Solihull off road routes! anyone know of any more???
stunnertier1
Posts: 76
Ive read a few posts from Solihull lads asking if there are any routes at all around our unfotunatly flat area!
Well actually there are a few areas where you can go if you cant be arsed to drive to Cannock or Malverns etc.
1st place where there are a few trails (not hard at all bear in mind) is on the right hand side of the motorway just after J4 of the M42, access to this area is quite difficult to find if you are not a Monkspath lad, you have to find Shelly Crescent (by the shops) and on the bend there is a path (by Elmbridge drive) which leads down to a small forrest, keep left in the forrest & it takes you to the motorway bridge, cross the motorway bridge and your in the area. There is a forrest on the right hand side with a couple of trails in there & out to the left there is the river blythe and a funky bridge to jump off the end off, crossing the river is possible too. Follow over the river & under the train bridge for a fast trail by the side of the cemetery.
Another place from the Motorway bridge is to follow the forrest all the way around and there are some fields & another forrest to play around in & also carry on down the motorway side to come to the old Motorcross dirt track, the track is still there and you can just about work it out from google maps (sat view). you can have some good fun in this area, its just exploring it to find the places.
Another area myself and friend go to which you may know off is around Earlswood lakes, there is a dirt track around both lakes (no bikes allowed but no one ever says anything) the top lake has a great trail around it with loads of jumps and a bit of tech singletrack & there is a opening into Wood lane forest where there are a few trails too (look out for the wood caretaker, he might try to chase you, what a tnuc !) you can do a big circle of the forest then get back onto the lake dirt trails)
There is also a forest just off the Stratford road near box trees farm where I spotted a dirt track while driving past the other day, I am going to explore it on Sunday so ill let you know if there is anything worth exploring in there.
There is also a area close with a derelect Farm which was great, we went there as young teenagers but we have never been able to find it since ! it had a massive drop through the middle of it & was in a forrest area.
If anyone knows anymore within riding distance from Solihull post it on here !!
cheers
Well actually there are a few areas where you can go if you cant be arsed to drive to Cannock or Malverns etc.
1st place where there are a few trails (not hard at all bear in mind) is on the right hand side of the motorway just after J4 of the M42, access to this area is quite difficult to find if you are not a Monkspath lad, you have to find Shelly Crescent (by the shops) and on the bend there is a path (by Elmbridge drive) which leads down to a small forrest, keep left in the forrest & it takes you to the motorway bridge, cross the motorway bridge and your in the area. There is a forrest on the right hand side with a couple of trails in there & out to the left there is the river blythe and a funky bridge to jump off the end off, crossing the river is possible too. Follow over the river & under the train bridge for a fast trail by the side of the cemetery.
Another place from the Motorway bridge is to follow the forrest all the way around and there are some fields & another forrest to play around in & also carry on down the motorway side to come to the old Motorcross dirt track, the track is still there and you can just about work it out from google maps (sat view). you can have some good fun in this area, its just exploring it to find the places.
Another area myself and friend go to which you may know off is around Earlswood lakes, there is a dirt track around both lakes (no bikes allowed but no one ever says anything) the top lake has a great trail around it with loads of jumps and a bit of tech singletrack & there is a opening into Wood lane forest where there are a few trails too (look out for the wood caretaker, he might try to chase you, what a tnuc !) you can do a big circle of the forest then get back onto the lake dirt trails)
There is also a forest just off the Stratford road near box trees farm where I spotted a dirt track while driving past the other day, I am going to explore it on Sunday so ill let you know if there is anything worth exploring in there.
There is also a area close with a derelect Farm which was great, we went there as young teenagers but we have never been able to find it since ! it had a massive drop through the middle of it & was in a forrest area.
If anyone knows anymore within riding distance from Solihull post it on here !!
cheers
Kona Coilair 2008 (Marzocchi 66's up front)
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Comments
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I usually go around blythe valley, not very adventurous but at least its not tarmac! It's a very frustrating place to live isn't it, theres loads of countryside within a mile or so, but its covered in footpaths, not bridleways :evil:
I'll definitely try out those places you mentioned, especially the ones by J4 of the motorway, seeing as thats where my local "quick" loop takes me anyway. When I go further afield (but ride from home) I tend to go down the towpath to rowington, theres a bit of bridleway there, and hay wood to explore.0 -
there are places its just finding them, we tend to drive to Cannock & malverns quite a bit but sometimes ill go out by myself exploring ! the part by the M42 is defo ok, the part where the old motorcross track it geat for messing around on. You should also try out the place in Earlswood too, its pretty good.
Remember to have a look on google earth or maps to find where you access the motorway bridge, you can see the tree lines path that leads to it.
Hay wood, i aint been there for some years, i forgot about that, do you ride there from around monkspath area? you would take the grand union canal wouldnt you?
Kona Coilair 2008 (Marzocchi 66's up front)0 -
Yeah I think its the Grand Union.
The route is here.
I go to Cannock too, but its nice to have somewhere local, to go in the evenings after work, or if I havent got an entire day free at the weekends, it's just such a pain having to load up the car to go for some decent riding.
I ride from near Tudor Grange/Alderbrook schools btw.0 -
