Bored in Kent

impished

I need help
I live in Sittingbourne and need some suggestions of interesting places to ride XC/wimpy DH.
I've been going to Bedgebury for a couple of months, but getting bored of the same place all the time. :x

I don't mind driving for approx. 1 hour :roll: (V.understanding wife 8) )

Bunnyman 5.5

North and South Downs? not too far away from your 'hood

buzz1

Thorndon is about an hour or so from you, I've been going there for nearly a year and still find new trails! There are some short, fast downhill sections and some dirt jumps, if you're into that stuff, also some great singletrack.
A few of us get over there week day mornings coz of shift work, you're welcome to join us.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/72834654@N00/

alaric@epicmtb

There are quite a few byways and bridleways (there are also a few footpaths, but you wouldn't want to ride on those...) in the area - pick up an OS map and have a look, particularly between Sittingbourne and Wormshill area.

The last time I went to Penshurst Off Road Club ('99 or 2000) they were planning an XC loop - maybe someone knows more? It's near Tonbridge.

As above the North and South downs have potential. If you want a bit of guidance on this front, have a look for a series of books from Ordnance Survey and Nick Cotton. They contain a selection of Off-road and road rides, and cover most of the country by areas.

Good luck!

Alaric.

impished

Thorndon looks good (cheers, Google )
I prefer XC , but I'm stoopid enough to try a bit of anyfing as long as I have a after!!!
Where d'ya park?
how often d'yall head out there?
Early weekend?
Is it gonna be worth me travelling just over 1 hour/doing chores for wifey-after?

toddy

i do alot of riding at porc (penshurst off road club) and i find that it is a nice day's riding. as well they now have a bit of north shore. yay

mnmorton

Is that Thorndon Park in Essex? Whats the riding like there - good for youngish (9 and 11) kids as well ? Thanks

impished

Seeing as we got a bank holiday on monday :P I should be able to get permission (from da missus :roll: ) to take a stroll up to Thorndon 8)

Anyone else gonna be there?

obriends

Go to the top of Boxley Hill/Blue Bell Hill and go across the North Downs from there. Get an OS Map if unsure. Some good riding there and lots of hills.

impished

Is the Bluebell hill/Boxley route easy to find?
I'm a bit lazy when it comes to route finding... ($hit memory doesn't help )

obriends

It's not too difficult. Go to the top of Boxley Hill via lidsing road (through Bedhurst) and then turn right onto Harp Farm Road. At the first bend in the road there is a farm yard. Ride into the Farm Yard and look for a Metal Gate at the Top Right as you ride in. There should also be a sign saying "North Downs Way" I believe. Over the gate and off you go. This will take you through some woods and down some hills and should end up with Blue Bell Hill in the way. Can either ride back up another hill in the woods or Blue Bell hill/Warren Lane and then go along to Blue Bell Hill Picnic Park and carry on olong the North Downs way from there.

Also found some woods / dirt jumps to the south east of Eccles in the woods before the river. Cannot remember exactly where but worth a ride around there as well.

PM me with your E-mail and I'll send you a Map with some of it marked if you need it.[/img]

impished

Hmmm,
Can't decide now..... :roll: Bluebel Hill/Boxley (20 minutes aways) or Thorndon (1hour+ away) :?: :?

DR650s

Have a look here http://www.kent-trails.co.uk/SEKent_Home.htm
I did the Challock & the Pilgrim's way route on Monday and it was good fun, some nice dh bits too, though nothing too fast or difficult.

jonno789

I am in the same boat live near Margate (Kent) on the coast. Everything round here is flat and open, not a lot of good trails. There are some forests over the Ashford ways which have a couple of good trails. I'll find out the name and post it later. Or down the Dover way near Commbe Valley (think that’s how you spell it) again a couple of trails but nothing that will blow you away.

I know it's not in Kent but went down the New Forest over the bank holiday weekend for some camping and riding. Some wicked trails there plus the views where out of this world, made you glad you’re alive

tsalway

when i lived near Margate, i used to do the woods at Chilham or Pilgrim's way at Charing. Nothing too extreme, but out and about and varied trails.

impished

Unless I'm riding wiv my blinkers on , I've never found anything other than double track at Chilham.
Hmm, I keep hearing about Charing.... as soon as my foot stops hurting, I'm gonna give it a blast. :P

tsalway

I used topark at the top of mountain street, then through the gate and straight uphill to top of woods, then turn right at top and choose your tracks. Mix of fireroads and singletrack round the woods. Woods near Barham as well have singletrack.

impished

Just realised what my last post said :roll:

What was I thinking!!! I had Perry Woods on the brain for some reason :? Chilham is ACE
I know the trail you're talking about from mountain street up the chalk (and back down eventually), through the woods, down the singletrack with the gate at the end......
and that's where I used to lose the main trail and have to start stringing bit together...

BTW, ain't that chalk slippery on the way down in he rain :shock: :twisted:

tsalway

Coming down used to be ace tho! What a feeling if you could ride it all the way to the top tho straight from the car?

impished

The only thing to watch out for on the way down the chalk is the MTB'ers on the way UP the chalk
Had a few V.sketchy moments down that decent :twisted:

cliffe rider

i live kind of near bluebell hill and dont need to travel more than a few minites to find great rides. In the chattendean/cliffe woods there are some great downhills and trails suitable for all abilty. Or on the cliffe marshes there are a large sction of trails as well as some great freeride/dirt jump sites.

So check it out.................. Just look on a map to find cliffe or cliffe woods.