Favourite riding venues in England

Ffluff

Hi All,

Would be grateful for your opinons on the most popular destinations for mtb riding in England if you were travelling for a weekend or a longer period of time?

I'm guessing Peaks and the South Downs but it'd be great to get an idea of your experiences.. We're thinking of business opportunities and really need to get a handle on where we should be focussing

Cheers - much appreciated

grumsta

Lake District or the Peak District probably.

Ffluff

yup, Lakes is a good one - thanks!

guilliano

North Yorks Moors?

Chilterns?

Malverns?

Exmoor/Dartmoor?

Ffluff

cheers for those suggestions

have you ridden Dartmoor/Exmoor? its not an area I've ever been to.. - is is the kind of destination that people would travel to for a weekend or weeks worth of riding do you think?

ex-pat scot

It's a case of "get the OS maps out" really, and overlay the popular offroad centrres (Dalby, Whinlatter etc) on top.

Lakes is brill. So are the Peaks. NY Moors pretty good. Kielder has lots.

Be careful about the target audience. Lakes is good for strong experienced riders but too tiring for newbies perhaps.?

Ffluff

Be careful about the target audience. Lakes is good for strong experienced riders but too tiring for newbies perhaps.?

yep, makes sense, thanks for that

our thoughts were to have an accomodation business catering predominantly for the mountain biker but also for other outdoor activities too. Much will obviously depend on the level of demand in the specific areas...

guilliano

If you want it for other outdoor activities then Cornwall is an option (potholing in the old tin mines, surfing)

Anywhere with a river/lake for kayaking

Never ridden in Dartmoor or Exmoor but would love to. Been there numerous times before I got into riding and there are some superb riding areas there

Northwind

I almost, without the slightest bit of irony, said Wales there. Narrow escape!

Ffluff

Guilliano and others - agree with all the suggestions, thanks for your thoughts.. Wales? Yes, we considered it but think we should stick to England.

In short, we'd be offering accomodation (B&B with self catering chalets or similar), with resources for the mtb community (so a good lock up, drying room, jet was etc etc), but naturally this kind of set up could work for other outdoor activities as you've all suggested.

Is there sufficient demand do you think to cover weekends, long weekends and weekly bookings? Location will drive much of the answer to this question of course; its a bit chicken and egg. Whenever we've been away (small and large groups) we've never had the complete package from the hotel/b&b we've stayed in and I do believe there is a gap in the market for us bikers..

Thanks again

supersonic

At the risk of turning Wharncliffe into a trail centre... it has nothing like this close by.

guilliano

The Chilterns has the advantage of being within 50 miles of nearly half the population, sat nicely between the Midlands and London. Good access from M1, M4, A5, decent train services....... set yourself up somewhere along the Ridgeway and you have a ramblers paradise as well as a variety of epic day rides that all abilities can do at different paces to vary the challenge

marcaudsley

How about the South Pennines around Hebden Bridge / Todmorden? Loads of quality trails and bridleways, inc the Mary Townley loop.
Or Yorkshire Dales too

supersonic

I think he needs a network set up, or a franchise!

Ffluff

I think he needs a network set up, or a franchise!

heh heh.. i like the idea of a franchise.. some kinda 'Premier Biking Inn' - nice...

with the suggestions you've all offered, I need to do some research now - may need some more help at the next stage please guys..

cheers again - much appreciated

supersonic

Dragons Den next matey!

guilliano

Buy some land, set up a campsite with secure bike storage by each pitch and a bike wash/shower block and a decent caff. Simples

Ffluff

the campsite idea has crossed our minds too.. nice one

now then Super - you wanna invest £100k? are you in?

supersonic

*assume Scottish accent*

Well I am impressed. We do nae get this problems in Scotland, but I like ye idea laddie. What are your first year projected profits? I'll give ye half the money for 20%

;-)

Ffluff

Super - that was duncan bannatyne and not sean connery right?

You gotta a deal!

ratty2k

Depends, Lakes, Peak, and Yorks Dales and N. York moors.
So long as they have a good pub/s and somewhere decent to kip and some hills then I'm happy.

Ffluff

all good Ratty - thanks

does the idea of having a bit more mtb friendly accomodation sound like a useful idea to you for weekends/weeks away on a riding trip?

MattHarper

For me, North West scotland has been my favorite so far.

Locally, NY Moors is excellent lots of little know and riden routes. Feels like your the only one in the world most of the time! Also, the peaks is always fun.