Anyone ridden Haldon Forest near Exeter?

Beanhead Bucko

I'm going up this afternoon to see if I can find these unofficial trails, it's a gorgeous day in Exeter...probably overcast or raining on Haldon

Anonymous

Managed to ride what was left of the Freer trail last year (old red) before it closed down and wasn't that impressed even then, but what I've seen of the official stuff now, including the pump track and skills area, is it's just sanitised family friendly stuff. The claims of the ridge run being technical and for the more advanced rider seems rubbish from what I've heard and seen of the videos. It looks like it's no more technical than riding a tow path!

However, next time I'm down to see the folks (grew up near there), I'll try and check out the unofficial stuff.

I follow this guy on Facebook and YouTube and he rides it a lot and seems to know the knarly stuff. When I'm down over Christmas I'd be interested in hooking up with anyone if they know the area.

delaxm

I'm going to give it a whirl on Thursday @ 2.30pm - I'm happy to show people the unofficial stuff I know.

jmillen

Hmmm, haven't been up there for a couple of months, will have to pop up and given this blue route a go me thinks. Good to hear the rocky/bermed section at the bottom is still accesible, I live that bit...

delaxm

Did the new stuff yesterday, the black is basically the 1km lowest section of the old red with the berms that seems to have been slightly shortened.
The blue is half new half the old blue in reverse (so if you join the blue from the red near the A38 its easy to go the wrong way around it - a signpost here would prevent some head on encounters!
It also has a 1km section that is soaking wet (considering we've not had rain for over a week) I can't see this holding up well.
Pump track is not good - looks like a half hearted attempt at a BMX track, doesn't flow very well & you can't get enough speed out of the corners for the jumps/doubles.
Skills area is good but very small.
Overall, generally better than I was expecting after the recent 'improvement' of the red, the blue combined with the red now just makes an OK distance for quick blast but not enough for a proper half day ride.
They've modified the start of the red away from the rest of the walking/family trails as that was an accident waiting to happen - but there are still numerous places where walkers are stupidly directed by signs against the flow of bikes!
This is never going to work & will only lead to confrontation or accidents as both parties think they are in the right, also with the length of the red being so short, you're going to get people riding the blue at higher speed.

I go to the South Wales trail centers every couple of months, I always look foward to it & come away grinning, even when its very busy - sadly I can't say the same about Haldon, it will be hell when busy, next year when the weather starts improving it will be a place to avoid at weekends - why do the FC keep asking for suggestions & then ignore them?

Herbie The Dog

delaxm wrote:

Did the new stuff yesterday, the black is basically the 1km lowest section of the old red with the berms that seems to have been slightly shortened.
The blue is half new half the old blue in reverse (so if you join the blue from the red near the A38 its easy to go the wrong way around it - a signpost here would prevent some head on encounters!
It also has a 1km section that is soaking wet (considering we've not had rain for over a week) I can't see this holding up well.
Pump track is not good - looks like a half hearted attempt at a BMX track, doesn't flow very well & you can't get enough speed out of the corners for the jumps/doubles.
Skills area is good but very small.
Overall, generally better than I was expecting after the recent 'improvement' of the red, the blue combined with the red now just makes an OK distance for quick blast but not enough for a proper half day ride.
They've modified the start of the red away from the rest of the walking/family trails as that was an accident waiting to happen - but there are still numerous places where walkers are stupidly directed by signs against the flow of bikes!
This is never going to work & will only lead to confrontation or accidents as both parties think they are in the right, also with the length of the red being so short, you're going to get people riding the blue at higher speed.

I go to the South Wales trail centers every couple of months, I always look foward to it & come away grinning, even when its very busy - sadly I can't say the same about Haldon, it will be hell when busy, next year when the weather starts improving it will be a place to avoid at weekends - why keep asking for suggestions & then ignore them?

But the Forestry Commission don't want a trail centre...they want a family cycle location. Probably the sort of thing Center Parks offer. The official stuff is pretty tame for a seasoned MTBer but the unofficial stuff still offers a minor challenge.

Although the recent influx of Robocop kitted out riders is overkill for the terrain on offer!

The skills area will have uses for complete beginners but anyone over that is going to be very bored very quickly.

And I'm not even going to start with the 'pump track'!

All in all Haldon has two uses: firstly a few hours fun for the family rider. Secondly 2 hours max after hours when it's quiet.

Anonymous

Trail centre = higher costs and higher insurance.

I wouldn't mind a daily fee or higher parking costs to cover this kind of thing if it brings decent results. Doesn't seem to be what they're interested in though. They're going for a family park kind of place.

Seems it's mainly Welsh & Scottish Forestry Commission who are up for proper trail centres with an element of risk. Though they do get decent grants from local government.

Still, there's Gawton which I hear is a pretty good DH site but that I think works on it being a private site where you pay for the day to cover the maintenance and insurance. Have yet to check it out, but need the gear for it. Not that I'd ride it proper DH style as I don't have the bike or skills! There an XC/Singletrack area connected with it nearby I think.

delaxm

But the Forestry Commission don't want a trail centre

So what would people expect after reading the FC page here ?

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/ourwoods.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandDevonNoForestHaldonForestParkHaldonGatewayRidgeRideTrail

Herbie The Dog

delaxm wrote:

But the Forestry Commission don't want a trail centre

So what would people expect after reading the FC page here ?

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/ourwoods.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandDevonNoForestHaldonForestParkHaldonGatewayRidgeRideTrail

As with most things the user comments tell the real story.

