There's a particular kind of quiet in the Forest on a weekday morning. You're halfway down something steep, nobody's around, and it's brilliant — right up until the moment you think about what would happen if you didn't get up. I've ridden here twenty years. I've had one proper off where I sat on the ground for a while working out whether anything was broken, and I've come across two other riders in the same position. Every time, the same thought: nobody knows I'm here. So he

UPDATE 8th AUG v5.20 out now , just click on the app link and updated to your homepage. fodpockettrails.netlify.app When we launched FoD Pocket Trails a little while back, we called it version 1 and asked what you'd add. You told us — and the answer, loud and clear, was a map. So here it is. The biggest update yet. Think of it as knowledge in your pocket. An offline map, with your live position on it This is the one we're genuinely proud of. FoD Pocket Trails now has a full o

We've built something new, and we're rather proud of it. FoD Pocket Trails is a free app for anyone riding the Forest of Dean — and the whole point is that it works when nothing else does. No signal out in the trees? Doesn't matter. Once it's on your phone, the entire guide is there whether you've got bars or not. Because let's be honest: the moment you actually want to check a trail grade, or how far's left on a loop, or which way the Freeminers goes — that's exactly when yo

Having a clear out , all latest models . In perfect condition hardly used . 1. GoPro Max 2 — £250 📸 GoPro MAX 2 — A1 Condition — £250 The ultimate 360° action cam, barely used and in mint shape. Perfect for immersive POV footage, reframing shots after the fact, and rock-solid stabilisation. Everything works exactly as it should — no marks, no issues. ✅ A1 condition ✅ Full function tested ✅ £250 — grab it before it's gone! 📩 DM for details 2. Insta360 X4 — £250 🎥 Insta360 X

We've been busy. Over the past few weeks FoDMTB has grown from a handful of pages into something closer to what we always wanted it to be: a proper, honest, locally-written guide to riding the Forest of Dean. No sales agenda, no corporate gloss — just the stuff we'd tell a mate who was coming down for the first time. Here's what's new. Trail conditions, from actual riders The big one. Trail Conditions is a page built entirely from ride reports submitted by people who've actua

Why Your Bike Might Not Be the Problem Here's something most of us have been through. You save up, you buy a proper bike — the one you've been reading about for months — and then… it just never quite feels right. It's twitchy where it should be planted. It's harsh over roots. You're getting arm pump on descents you used to enjoy. And you quietly wonder whether you've made a very expensive mistake. Usually, you haven't. The bike is fine. The setup isn't. Almost nobody's bike c

Ever turned up to Cannop after a dry week, assumed the trails would be perfect, and found Freeminers still greasy from rain three days before? Or skipped a ride because you assumed it'd be muddy, when actually it had dried out nicely? Trail status pages tell you whether something's officially open. They don't tell you what it's actually like to ride right now. So we've built something that does. Introducing Trail Conditions — a page built entirely from ride reports submitted

July pick: Verderers + Downhill combo July is probably the best month of the year to be at Cannop. The canopy is full, the trails are firm, and if you get there before 9am on a weekend you’ll have the place almost to yourself before the car park fills up. This month’s pick isn’t a single trail — it’s a combination that makes the most of dry summer conditions. Start with the Verderers (Blue). Do it clockwise, don’t rush the climb, and save your legs for the Dragon’s Tail at th

Big news — four classic trails have just reopened after £65,000 of restoration work by Velosolutions UK. GBU, Launchpad, Corkscrew, and the Red-grade Skills Area all got significant attention, with £10,000 of that coming from the Dean Trail Volunteers. Trail conditions are currently rated GOOD (week 25). 📅 Upcoming Events MIJ Downhill Series – Round 2 is this Sunday (21 June) at Coleford. Remaining rounds: 12 Jul, 13 Sept, 18 Oct. Hope WMN Enduro – Returns to the Forest of D

The brand new Levo 4 Evo build . Workshop build: ‪BikeforBrains Here in the forest of Dean Video creator :James Leech Available to try on our demo days.

Alongside the incredible Levo 4 Alloy Comp, I’m excited to announce that the demo fleet now includes the all-new: ⚡ Levo 4 R ⚡ Levo 4 EVO Available from 20th June . 👍 Whether you’re looking for the ultimate all-round trail bike, a more playful and responsive ride, or the most capable Levo ever built, you can now ride and compare all three back-to-back on the amazing trails of the Forest of Dean. ✅ Ride real trails ✅ Compare the entire Levo 4 range ✅ No sales pressure ✅ Free

Please find attached some updated information regarding the felling works currently in your area. The contract that began recently in Barnhill Inclosure will pause this week due to Schedule 1 nesting bird protection zones. The work will continue in Birchill Inclosure, see map attached for work areas.

Hi All We have created a brand new Forest-based mountain biking ride share app. Essentially, it's all about taking the pressure off someone joining a club, because that can be quite a scary process for an introvert. This is all about opening your rides up and letting plus ones join if you're up for meeting new people! If you believe this is a good idea, please, for the next couple of weeks, let's just share all our rides and see if the idea takes off. If it does, it will be a

Bikes for Brains Workshop in the heart of the Forest of Dean. Founded after two decades in the bike industry with the likes of Specialized & Marin just to name a few , Adam offers everything from basic servicing to full bearing replacements, to custom builds, parts supply and suspension/bike set up. Location : Hoarthorns Farmhouse, Coleford, United Kingdom, GL16 7EY So riding distance to the trail head and the top of Cannops Cycle Centre trail network . Now OPEN Contact info

🚨Hi all some information after a meeting today with FE to be aware of. FE have asked I share : #Barnhill & Birchill forestry operations 🚨 Upcoming forestry operations, due to start next week at #Barnhill. This is a thinning contract in line with the Forest Plan for the area. The work will continue over the next few months and throughout the summer, with the machines switching between the Barnhill and the Birchill areas to work around various constraints, including Schedule

Please share far and wide. Our garage was broken into last night in the Forest of Dean and the following bikes taken. Image below of the single male thief taking one of the bikes off the property on foot over a three hour window. Bikes stolen were: Trek Rail 9.8XT - orange and black with shotgun seat Specialized Epic 8 - deep purple Norco Sight VLT CX - blackberry and black Norco Sight VLT CX - ice white and black Orbea Wild M20 - bare carbon Forbidden Druid - lilac Yeti MTE

Specialized Levo 4 Demo Bikes – Forest of Dean BOOKING PAGE NOW LIVE ! ---------------- >>> COMING VERY SOON >>> Big news for riders 👀 I’ve got a small demo fleet of brand new Specialized Levo 4 Alloy Comp models available right here in the Forest of Dean 🇬🇧. Massive thanks to the team at Specialized UK. If you’ve been thinking about an e-MTB — or upgrading your current Levo — this is your chance to ride one properly on real FoD trails , not just around a car park. ✔️ N

Can it really follow you ?

Wyedean Stages Rally 2025 this weekend! 🏁 This weekend sees the return of the Wyedean Stages Rally. On Saturday 8 November, a number of areas in the Forest of Dean will have restricted access for the whole day: ⚠ Colliers Trail will be open but there will be marshalled crossing points, so you may be asked to stop and wait for a short time ⚠ The Shortcut A loop of the Sculpture Trail at Beechenhurst will be open, but the remainder of the trail will be closed ❌ Both the 5km an