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Where would people recommend to go for a good long trail ride within a triangle demarcated by Ross-on-Wye, Worcester, Cheltenham?
Looking to meet a couple of friends (keeping it distant) at a mutually convenient location (which is pretty much this triangle) and ride somewhere for the day.
Malvern Hills came to mind but anything else we should consider? Actual route recommendations also welcomed.
Outside the triangle but not by much, Forest of Dean is the obvious place.
malverns at the weekend...
Seriously the FoD is probably the easiest.
Ok there is some ****wit going round putting down nail traps and hitting women!
malverns at the weekend…
We are meeting on a Friday.
I've ridden at the FoD trail centre which is fine but looking for something a bit longer. Many years ago I rode there before the trail centre existed but wasn't that impressed but if someone has a route that would change my opinion that would be great.
I've just got my copy of 'The Good Mountain Bike Guide' off the shelf. Other contenders seem to include the following (some of which are admittedly extending the triangle!
Alfrick
Kemerton
Birdlip
Wyre Forest
Ribbesford
Clent Hills
If you can get hold of a copy of Vertebrate Publishing's "Cotswold Mountain Biking" it will give you a handful of possible routes. Most, if not all of them, will be covered by the Good Mountain Biking Guide but the former does link some of the latter's routes up into longer rides.
I live near the Malverns and in my experience the hills are worth around 2 hours or so of exploration but are often busy with walkers, since lock down they seem busy regardless of the day of the week. You can still enjoy them but if you wanted to get away from it all it might not be the best option.
Of the other routes you mentioned - Alfrick has a very easy but pleasant ride that you take 1.5 hours. Wyre forest has a nice (v easy) family circuit but would be busy. I don't go there often but I do believe that there are other less obvious routes that might be more fun and quieter. Perhaps others on here could advise.
The Birdlip route in the Good Mountain Biking Guide is one of the dullest that I have ridden. Nearly all flat with only one descent (littered with a group of ramblers just as I reached it).
Not sure about the others you mentioned but I have enjoyed routes around Snowshill, Bisley, Nailsworth and Winchcombe/Cleeve Hill. Nothing too technical but in the best traditions of the Cotswolds they do offer short, sharp climbs followed by some fun (but also short) descending.
Get Trailforks and look at all the runs in the FoD and link them together to make a loop, nothing in the area you have specified comes close. Can be as gnar as you want. Or not.
really depends on what your looking for,
This is fairly old school xc,
https://www.strava.com/routes/19945289
@Stigheed - thanks for taking the time to give such comprehensive suggestions and particuarly warnings of dullness.
And mrmo thanks for that link to the route, old school XC is fine with me and good to know that someone has ridden it before!
You can ride for hours in the FofD without going back over yourself at any level from idle bimble to full on cliff dropping lunacy and everything in between.
Conversely, I did a big gravel loop around the Cotswolds at the weekend and there were so many gates and so many keep out signs that it completely sucked the joy out of it for me.
Here’s a little tour to introduce various areas in the FofD:
https://www.strava.com/routes/22712102
If you're after old school XC, you can't go wrong with following one of the HONC routes starting from Winchcombe and venturing out into the Cotswolds in either 50K, 75K or 100K formats. This time of year you won't even have to deal with the mud, though you won't get the mid ride cake stop run by the WI.
There should be plenty of folks sharing the routes on Strava, Garmin Connect and the like.
Edit: just double check with a map before heading off, as there's sometime a short section on private land.
Are you looking for the best place to ride, or the most convenient central location? And more's the point, given you're all so close, how do you not know of these places already?!?! 🤷🏻♂️
Anyway... Most convenient, as it's broadly central to all 3 of you, is obviously the Malverns... Bit of a mix up there, unless you really know where you're going, it's all just traverses across the tops of the hills to be honest. If you do end up following any half decent descents, the climbs back up are all brutal!
Best place to ride... Well I'm in Worcester, and I'd much rather travel further and get down to the FoD than ride the Malverns... There's various different areas in the FoD (I stay away from Pedalabikeaway and the associated trails as a rule these days), all of them have far more variety and more of interest than the Malverns.
Or if you're happy to travel north, then the Wyre Forest is fantastic for more XC/trail riding, though it really does help if you have a little local knowledge.
Cleeve Hill & Winchcombe area is ok for proper old school riding, but not so much of interest up there really, it's more bridle paths and grassy fields. Cranham is apparently rapidly disappearing due to landowners closing many of the trails I'm told, which is a shame. You've also got Bredon Hill too.
But unless there's a very specific reason not to go, you'll be best served by the FoD for sure...
I would keep off the Malverns very busy at present with schools of etc Cotswolds is a good bet Cleeve hill over Lecky hill then on to Birdlip wood Cranham and Painswick beacon good ride.