[Closed] Forest of Dean / Swinley

Is there really any case to be made for riding Swinley over the Forest of Dean?

Come on then, what's the punchline? 😀

(No, there is no case to be made.)

Depends where you are / how long drive is? I think most would say FoD has more elevation and exciting trails, but Swinley is more all weathered and if I had for example 6 hours of which 4 would be driving to FoD for 2 hours riding; vs 2 hours driving for 4 hours riding at Swinley .......

[edit - @idlejon; there's a case. More riding AND Greta would like you a bit more]

FoD without a shadow of a doubt.

@idlejon; there’s a case. More riding AND Greta would like you a bit more

Yeah but if the choice is Swinley over FoD, the sensible person would bypass Swinley and go to Peaslake.

not necessarily, not everyone knows the trails at peaslake, might just want a trail centre bimble with no navigation, also reasons for Swinley.

Distance / travel time is pretty similar. I'm staying just outside Hungerford so Swinley is probably marginally quicker (assuming the M4 is working) but not by much.

Which do you know better?

what about Cwmcarn then?

Probably know them fairly evenly. I used to ride Swinley quite regularly from before the waymarking was put in (that is 10+ years ago now though) and up until maybe three or four years ago it was my new years day ride. I pretty much know my way around in as much as I can do the red & blue with some additional bits where I remember them.
Discovered FoD a couple of years ago and it has become my go to when I'm at my parents. I know the pushup stuff and the marked enduro trails in the main forest area but have never done any proper off piste.

Hadn't thought about Cwmcarn. I have done the marked trails there but not in the last three or four years. to be honest I wasn't sure if it entirely existed anymore.

what about Cwmcarn then?

Only if you really enjoy riding up...

I'd take fod over Swinley every time - more variety and elevation. Swinley is fine if you just want a blast and have a spare hour or two.

I'd take Covid over Swinley 😂

The lowlands of Bracknell Vs the hills of the English/Welsh border...

Is this actually a question that needs asking? OP, if you're never been to swinley then I understand you may think it's something, which it most certainly isn't. 🤣

Yeah but if the choice is Swinley over FoD, the sensible person would bypass Swinley and go to Peaslake.

This is so true, Peaslake trails are easy enough to find if you have a Garmin or even head further south and hit up QECP, anyhere but Swinley (been to Swinley 10 times in total, never enjoyed it once, now refuse to let mates talk me into going there!)

Much as I love Swinley (the blue was where both my nippers learnt to ride off road, so I have good memories of that place) given the choice between the two.... FOD every time.

Baffled to think where someone would have to be that their riding choice would be between QE and Forest of Dean!

I can ride to Swinley in 20mins from my door and am grateful for that, it serves a purpose, but Forest of Dean it ain’t!

Actually, have you thought about exploring the local area? Komoot might help:

https://www.komoot.com/discover/Hungerford/ @51.4154718%2C-1.5189170/tours?sport=mtb&distance=30&map=true

Use the saved driving time to stop at a pub or three!

I can ride to Swinley in 20mins from my door

I used to live 20 minutes away from it (a good while ago now) and still chose to never, ever ride there.

Swinley is great if you fancy a quick ride before you go and ride the slides at Coral Reef.
Swinley is great if you're a 14 year old kid hooning down the jump lines down from clubhouse.
Swinley is great if you're a 45+ mincer with a fear of hooning down jump lines and stay away from clubhouse.
Swinley is great if you ride it on a cross bike
Swinley is great if you're getting coaching at the Summit.

I resemble a couple of those categories (mostly 3).

Go to FoD.

FOD everytime without a doubt. Even the blue / red there are better than anything at Swinley. That’s without the downhill and enduro trails at FOD - let alone all the off piste. Quite easy to find stuff just outside the centre past the enduro trails (cross the road and look right). Dowies is easy to find some flow trails too.

Peaslake I’ve only done once and a mate guided me round the bits he knew - I’d probably try and grab a gpx of going there and play with Trailforks a bit.

Cwmcarn is still very much there - Cafell / Pedalhounds is a lot of fun - as is the Twrch. I still need to get round to doing the proper downhill run there and start looking at the off piste bit from what I understand it’s very steep and tech in places.

A couple of other options within about an hour's drive from Hungerford:
- Badbury Clump just outside Faringdon. Short DH tracks and jumps.
- Clanham/Birdlip. Lots of trails in the woods. Some official, some cheeky.
- 417 bike park

If BPW wasn't too far then I'd consider Barry Sidings.

I'm thinking 9f heading to swinley with my 6 year old nephew, will the blue trail be ok for him?

I know there's a green but only 1k will b a little short.

I’m thinking 9f heading to swinley with my 6 year old nephew, will the blue trail be ok for him?

Yes mate. As long as he can ride and pedal it'll be fine. He may have to walk a couple of the up bits

Think Swinley is fine for fitness, quick burn round if close by.

FoD is overrated IMO, much prefer Surrey Hills.

All three better than sitting in watching Netflix.

sillysilly
Full Member
FoD is overrated IMO, much prefer Surrey Hills.

– Clanham/Birdlip. Lots of trails in the woods. Some official, some cheeky.

Don't bother, leave it until the weather is dry, all that happens is the trails get cut up more. It really isn't a place that is fun in the winter.

Thanks for all the comments. Doing a big local loop / explore was a possibility. I lived broadly in the area before I got in to mountain biking so much as I am now so have a bit of knowledge of potential routes. To be honest, from the door isn't that bad but a lot of road is required to make anything work and it would be a little frustrating on my Rallon. I do have a couple of Marlborough downs / ridgeway rides saved as well but really fancy more trail than xc.
417 is definitely on the radar as well. Perhaps one for the next trip down with a bit more forward planning.
FoD it is for tomorrow. Might try to find some of the off piste but more likely will get distracted and do as many pedal or push ups as I can manage.

Pop left when you hit the first lot of fireroads as you leave the carpark at FoD, continue along, cross the road, continue more until you see a narrow doubletrack up to your right.

Go up there, lap that hill until you're done.

Was there (and on other close by hills) today, conditions are absolutely primo. much better than the way-marked tracks and beat-up DH tracks 👌

FoD it is for tomorrow

The weather looks decidedly moist for tomorrow.

Hold up, fod overrated?!!

Maybe you aren’t doing it right!

dry in the SE until mid afternoon, if it makes a difference.

I’m thinking of heading to swinley with my 6 year old nephew, will the blue trail be ok for him

Do it, Swinley Blue is pretty much a perfect 'my first proper trail' trail, a few things that will make him push himself a bit but nothing at all scary, its kid friendliness is the main reason why we go there.

Don't under estimate the effects of the cold and take lots of snacks. A flask of hot chocolate is a winner too.

And I thought I was alone in not enjoying Swinley.

I have said its a good place to go to get a coffee in a longer xc ride but in all honesty the coffee stinks too.

FoD is overrated IMO, much prefer Surrey Hills

Depends if you mean FoD the trail centre (including the off piste), or FoD the area (inc Wye Valley).

It's like looking at Surrey Hills as in Peaslake area or the whole of Surrey Hills which is huge and loads of great stuff.

Though I'd still pick the wider FoD over all of SH 😏 (and not just because there's less grumpy anti bike stick people).

Does it have to be a "trail centre"? Loads of "natural" trails close to Hungerford, Lambourn Downs, Marlborough Downs, Vale of Pewsey and 40 miles of the Ridgeway. Forsake the trail centres, get a map out, go explore. Less driving more riding.

Swinley is ok - but it's XC at best, good for a workout & yeah the cafe is dire - it's barely changed in 30 odd yrs..