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UK trails/riding spots in SE England

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UK trails/riding spots in SE England

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flag Joshy285
Posted: Jan 13, 2025 at 8:03 Quote
I'm keen to get back into MTB after many years' absence. I live in North London and in my youth would find random countryside north of London and ride around there, but realise I probably can't do that now (if I ever could!).


It seems like the only trail centres remotely nearby are Swinley Forest and Cannock Chase. Just wondering if there are any other places to ride closer to home - not necessarily a trail centre - but just somewhere I can get a fun XC ride (say mostly blue level). Is there anywhere in the Chiltern Hills for e.g.? Or any websites/apps to help find places? My Google searching doesn't seem to be throwing up much.

TIA
flag BenLow2019
Posted: Jan 13, 2025 at 8:11 Quote
Joshy285 wrote:
I'm keen to get back into MTB after many years' absence. I live in North London and in my youth would find random countryside north of London and ride around there, but realise I probably can't do that now (if I ever could!).


It seems like the only trail centres remotely nearby are Swinley Forest and Cannock Chase. Just wondering if there are any other places to ride closer to home - not necessarily a trail centre - but just somewhere I can get a fun XC ride. Is there anywhere in the Chiltern Hills for e.g.? Or any websites/apps to help find places? My Google searching doesn't seem to be throwing up much.

TIA

Have you tried TrailForks?
Looking in north London there's a ton of trails on the map. Have a look. LINK

Hope that helps.
flag Joshy285
Posted: Jan 13, 2025 at 9:37 Quote
Thanks very much, that's a great resource.

I'll have to work out how to use it though - a lot of what I'm seeing are short sections of trail here and there. And some places are flagged which I know aren't good for cycling (e.g. get busy with general public picnicking, etc.) and/or out of date - i.e. they're no longer extant.
flag BenLow2019
Posted: Jan 13, 2025 at 9:52 Quote
Joshy285 wrote:
Thanks very much, that's a great resource.

I'll have to work out how to use it though - a lot of what I'm seeing are short sections of trail here and there. And some places are flagged which I know aren't good for cycling (e.g. get busy with general public picnicking, etc.) and/or out of date - i.e. they're no longer extant.

I'm clearly not local, but just looking at the map I'm seeing tons of trails. If they are too short then you just link up a few to route a longer ride. What about the Epping Forest for example? The area description sounds like fun:
Epping Forest is home to the only real MTB trails right next to London, stretching between Forest Gate in the South and Epping in the North. If you know where to look it contains some of the best singletrack in the South East and London
flag Joshy285
Posted: Jan 13, 2025 at 10:19 Quote
I didn't mean to sound critical - I'm sure I just need to explore the tool better - and work out what can be linked up.

Epping Forest is good. I was thinking of places like Trent Park (just to the west - mostly an open park with lots of public) or Broxbourne Woods (to the north west - pretty basic flat tracks and not that long).
flag grm
Posted: Feb 28, 2025 at 4:39 Quote
Joshy285 wrote:
I'm keen to get back into MTB after many years' absence. I live in North London and in my youth would find random countryside north of London and ride around there, but realise I probably can't do that now (if I ever could!).


It seems like the only trail centres remotely nearby are Swinley Forest and Cannock Chase. Just wondering if there are any other places to ride closer to home - not necessarily a trail centre - but just somewhere I can get a fun XC ride (say mostly blue level). Is there anywhere in the Chiltern Hills for e.g.? Or any websites/apps to help find places? My Google searching doesn't seem to be throwing up much.

TIA

Depending on where in North London you live then the easiest trails could well be jumping on a train up to Princes Risborough then riding in The Chilterns. there's not any trails on Trail Forks but plenty of reasonable stuff around there if you look on Strava heatmaps etc.
flag ecnonasinoslednam
Posted: Mar 1, 2025 at 3:47 Quote
I know it's the wrong side of London for you, but there's way better riding in the Surrey Hills than anything Epping Forest or the surrounding areas have to offer.
flag Joshy285
Posted: Mar 4, 2025 at 10:27 Quote
grm wrote:

Depending on where in North London you live then the easiest trails could well be jumping on a train up to Princes Risborough then riding in The Chilterns. there's not any trails on Trail Forks but plenty of reasonable stuff around there if you look on Strava heatmaps etc.

Thanks - I've only just realised Strava heatmaps and Komoot might throw up better results - so will try those around The Chilterns. I'm NW London so it's not so far.

commental wrote:
I know it's the wrong side of London for you, but there's way better riding in the Surrey Hills than anything Epping Forest or the surrounding areas have to offer.

Thanks, and yeah I know - just with a young family it's hard to find the time to get down there often - but will try it for school holiday days out for sure, esp as the weather improves. It's not really that much further than Swinley.
flag mattvanders
O+ FL
Posted: Apr 24, 2025 at 13:30 Quote
I’m based in Chelmsford and get out riding in Danbury (connecting different woods), Brentwood (Thorndon country park and connecting south weild) and Epping sometimes (lots of single track in a rabbit run sort of way). Surrey hills is the best riding locally with most trail easily found by just following your nose. Swinley and bedgebery are your only trail centres which are ok once or twice a year but nothing more
flag thisisrusty
Posted: Jul 1, 2025 at 10:40 Quote
Aston Hill is reopening in October
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