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Hi all
I am currently on paternity leave until the 21st (5 week old nipper)
We are thinking of making the most of it and getting away.
We usually head to the mountains but no point heading to the snow and a 6-7 hour drive to lakes or snowdonia with a baby and a 3 yr old, isn’t too appealing.
We have looked at, centreparks!!! Far from our usual choice but looks like an easy way to entertain the 3 yr old.
However, both me n the missus would want some kind of worthwhile activity, hard running/cycling
What are the trails like around longleat? Is it possible to put in long gravel type rides, or is it pretty bland and limited. Looks ok but some local knowledge would be ace
Cheers
In the past I've been on a couple of rides near the Longleat estate. Lots of nice singletrack if you know where to look.
I hooked up with a group who do evening rides there though, so can't tell you any real specifics!
Windhill bike park is pretty much in the grounds (I think?) if that's your sort of thing.
Can't answer your q but a short drive away is Bratton, Westbury. This will give you access to the Imber Range Perimeter Path which is always open, you can ride a huge distance with minimal road crossings and ideal for a gravel bike. You can cross the A360 and follow the White Horse Trail/Wessex Ridgeway as far as Casterly Camp depending on whether the flags are up.
Alternatively at the A360 Gore Cross follow IRPP to near Tilshead. Cross road and that triangle is normally open although there will be military vehicles around the Bosnian village vicinity.
Heatmap of the area shows lots of bicycling action...
https://www.strava.com/heatmap#13.62/-2.23238/51.18934/hot/ride
Wind Hill as said is right there. Maybe not suited to a 3yr old though! (or maybe they would love it. A few jumps on a balance bike perhaps 😀 ).
Centreparks, check your bike insurance. Popular places for bike thefts, as popular for family gravel type pootles.
I'd be looking at local singletrack, bridleways etc, though I don't know the area to advise there. However some of the area is a bit chalky/clay I think. Wind Hill itself is okay though it's fairly well drained.
As mentioned above Windhill is there.
I believe there is a cycle path around centerpac as they hire bikes out (or they used to) prob be ok for the kids.
As for the adults got the fireroads/tracks up on the plain, there is good trails in Longleat/shearwater way, but local knowledge be v handy, more so as they been doing a bit of logging in the woods etc so some trails are not rideable.
Take some lights as local group go riding most Tue nights, and most ride Sat/sun at some point (normally in the morning.)
If you PM me your details, dates etc (including your Facebook link if you got it) I can pass them on to the group and see if anyone is about.
I am based more Erlestoke/Market Lavington way, which is on edge of the plain, might be able to show you some stuff if dates/days work out.
Many thanks everyone, all really helpful. Looks like there should be enough to keep us entertained outside of the knobbly knees competitions (or am I getting centreparks confused with 1950’s butlins, they are all the same aren’t they?)
Will decide tomorrow if we are going for it... other option is visit family in the peak, no shortage of good entertainment up there
Thanks again
Windhill is awesome fun, but you want a decent bike for it - it’s jumps / drips / berms. Not for gravel bikes (although no doubt someone will post up a picture with someone dropping in off the 20ft high north shore style drop on a CX bike now).....