Newbury / Thatcham area

James9674

I've recently moved to Thatcham and trying to find a few decent places to ride.
Went for a blast round Swinley Forest in Bracknell the other day just trying to find some places a bit nearer.

craker

Ah, my old stamping ground...

For a bit of messing about head out past Donington Castle to Snelsmore Common, there's a load of paths there with some slightly technical stuff in. Also the case on Greenham Common, less interestingly

There's the Ridgeway running through the north of the county, basically a bridleway that's been churned up by 4 x 4s but worth an explore

My fave is another iron age path, Wayfarer's Walk, this links to the Ridgeway somewhere in Wilts and heads south-east. There's some good singletrack in places, views from Abingdon to Aldermaston. Do you know Combe Gibbet? (highest chalk hill in Southern Britain don't you know). It's a good destination in it's own right (20 mile round trip from central Newbury), the track leading up to the gibbet is actually part of the walk, pick it up there and follow it south-east past Highclere estate, Beacon Hill, cross the A34 after some good singletrack, climb up to Watership Down and carry on 'til your on the big hill above Kingsclere (is it White Hill?), then follow the back roads to Headley, through the ford, up onto Greenham Common and home again.

junglist_matty

I grew up near Theale, we used to ride Sulham woods, there was a few DH courses and a load of dirt jumps, but that was years back, I dunno if they are still there, heard they got bulldozed, but some guys rebuilt them so don't know what state they're in now!

The ridgeway is really good for riding, theres a nice small 4x type course (think its a mini moto or mx course) just off the ridgeway (can't remember exactly where it is) which is good fun to ride.

There's loads of random bits to ride in woods here and there... We used to ride around the Pangbourne area going up towards small villages like ashworth.

weeksy59

junglist_matty wrote:

There's loads of random bits to ride in woods here and there... We used to ride around the Pangbourne area going up towards small villages like ashworth.

Anywhere North of Pangbourne is superb. Get yourself over to Mountain High bike shop in Pangbourne Saturdays about 8.45 for 3 hours of cracking routes. Sadly i won't be there this weekend as i've got other stuff on. But they're a great bunch of lads and provide tea and coffee after.