone from work, who knew I was a keen mtber, phoning me up one weekend, and asking me for advice on somewhere to ride. I kinda said that he should just get a map and explore (which has been the starting point for most of my riding), but he didn't really understand the idea of doing that. He was almost certainly looking for a Bedgebury type of recommendation where he could just go, and effectively be told what to do by following a series of little signs.

So, for that reason, I would definitely recommend Bedgebury

Must go back there one day soon... The only time I've ever been, it was the middle of winter, and it was so muddy it was pretty much unrideable.

[sid_day]

As a beginner/with family Swinley forest is very good too.

It's about a 1.5h drive from South London.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dl ... 10&A=Y&Z=5

You need to buy a permit but it's only £1.50.
It's not very hilly.

[Andrew G]

Thanks for the recommendations guys, I've forwarded them all on. Sylv, it was Bracknell, didn't think to do a search, doh.

[sid_day]

Swinley forest is v. close to Bracknell