The Forest of Dean, located in Gloucestershire, England, is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, including mountain bikers. With its challenging terrain and stunning scenery, it's no wonder that the Forest of Dean has become one of the top mountain biking destinations in the UK.
Is Forest of Dean good for mountain biking?
The Forest of Dean is an excellent location for mountain biking. It offers a variety of trails that cater to all skill levels, from beginner upto advanced. The trails are well-maintained, and the terrain is challenging enough to keep even the most experienced riders engaged. The forest is also home to a number of bike shops and bike rentals that offer a wide range of equipment and services for mountain bikers.
Is Forest of Dean mountain biking free?
While there is no fee to ride on the Forest of Dean's mountain biking trails, you may need to pay for parking. There are a number of car parks located throughout the forest, and most of them charge a fee. However, if you are a frequent visitor, you may want to consider purchasing an annual Discovery Parking pass. https://www.forestryengland.uk/membership
Where can I ride in the Forest of Dean?
The Forest of Dean offers a wide range of trails for mountain bikers, including downhill trails, cross-country trails, and family-friendly trails. These are located at the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre Some of the most popular trails include:
Verderer's Trail: This is a challenging cross-country trail that takes riders through the heart of the forest. It features fast ,flowing flat out corners, big berms and rollovers. Graded blue, but with some tricky challenges, the trail gently winds uphill before a swooping, flat top section and a brilliant descent on the Dragon's Tail that will have you hooting and hollering all the way back to the cycle centre.
Freeminers Trail: designed, built and maintained by the DTV in partnership with the Forestry Commission, this challenging and varied single track can offer something to even the most demanding of riders, from tricky switchback climbs to rooty drops and hairpin bends. It is for experienced riders only and is suitable for off-road quality mountain bikes.
Launch Pad: Originally designed for 4-wheeled gravity bikes, this trail was the UK's first gravity bike trail and was developed as a collaboration between the Dean Trail Volunteers and Rough Riderz. The trail officially opened on the 31st October 2014.This trail underwent a complete refurbishment in 2021 to provide better flow for 2-wheeled bikes and is one of the most popular trails at the centre.This is a very fast rolling flow type trail and if ridden correctly should require no pedalling.
How many miles is the Forest of Dean Family Cycle Trail?
The Forest of Dean Family Cycle Trail is a 9-mile circular trail that is suitable for all ages and skill levels. It's a relatively easy trail that takes riders through some of the forest's most picturesque scenery. Along the way, riders will pass several points of interest, including Cannop Ponds and Mallards Pike Lake.
The Forest of Dean is an excellent destination for mountain biking, with its challenging terrain, well-maintained trails, and stunning scenery. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced rider, there's a trail for you in the Forest of Dean, and with a variety bike shops at Pedalabikeaway , Dean Forest Cycles with rental availability , you can easily rent the equipment you need to enjoy a day of mountain biking. So what are you waiting for? Grab your bike and head to the Forest of Dean for an unforgettable mountain biking experience.
