where shall we go in the south east?

Chalky76

I have managed to log a day on the calendar to go riding all day (a saturday) and leave wife and baby at home. Little brother has also booked the day off and we are planning to go a bit further afield than our usual local woods and make a real day of it.

We have been to Thetford and fancy somewhere different, but don't want to waste too much time in the car getting to and from a location. We live in Essex and are thinking of maybe an hours drive tops.

Any advice? I think we could possibly do the South Downs for the first time, but maybe could stretch to Swinley Forest? I just don't want to miss out on somewhere closer that we havn't thought of and would be a nice change from the norm.

Appreciate any help

Bmjboy

For a jaunt in Kent you could try Bedgebury Pinetum which as 13km of Singletrack and a Family route, and if you want to extend your ride, you could cycle down the road and do a circuit of Bewl Water resevoir which is approx 12 miles and approx 80% singletrack/bridleway.

Ive not done Swinley, but a few of the lads from the "XC in Kent" thread do it fairly regularly Im lead to believe.

mozejo

Bedgebury is good if you're not looking for a real ' balls-out ' type ride on the singletrack - II think it is about a 2 hour circuit. I haven't tried the Shore stuff there . Decent cafe / shop / shower / bike spray etc. Bit pricey on the parking though.

cjw

A vote here for Swinley. Haven't been to Bedgebury, but a review in a recent mag said it was pants, and I seem to recal various rants on forums about how expensive Bedgebury is (parking £7.50) and how crap.

JasonRwmb

Surrey Hills would get my vote, with Swinley 2nd. Both are best with some one local to show you around.

breezer

bedgebury is a 50 minute 13km loop and you can park out on a layby on the A21 going South just north of Flimwell and ride in on a bridleway to avoid the parking fee

Bmjboy

The Bedge review commented on the amount of gravel (Im told), only one section is Gravel, as yes, its dangerously loose still, but otherwise, the wooded sections are fine I feel (was there at the weekend) and more than adequate to entertain you for a while.

Many riders may feel that its too disjointed (I do for one) as by the time youve settled into a section, you are popped back out onto a fireroad.

Yes the parking is expensive, but study an O/S map and park outside and cycle in.

RussAlf

Scrap Bedgebury, Its awful, you have much better alternatives closer to you. cafe?showers? they dont allow mountain bikes near that area anymore.

Swinley is great but your need a guide or a GPS to follow to get the best out of it, unless you dont mind having to search for stuff. There are maps and a dedicated Mountain Bike area but this area wont provide a days entertainment unless you know all the hidden singletrack.

Heres Swinley:

http://images40.fotki.com/v1262/photos/8/886335/5854622/Swinley190808-vi.jpg

My vote would be Surrey Hills near Westcott/Dorking, the closest to you and best riding. Get a OS map and go explore Leith/Holmbury or Pitch Hills, click the pics link in my sig and go to GPS logged maps and maps. Combine that with a OS map and your be able to find some of the trails.

Heres one

http://images35.fotki.com/v1198/photos/8/886335/5854622/Surrey310508-vi.jpg

robertpb

My list would be, Thorndon for up to 4 hours of riding 30 + miles, Epping for a bit longer riding, or as RussAlf has said Surrey Hills.

Sir HC

Swinley is worth a look, as RussAlf mentioned, you can make a day of it providing you know someone who knows where all the singletrack is.

I ride there every few weeks, havent found all the singletrack, but know my way around.

Chalky76

thanks for the options people. Think i'll look into the Surrey Hills option and plan a big ride for the day.
Cheers

RussAlf

http://www.pinkbike.com/video/34856/

Video of Swinley i made.

fatlad

Bedgebury.............. what a load of pap.

Please do not bother with bedgebury. It was designed by people who obviously do not ride MTB's

Been there twice. First time was disappointed, second time just to make sure i was giving it a fair chance.

If you fancy north downs leith hill holmbury hill, please give me a shout... am bored of riding on my own but dont have the balls to just turn up to a group ride!

Cheers

stev68

Liked that vid russalf! love swinley,where abouts was that 1st section on the vid? bods keep going on about the corkscrew but im damned if i can find it! :? .love tank trail the last one on the vid,done it in the dark last sat was brill.

andyturner28

fatlad wrote:

Bedgebury.............. what a load of pap.

Please do not bother with bedgebury. It was designed by people who obviously do not ride MTB's

Been there twice. First time was disappointed, second time just to make sure i was giving it a fair chance.

If you fancy north downs leith hill holmbury hill, please give me a shout... am bored of riding on my own but dont have the balls to just turn up to a group ride!

Cheers

Bedgebury was actually designed by some top trail builder i beleave, which makes it even more unforgivable that it is so crap!

RussAlf

andyturner28 wrote:

fatlad wrote:

Bedgebury.............. what a load of pap.

Please do not bother with bedgebury. It was designed by people who obviously do not ride MTB's

Been there twice. First time was disappointed, second time just to make sure i was giving it a fair chance.

If you fancy north downs leith hill holmbury hill, please give me a shout... am bored of riding on my own but dont have the balls to just turn up to a group ride!

Cheers

Bedgebury was actually designed by some top trail builder i beleave, which makes it even more unforgivable that it is so crap!

No it wasnt Andy, it was designed by a surveyor whos only previous experience was making a motorcross track im lead to beleive. They simply went through with a digger making a trail.

Chalky76

Thanks for all the advice. Ended up doing Leith and Holmbury Hills plus a few extra bits (we got lost a few times). Big thank you to all the Surrey locals who helped us out with directions - our map was not very detailed and there is so much choice in the area.

Will definitely be heading back again