Anonymous

This comment is fairly accurate...

"If you want to ride a trail full of kids and their dads, no helmets and wearing jeans on Apollo bikes the the ridge trail is for you!"

Beanhead Bucko

I'm heading up there this afternoon to try and find the unofficial trails if anyone wants to join me?

delaxm

Off to show a couple of mates around in the morning if anyone else fancies it

mmmcheese

went up there sunday 1st time ive ever been on a trail found the red, in the most pretty tame. There was 1 section just before you get to the 'black' bit that was good. Comparing it to a tow path might be a little harsh.

Anonymous

Harsh but fair perhaps .

I guess it differs in that you don't find families walking along with push chairs along or grumpy walkers who refuse to make way... or maybe you do!. Still think my local tow path is more technical. It does have a few tree roots to negotiate

Herbie The Dog

If they bought back the north shore it would attract more riders. The Ridge can be fun and if you hit it hard and fast there can be some testing sections.

You've got to feel sorry for Haldon Freeriders really....all that effort to get the place established, working with the FC, hours and hours of trail building etc. And what do the FC do? Toss them aside and build a family orientated sterile riding experience.

There's room for all types of riding up at Haldon and there's plenty of space to go around. The whole freeride area is just a waste of space now.

Shame.

robmccreedie

I cycled up from Exeter at the weekend, did the challenge trail and the ridge trail. Nice and early in the morning as well as i reckon in the summer the challenge one will be carnage.

Let's face it there is no way that this will be a Welsh standard trail centre but for a quick thrash about it's fun enough and local. For decent stuff let's face it we have Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Quantocks nearby.

I reckon hitting up those trails at night will be my regular night riding haunt this year.

Anonymous

And Gawton. Though that's DH. They have a woodland XC nearby also. Don't know what that's like.

kenan

The HSD at Gawton is makeable for most.

My brother in-law tells me the stuff up at Taunton is very good for both All Mountian and Downhill.

Herbie The Dog

Was up Haldon last night. Parts of the new trails are already falling apart...some serious maintenance required before the winter turns up.

ragged1100

There's no xc at Gawton, there are the 'Tamar Trails' that link Morwellham (at the bottom of Gawton but only connected by a footpath that runs along the railway line!!), with Devon Great Consols (or Tavi Woodlands, the Woodland Riders other DH site near Chipshop, Devon) these are just 'multi-use' fireroads, aimed at families but far too steep for families to use so basically useless!!. HSD is do-able on any bike for anyone above beginner level, but is still great fun and super fast if you've got the bike and the skills...as for Haldon, pretty watered down, good for a quick blast on a short travel bike, only time I've seen people riding a "black" run on hired GT Avalanche! Skills area and pump track are just for 10 year old Apollo jockeys really...

Cafe is great

slowslowslow

Intersting reading......I'm hoping to be down 22nd ish for Christmas. Riding time will be limited, can I have some honest opinion as to weather I will get much out of Haldon, or better off hitting some of Dartmoor.

Not after all day stuff, just 2-3 hours of riding to get out and about. Nothing black, just want some flowing trails to remove cobwebs.

Any hints appreciated, or even better if someone is around any mornings/evenings and fancies pointing me in the right direction.....

Anonymous

Ah, I was thinking Tavi Woodlands was a more XC area, but I've not been there. Just going by Gawton's web site, because it said DH specifically against Gawton and not Tavi and it sounded more like trails and even has easy runs according to the map.

Not that I'm after XC, just something that's a bit of a fun that's isn't too hardcore DH. I'll do a bit of DH but don't have the bike for it, though a lot of what I like to ride is basically stuff that's steep

I'm sure it must still be miles better than pathetic Haldon.

How seriously DH is Gawton anyway? I'm fine with DH so long as there aren't no option massive gap jumps and drops. Likewise with Tavi?

Bikingmad1000

Just discovered some awesome trails through Haldon Forest - marked on the maps as 'Kenton Hill Covert'. Just thought i'd spread the word - anyone else been recently?

Beanhead Bucko

Bikingmad1000 wrote:

Just discovered some awesome trails through Haldon Forest - marked on the maps as 'Kenton Hill Covert'. Just thought i'd spread the word - anyone else been recently?

Are these at the main site or are they the trails near Haldon Chalets, near the petrol station at the top of Telegraph Hill?

The Haldon Chalet trails are built with permission and support of the forestry commission, but they have a strict rule of helping to build if you want to ride

Anonymous

How do they police that? And what kind of help? I'd be happy to make a donation to ride, but as I live away from the area now I can't get time to down there to go out with a shovel or whatever. Aside from the few times I'm down there to see the folks (where I'd want to maximise the time riding).

P.S. Do you know any stuff around the forest bits near Ashcombe? I grew up in Dawlish and used to go around that area a bit in my youth (and the dreaded cross country round there with school!). Always thought it looked like it had MTB potential.

jonnyc2420

they used to run the REMEC downhill series at Ashcombe years ago - some real nice descents, dont know what goes on there now, but the landowner was mtb freindly and had other full time activities - paint ball. quads etc so might be worth a look - try ashcombe park on google.

Beanhead Bucko

I'm Dawlish born and bred, only moved to Exeter last year. There's not really anywhere I can think of in the Ashcombe woods but then again I've only been riding about 6 months so never really paid much attention.

I remember my mate used to ride the downhill series at Ashcombe, I should ask him where it was and see if the trails are still ridable