Women's Riding in the Forest of Dean

A genuinely welcoming place

Let's start honestly: mountain biking can feel like a bit of a boys' club, and turning up somewhere new can be intimidating, whoever you are. The good news is the Forest of Dean has a friendly, unpretentious riding scene, and there's a real, active push here — from Forestry England, from local coaches, and from national events — to make it a place where women feel genuinely welcome rather than just tolerated.

Whether you're thinking about your very first ride or you're a seasoned racer, here's what the Forest offers.

 

The FOD Women's Takeover Day

Forestry England runs a free Women's Takeover Day at the Cycle Centre — a day aimed at encouraging women onto the trails, open to all abilities from complete beginners to experienced riders.

In the words of the Cycle Centre's Recreation Ranger, it's "not about excluding men or dividing the scene; it's about making sure everyone has the chance to thrive." It's been running to overwhelmingly positive feedback and drawing riders from across the country.

Keep an eye on Forestry England's events page for the next date — if you're a woman who's been curious about getting into it, this is about the lowest-pressure way in there is.

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The Hope WMN Enduro

The big one. The Hope WMN Enduro comes to the Forest of Dean on 5–6 September 2026 — its sixth running, and second at the FoD.

And here's the thing about it: it's designed to be a brilliant first enduro, not an intimidating one. In the organisers' own words, if you've never raced before — "100% yes," it's for you.

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What to expect:

• Two race options — Lite (3 stages) or Full (5 stages), and you don't even have to decide in advance; it's determined by which stages you ride on the day

• Free practice on the Saturday, with stage coaches on hand giving tips

• Free camping for the whole weekend, a film night, a packed event village, and the café open late

• Categories from Under-11 upwards (minimum age 8), and e-bike categories too

• A genuinely chilled, social, supportive vibe — that's the whole point of it

The stages are part of the red loop and DH tracks, so you can go and ride them beforehand. If you'd like coaching on them first, Katy Curd, Pro Ride and Wye MTB can all help.

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Women-only coaching

Several of the approved coaches at the Cycle Centre run women-specific sessions — a comfortable, no-pressure way to build skills and confidence:

• Katy Curd Coaching — Katy's a former World Cup racer, and runs women-only courses alongside her monthly progression sessions

• Wye MTB — women-only rides among their offerings, all British Cycling qualified

• Pro Ride — coaching for all abilities, including sessions well suited to women building confidence

Women-only coaching isn't about being coddled — it's that a lot of riders simply progress faster and enjoy it more in that environment. If that's you, it's here.

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Girls' youth sessions

It starts young. Girls-only Little Fodders sessions run for riders aged 10–14, and there's a women-led DTV dig day in the calendar too — because building the trails is part of the scene as much as riding them.

 

Just want to turn up and ride?

You don't need an event or a course. The Forest is welcoming any day of the week — and if you'd rather not ride alone, the Plus1 app is a good way to find company, and you can post a ride at whatever pace and vibe suits you.

The Forest of Dean scene is, genuinely, one of the friendlier ones. Come and be part of it.