Llandegla or Cannock?

chedabob
chedabob Posts: 1,133
edited October 2010 in Routes
Me and a mate are looking to head out next week, and we've got a choice of Llandegla or Cannock (same train fare, about the same journey time). Any opinions on the two? It's possible there's other options but as we've not got a car, it has to be not too far from a station, and not involve loads of changes on the train.

Comments

  • tsenior
    tsenior Posts: 664
    not ridden cannock so cant comment but it only takes a couple of hours to get round llandegla so in itself not a full days riding there IMO (although theres a pump track to play on now).

    if your coming by train though you'll have to ride up from wxm anyway and i'd reccomend you do a loop of llandegla and then ride over the moors and down some good trails ending up in ruabon station instead of going back down to wrexham.

    let us know and i'll PM you the route. I can also send you an alternative route up from wrexham to llandegla not on the main road.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    tsenior wrote:
    not ridden cannock so cant comment but it only takes a couple of hours to get round llandegla so in itself not a full days riding there IMO
    Not if you just tear round the loop once and be done with it no.
    i reckon the best way to have fun at Llandegla is to take a few runs as the black sections, going faster and faster each time.
  • tsenior
    tsenior Posts: 664
    thats a fair point yeeha and i dont disagree....depends what the OP wants though.

    If i want to session stuff to i can do that in the woods at the back of my house and imagine most people have a local loop for that sort of thing.

    The OP is talking of making a trip to get here so may want more of an all-day adventure, which, with the best will in the world, CL aint.

    Also if he's getting the train there is a really good route down from the top of the mountain behind CL which happens to end at a train station :D
  • chedabob
    chedabob Posts: 1,133
    :P If I travel for an hour and a half on the train, you bet I'm gonna have more than one run.

    Me and my mate are on 120mm hardtails (Carrera Fury and GT Aggressor XC2) so is there anything on the black runs that's likely to cause us any trouble? Looking at the vids on youtube, it seems it's just a lot of jumps, some steep descents, and a pretty hairy looking bit of northshore.

    tsenior

    Those routes sound great. I dislike riding on the road unless I have to, so any chance to go offroad is a bonus.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    nah, hardtails will be fine in Llandegla, if that's where you choose to go.

    I have stuff I can session locally, but none of it is as continuous, fun, or fast all in one run as the blacks at llandegla. They really are a blast.

    Some local runs are very very fast, and very long, but it will take you half a day to get to the start :lol:
  • Chronicbint
    Chronicbint Posts: 172
    I have not tried the DH bits at Cannock but the Monkey Trail is about 1-2 hours and FTD about an hour. Both are fun. Few of laps of Monkey Trail is good for a day out. :D Cant comment on the other place.
  • tsenior
    tsenior Posts: 664
    Chedabob,

    i'll try and send you the routes the down one is straightforward enough, the up a bit tricky to follow if you dont know it.....when you thinking of going? i may be able to point you in the right direction.
  • tsenior
    tsenior Posts: 664
    Chedabob: PMd you.
  • chedabob
    chedabob Posts: 1,133
    tsenior

    Went Llandegla yesterday and end up not using your routes as we were running really late (a million school kids on the first train to Chester, and then some pillock hit a bridge so our train to Wrexham got replaced by a taxi). Probably would have been quicker in the long run as we ended up riding 4 miles in the wrong direction, then going another mile in the wrong direction, and then missing a turning and ending up about a mile from the turn off for Llandegla :P

    Llandegla was absolutely great though. We only did the blue route as we were knackered and we risked missing the train back (which wouldn't have been the case as we flew back to Wrexham in less than 40 minutes). Skills area and the pump track were brilliant, and the blue route is so well thought out. Definitely going back there in the next couple of weeks to give the red route a go.
  • Thewaylander
    Thewaylander Posts: 8,594
    yeehaamcgee wrote:
    tsenior wrote:
    not ridden cannock so cant comment but it only takes a couple of hours to get round llandegla so in itself not a full days riding there IMO
    Not if you just tear round the loop once and be done with it no.
    i reckon the best way to have fun at Llandegla is to take a few runs as the black sections, going faster and faster each time.

    This Landeg only has good black bits, so it requires sessioning.

    But cannock i can't comment as i have be fairly advised it's changed hugely since i was last there.
  • slowslowslow
    slowslowslow Posts: 488
    Cannock has changed for the better. Massively so.

    I am Birmingham based and have ridden both fairly recently. LLandegla is fun and good riding, but at some point I would definately give Cannock a go.

    The new Monkey trail has turned it into a seriously good trail with some cracking downhill sections. not the slog of a climb you get at llandegla either. some rock gardens to keep you thinking as well., and good visitor parking and facilities.

    If in dubt check the latest MBR for the review.

    access without a car could be an issue though...
    Ched
  • chedabob
    chedabob Posts: 1,133
    slowslowslow

    From Manchester it's only two trains and then a couple of miles on the road. After yesterday's 30 mile trek, Cannock is a walk in the park :P
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Oh come on, there is no slog of a bloody climb at llandegla, the place is virtually flat :roll:
  • chedabob
    chedabob Posts: 1,133
    yeehaamcgee wrote:
    Oh come on, there is no slog of a bloody climb at llandegla, the place is virtually flat :roll:

    There was more of a climb getting there. Half the way back I wasn't pedalling and still maintained 60km/h :P
  • slowslowslow
    slowslowslow Posts: 488
    Did not say it was hard, just a bit uninteresting after a while.....:) :)

    If you can get to it easily then I would strongly recomend you hasve a crack at it at some point. Should put a big smile on your face.
    Enjoy
    Ched
  • latexkat
    latexkat Posts: 3
    how did you get on at llandegla? Did you enjoy. Me and partner just been and oh i love that place. Wish groups of day tripping men wouldnt stop at the head of a good downhill'
  • latexkat
    latexkat Posts: 3
    cannock is alot harder than llandegla ,and i think bit more skill needed, ps big breakfast before not good idea tho
  • chedabob
    chedabob Posts: 1,133
    Loved it. Going again tomorrow, but getting a bit more organised so we don't get lost.
  • coolboarder
    coolboarder Posts: 149
    I like both Cannock and Llandegla. Did Llandegla for the first time yesterday and loved it. It was weird though. The climbing was fairly easy and yet some superb downhill section. The climbing at Cannock is a lot harder. I just love those switch backs :D
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2325/209 ... d0bf_o.jpg
  • tsenior
    tsenior Posts: 664
    chedabob, glad you had a good time, yer its about 250m up from wxm to the car park, good warm up!
  • paramart
    paramart Posts: 69
    rail station in rugeley out of station turn left follow main rd for about 1.5 miles max, monkey trail on l/h side, also hednesford station not much further the other way, you actually x the line between the 2 stations, from ftd to the monkey

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