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Hello!
I am busy planning a circular route in the FOD from Symonds Yat for my gf's 30th Birthday weekend.. Trouble is lots of her friends aren't mountain bikers, but half of them are!
Having ridden there a few times, I am quite happy with most of the route, but I can't remember the good routes down from Staunton, to Upper redbrook.
Does anyone know where this trail starts and how to get there from Staunton?
Also, any hints and tips for my current route would be appreciated!
Start at Christchurch, head to uplift dropoff for the Sallowvallets area, take the newbies down the blue run, drop 'em off at the cafe, and the good people quickly blast on the DH stuff..
Follow the old railway to Parkend, then coalford, then up to Staunton. The newbies go down the tarmac-ed road which is blocked to traffic, and the good people play in the woods above Upper Redbrook.
Then pub at luggas wood, then follow the river back to symonds yat...
For the newbies, I would say riding around/down the Verderers/Cannop area and then expect them to ride via Parkend,Coleford and finally onto Staunton/Redbrook is to far even on the road/cycle path.
Would suggest the newbies and regular riders have a good full day together at Cannop,it can cater for all and there's enough to ride XC and DH.
Then the following day you could have a full session at Staunton/Way valley.
It terms of finding the DH stuff,I'm not going to give them away 😉 Just go explore
Agree with whiter74, I reckon you're being a bit ambitious, especially sending the non-MTBers by different routes to the MTBers. Plus, start from Christchurch or Symonds Yat? They may be within a couple of miles of each other but there's a good 200m vertical difference in that 2 miles!
When are you coming to FoD? Guides may be available to lead out 2 groups of different abilities with a pub meet up for lunch perhaps.
email me , my friend and I could lead different groups around , so both groups get something out of the day
Hello! Sorry been away! Thanks for your help!
I forgot to mention that my GF plus friends are mostly doctors so like pubs... Hence the route is circular with a few pubs on board, and most towards the end. Pub at Parkend or Coleford, then Luggas Wood symonds yat. (so no drunken downhills!)
Was going to leave cars in Christchurch on Saturday to avoid the hill for the newbies, but finish in symonds yat, after the pubs! Then get car the next day. We really want to finish without the cars. Just measured route I had planned. 30K in a day with 170m vertical climb (from Parkend to Stanton on railway and road)plus a little more climb on the Wye back to Symonds Yat. I know last week I did 35K in 6 hours, but there was 1400m vertical climb on Dartmoor but i am not a newbie.. I just don't know if 30k in a day, mostly on railway (or river valley) track (with a 200m uplift to start) is acceptable for newbies to mountain biking)
Any other routes you would suggest that end up in Symonds Yat would be appreciated! (again don't mind driving out, just not back)
Looking at spending Monday riding with the good people solely, so that may be the day for a bit more downhills. I shall email you the red chilli!
Sorry... Wasn't clear.
Group ride this Saturday all day
Good people ride on Bank Hol Monday.
If anyone is about, especially Monday, that would be cool!
whiter74, I think by staring at an OS map and google maps, have worked out where it started! But I shall explore! I know a couple of FOD riders too, but they are being reclusive at the mo!
30km is pretty far on an MTB for a newbie, doable if they're generally fit though
Have a good weekend. Unfortunately I shall be working Saturday a.m. then disappearing off down to sunny, dusty Exmoor for a long weekend so won't be around to help.
ps it is possible to ride from Redbrook (Boat Inn, where you call Luggas Wood) to Symonds Yat with minimal tarmac and minimal hill-climbing. From Redbrook on road towards Monmouth, just out of 30mph zone and there is a steep stoney path on RH side going up onto an old railway line. Stay on railway line/track to end and you go up into a housing estate, keep going straight on through estate and down to mini roundabout (by Mayhill Pub), go straight over and follow lane onto Peregrine Cycle Path which follows River Wye to Symonds Yat (and the Saracen's Head Inn, recommended and owned by a MTBer 8) )