Must visit MTB Spots around country

popstar

Hello all.

Many of you have visited different trail centers and fall into category  -been there, done that- . 
There is no comparison between England-Wales-Scotland. However, what trail centers do you think are better (and why) ? In terms of technical trails,  natural views, facilities ... etc. 
I am aware that trail centres are different from "wild nature" riding, but would like to know your opinion on top 3 per region. 

Haven't been to many placed myself but would give little example:
 
- South/East England
1. Surrey Alps -variety of technical trails, + some nice hills to climb
2. Swinley forest -good place to start MTB, short climbs, nice flowing trails.
3. Tunnel Hill - underated and missed by many.

-Wales

1. Coed Y Brenin - variety of trails for any skill rider, not to busy, stunning views.
2. Llangdela  - Oxford street in London of MTB World*

 

agg25

Well I would add -

Dalby Forest (most people would know) - a bit of everything, river crossings/ wooden planking/ raised trails/ single track/ no huge downhills or uphills, long course, great scenery, well equipped centre, my favourite of the places I've been.

pastasauce

+1 on Dalby. Its on my list as I've heard so much about it.

As is Afan for sheer variety and epic-ness.

Closer to home I like Thetford forests red run as its flowing and fast. And its ace for a night ride.

Oh, and then theres central London on your full suss with slicks on a Friday night.

ExeterSimon

Dartmoor and the Quantocks.

Beautiful and natural riding at it's very best. Providing you like XC and don't mind the odd slog uphill.

joec1

Yup, Dartmoors Princetown - Burrator, a classic but great route. rode it last weekend

bluehelmet

Kirroughtree - best manmade XC trail I've ever ridden. Great flow and huge smiles. It should be on everyones list of places to ride. And being as it's so far from the main population centres it doesn't really get that busy. At least, not when I've been anyway.

Glentress - for variety although I don't think the trails are actually that good (as a whole, there are some great sections but it's not consistent enough). Great facilities too (great food @ The Hub) and the view's pretty good at the top of Spooky.

Kielder - the Deadwater is a killer: no buttery smooth surface for you here. Go round twice: I dare you. On a clear day you can apparently see both coasts from the top of Deadwater Fell.

Thinking about it the best view I can remember was at Whinlatter looking over Derwent Water. Crackin.

popstar

Thanks for replies, seems that Scotland offers a lot. Just need to plan mini holiday as it's a long long drive, guess at least worth it. Did Kirroughtree was recognised as best trail center in UK by MBR? Will put it on my wish list ...

sniper68

Scotland:
All the 7Stanes.
England:
Dalby is an Acquired taste,personally i think its dull as ditch water.I live 70 miles away and wouldn't drive to get there again.
Sherwood Pines 40 mins away from me as with Dalby think it's Dull
Whinlatter Altura trail if you're passing through to get to Scotland,or OK on a day when its just too bad to do the natural stuff.
Gisburn Forest,the good bits are good but there are IMO too many bits that they've got wrong.
Wales:
Marin trail for views,Penmachno top trail good views.
CYB for variety.

You will get conflicting views to the above

I would add that trail centres are what they are and in general all designed to be ridden and flow.Personally i prefer the challenge of natural riding.

popstar

At the end of this month will go to CYB and will ride Marin* with me wife for views... , staying for few days in Wales, is there anything else I should not miss apart from Snowdon?

JamesBrckmn

South East: Surrey hills are the best around, swinleys OK, but the 'downhills' are all very short, as it's not a massive hill. not been to tunnel hill, and newlands corner is supposed to be good. Esher shore is good for freeride, and so is UKbikepark in dorset (it might be in devon, not sure, but it's around that area)

TheNorthernTrain

For trail centres i have only been to Cwm-carn and Dalby.

As much as i love Dalby, after having done the XC route at Cwm, dalby is like riding on slightly bumpy dirt track.

Cwm although there is a vast amount of up-hill, the downhill sections make it so worth it. My arms have never hurt so much, It certainly punished me and my bike. I would not have enjoyed it if it had been my first time at a trail centre. I think i would have stacked it far more, though i did have some very very close calls.

Cwm flows incredibly well, i was blown away by the speed of it all, the smoothness of it all linking together. By comparison, dalby does not flow well at all, or maybe it does but in a different way. But the red run is a nice place to start off biking and i will return there many times,

I will definately be making more trips to cwm despite the distance, however i may have to invest in a new bike if it takes punishment like that again.

next on my list is gisburn and maybe swinley.

popstar

Is there any user info* on Afan? Heard so much noise about it, yet not many details about epic trails.

benpinnick

Whites level is the trail to ride at Afan. All the rest (except skyline) are filler by comparison. Skyline is also an epic but maybe more because of its length than anything else. Everyone has to ride Whites level at least once in their life.

welshkev

benpinnick wrote:

Whites level is the trail to ride at Afan. All the rest (except skyline) are filler by comparison. Skyline is also an epic but maybe more because of its length than anything else. Everyone has to ride Whites level at least once in their life.

see, i disagree with that. where as whytes is a really good trail. i prefer the wall and penhydd. ok they're not as technically demanding but they're much more fun

which ever trail you ride at afan/glyncorrwg it'll be awsome

benpinnick

welshkev wrote:

see, i disagree with that. where as whytes is a really good trail. i prefer the wall and penhydd. ok they're not as technically demanding but they're much more fun

which ever trail you ride at afan/glyncorrwg it'll be awsome

All the trails are good, don't get me wrong, but I think Whites takes it for the views, variety and that monster climb at the beginning.

benpinnick

... I also like the fact that when you're done, you are at the excellent Drop-off cafe!

welshkev

benpinnick wrote:

... I also like the fact that when you're done, you are at the excellent Drop-off cafe!

well there is that added bonus