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We're moving to FoD area next year, still waiting on a few ideas on exactly where, but it'll be the English side of things, but between Ross on Wye, Lydney, Berry Hill, plus a few other possibles, we're not exactly decided yet.
I've not really done much generic trails like the local Ridgeway stuff I currently have though over in the FoD area. So was just wondering what it's like over there for winter just plodding along bridleways.
I rode the Colliers a few weeks back which honestly ticks a fair few boxes with multiple route choices, but i'm sure that'll get tired pretty quickly and doesn't offer much in the way of views, so curious as to what else is about.
There's miles and miles and miles of fire roads and bridleways around the fod and wye valley which would keep you entertained for a long time. A good taster would be to find a gpx of the Wild Boar Chase and give that a go, it'll be a good example of the kind of non-trail MTB riding around here. Honestly you could also just go with the flow and ride down any fire road and pick a direction, that's what I've done before.
In terms of views there isn't much in the fod itself, although recent felling around mallards pike has provided a couple. Go down into the wye valley around redbrook, llandogo and staunton/buckstone area for good views.
Half the fun about this is exploring and finding it yourself. There's a lot to see around here so you won't be lacking for xc stuff for sure. Nowadays I only usually do xc riding on the way to other off piste areas!
Rather than lap the same hill over and over again, we've often done a loop of the whole FOD. Start at Parkend, head down to Lydney, into Mallards, across to the trail centre, Barnhill and then back to Parkend. Linking it all with xc singletrack where possible.
We are Parkend(ish) based & depending on your appetite, you can do some monstrous XC loops, which can be pure XC, lining areas up and riding a trail as part of it or single track etc.
You can link up all the riding spots in the forest via fire roads or just go explore.
I’ve done some days from home heading north to Staunton & over the river to the Doward, others where you can head out to Redbrook, over the Wye & up along the ridge above Tintern, even all the way down to Chepstow woods (there is some absolute hidden gold in the Wye valley above Tintern, some of the least ridden & best trails in the whole of FoD). The views down the Wye Valley are pretty damn good too.
In some respects, the less trail based mountain biking in the area is massively under realised & in many ways is better than the off piste enduro style riding, because it’s not a victim of its own success & consistently haggard due to the volume of riders now.
I probably have 20/30 loops on my Garmin from 80km/2000m of climbing up to some 160km/4000m beasts when I fancy not being a self shuttled eBiker & every single one of them has been a great day out, even when I’ve spotted a trail head & ended up on something massively inappropriate for a Spesh Epic 😆
Perfect, sounds dreamy
If you want ancient lanes and that type of thing you are really looking at the Wye Valley. Even heading north of Ross. Into the Forest you will have all those gravel roads, the worn out single track and plenty in between.
If you want to avoid the anthill around PABA there is stacks to go at. Great place for a gravel bike as well. I can easily knock out 30-40 miles within the statutory Forest alone without repeating anything.
Have a look on Strava/Trailforks etc. for any "Wild Boar Chase" routes...
I can show you quite a lot of more generic XC stuff down there (you'll know most of the more gnarlier stuff I guess), but can also introduce you to locals you might not know already who'll tell you what's still good and what not to bother with.
One thing I love about the FoD is you can ride some wicked trails in one area, then link them up with a gentle off road ride to some wicked trails in another spot, and keep going...
I'll find her Strava, but there's a lass who used to work for Slam69 who used to do an "every trail in every area, linked up by offroad trails" ride every summer, and it became a bit of a local legend thing... Longest day of summer iirc and very much a full day form dusk til dawn iirc!
To be honest I know stuff, but I’m limited in my knowledge and my wants. For me your average Dowies from the junction is what I like or the 3-4 Shuttcastle etc. I don’t want or need to push boundaries, push limits, I just ride stuff I enjoy.
but as I say, some days I just want 10-15 miles of simple stuff just for a pedal
To be honest I know stuff, but I’m limited in my knowledge and my wants. For me your average Dowies from the junction is what I like or the 3-4 Shuttcastle etc. I don’t want or need to push boundaries, push limits, I just ride stuff I enjoy.
but as I say, some days I just want 10-15 miles of simple stuff just for a pedal
Well you're definitely moving to the right place then... It's got the lot on your doorstep!