Morning!
We have a week towards the end of Feb where p20 is off, and I could work from somewhere else (as long as the wifi is decent!). Holiday cottages are currently pretty sensibly priced. Suggestions of a location, anywhere in the UK, where we can gravel for a few days (I can dip out for an hour or two round work, and work later in the day) and do some walks at that time of year (i.e. ideally not a total mud fest!).
Cheers
Aberfoyle
Also Aberfoyle. Best gravel location in uk, based on my very humble opinion...
https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/lodges/tilford-woods-tilf
Lots of gravel options out across the Punchbowl, or up to the NDW at Puttenham which then allows you access to the Greensand and Surrey Hills, known for MTB'ing but dozens of bridleways and little lanes.
Surrey Greensand in the main so will be rideable all year round, good views and little villages with cafes to go to.
Forest of Dean. Miles and miles and miles of gravel rideable tracks and trails. Welsh mountains nearby. Cotswolds for winter mud fest.
Aberfoyle is very near the top of my riding to do list; but what is the situation post Arwen? Are the forestry tracks clear?
Thanks for the other suggestions. I had also wondered about the New Forest (though cottages really aren't cheap there!).
Another recommendation for Aberfoyle! Went in the summer and it was absolutley fantasic.
On my first early morning ride out (family holiday so making most of it) started chatting with a local who took me round some routes.
I follow him on strava now and he's been getting out quite a bit so looks as though there are plently of routes still open post Arwen.
Dumfries and Galloway?
North Yorkshire is also riddled with them
North Yorkshire is also riddled with them
Sorry I should have said somewhere outside of Yorkshire as we live here 🙂
Three areas with loads of good mixed riding (road and b-ways) are: Llandovery, Northumberland and Kirkby Stephen
Hummm, I don’t know Llandovery. Will look it up. Used to go to Kirby Stephen at lot as kid but need to look at some maps. p20 grew up in Northumberland so know it well.
At the moment Aberfoyle might be winning as found a few places to stay in Callander. New forest prices were just silly. Only concern is a week in Scotland in Feb could be very hit and miss!
Feb weather is always a gamble. It's not too bad if you've got a nice warm, dry cottage to return to after the ride/walk.
We had a long weekend in Weardale in November. Lots of walking and rides there too. Stanhope is a good base for the valley.
I live just over the hill from Stanhope so I'm a little biased but the riding can be great (and a little hilly!), if a little exposed in winter. The quieter roads are pretty high and whilst the snow is clearing at the moment, February can be a long cold month!
That said, you can ride off-road all the way into hamsterley, do a loop of the gravel tracks there and back without too much trouble. Hamsterley is nice and sheltered too!
Can also ride from Stanhope offroad all the way to Newcastle and back if you liked - longer day out but a brilliant ride. It's part of the C2C route and Newcastle is now blessed with some brilliant coffee and cake options.
I lived in County Durham for 13 years. After 5.5 years away, I was only saying last week I’d now consider it (and Northumberland) a holiday option. Thanks - good reminder. We do miss the old railway line riding in winter.
Dumfries and Galloway, it's literally polluted with forestry roads.
Re: Stanhope, if anyone is up that way, Che tapas restaurant is fab
theotherjonv
Full Memb https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/lodges/tilford-woods-tilfLots of gravel options out across the Punchbowl, or up to the NDW at Puttenham which then allows you access to the Greensand and Surrey Hills, known for MTB’ing but dozens of bridleways and little lanes.
Surrey Greensand in the main so will be rideable all year round, good views and little villages with cafes to go to.
i can vouch for Tilford lodges, great area for riding, lovely pubs and breweries too. WiFi on site is also good
I'd say Callander, options for Aberfoyle, Glen Finglas, the NCN all the way to Killin and back, the hill track up and over to Comrie, the wind farm track up and over to Braco and back via Doune, cycle tracks to Bridge of Allan and some great gravel trails above BoA and Dunblane with a pizza slice and coffee from Ciao Gelato on way home 😍
for forest of dean, i can heartily recommend
https://castlemainmill.com/
right in the centre of Parkend, next to a lot of great off piste trails and a short off road ride to pedalabikeaway too
Somewhere in the southern hemisphere.
