Swinley Forest & permits

worb68

Hello,

Anyone know if you need to still get a permit for Swinley Forest now they have started charging for car parking?

Thanks.

benpinnick

No you dont.

rockmonkeysc

I wouldn't bother going. It's rubbish, worst trail centre I have been to by far.

Newfish

RockmonkeySC wrote:

I wouldn't bother going. It's rubbish, worst trail centre I have been to by far.

Without clarifying why that's a bit of a useless statement. There seems to be huge variety of skills and abilities on here so for some it might be fantastic. However if it is poorly maintained etc then that is something different.

Could you clarify you statement to include a reason why? That way someone like me who has never been can make an informed opionion?

Thanks.

EH_Rob

That's not how it works, he usually just likes to use sweeping unjustified opinions.

That said, I've never been so have no idea.

cooldad

RockmonkeySC wrote:

I wouldn't bother going. It's rubbish, worst trail centre I have been to by far.

As it's not a trail centre (yet), bit of a pointless post really. You may have noticed that none of the trails were marked or signposted.
It's just a bit of forest/hilly stuff, that has been ridden on for years, some trails have been 'developed' and surfaced.

It is now being converted into an official type trail centre, but most of the trails are closed whilst work goes on, so unless you know it quite well, you won't find lots to ride.

cooldad

But if you know it you can (could?) string together a 20 mile ride, with lots of fun stuff (if you like singletrack) and a few steeper trails to keep things interesting.
It even had a rock garden (well two rocks anyway).
As it's virtually my back garden, I quite like the place.

miss notax

Don't buy a permit on-line and then buy a car park ticket when you get there - as you pay twice (as I did) :oops:

If I remember correctly, the car park ticket also gives you the permit bit?

Gorrick Team

Just to clarify the situation, the Swinley Forest Permit Scheme does not end until 31.3.13. Until then you need a permit to ride in the Forest and it also gives you the necessary 3rd party liability insurance cover. A Day Permit costs £2 and, if you buy one online at http://www.gorrick.com , print it off and take it with you, you can then get your £2 car parking charge (which gives you NO permisssion or insurance) refunded at the Look Out reception.

cooldad

Correct me if I'm wrong, but apart from the liability insurance, which a lot of people have, the money collected was supposed to be used for trail maintenence etc. As this has now changed and Gorrick are not doing the new trails, what is the permit money being used for?

And although this might make me unpopular, I know lots of people who've been riding Swinley for years without a permit, rightly or wrongly. The rangers never check, the only people who've ever brought it up are BOB members.

milko9000

I did once chat to a ranger while someone got Landrovered out of babymaker to hospital, he was all "hope he's OK. Unless he didn't have a permit, in which case HOPE HE DIES, bwahahaha", more or less. Nearest I've come to being checked for one ever. I have an annual permit but I always stow it in my pack so nobody can actually see the thing anyway.

benpinnick

@ Gorrick Team, you're right of course, dunno what I was thinking.... I even told someone that exact advice the other day. ho hum.

ilovedirt

Swinley looks quite good from what I've seen, lots of short, fast, flowy singletrack runs. And Cooldad is right, it's not a trail centre, so don't expect it to be one.

worb68

Thanks for replies. Quite like it down there but you do need someone with you to show around otherwise youll strruggle to find anything. Should be good after March I believe when it opens as a trail centre.

brindlescoops

RockmonkeySC wrote:

I wouldn't bother going. It's rubbish, worst trail centre I have been to by far.

Sounds like you have ridden round the fire roads and gone home without ever finding a trail. . . . .

FWIW, I have buddies who regularly ride Cannock Chase, Forest of Dean etc and they will happily make the 5 hour round trip to come down and ride Swinley over staying local.