You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Which trails would you recommend in (and around) Great Wood in the Quantocks?
Are there any Comb/bridleway trails that are hidden gems?
I'm going to the Quantocks with a bunch of mates in late October. We're staying in Doniford, so I'm planning to ride from the door, taking in various combs. I'd like to add in some of the built stuff in the woods to contrast the bridleway stuff.
So what's worth doing & what's overhyped rubbish?
Smiths Combe is rubbish…
take a look on https://www.trailforks.com/region/quantock-hills-5874/ most of the trails on there including Triscombe and Great Wood and Holford area. There is a pretty good mix to suit most people
if you park in the Great Wood car park head up the track next to the car park, other side of the stream, then hang a right up a smaller track, you'll see trails crossing, then take a left and you'll find the top of them, exploring is probably your best bet. See what you like, there is some good steep stuff but all pretty rideable, always worth a laugh in a mixed ability group.
You can also head over to Triscombe if you carry on up the hill to the road. Even more over there that are easy to find, some are pretty rough now though, go explore you'll definitely use up a day. Triscombe Stone is also a good carpark to access both groups of trails.
Triscombe is usually busier, both have a reasonably easy ride back up. Enjoy...
Smith’s Combe is rubbish? I recall it being quite good fun, and I was thinking of starting with it.
If it ended in Holford or Bicknoller or basically anywhere other than where it does then I think it'd get better ratings. But it ends in the middle of nowhere with an unpleasant climb out whichever way you go. So that makes it a bit rubbish. Maybe it's better on an ebike?
When I lived there and rode the q’s 3/4 times a week, the only time I rode smiths was if someone came to visit and had read the latest rehashed mbuk/mbr quantocks route guide.
nice to see me and sharki still got a trail named after us. Although that’s not the bit we built…
that’s what used to be known as dels stump, we cleared if after some felling work and it was known as return of the stump.
What’s called narnia on there is close to what we built, whether it’s the same line, who knows, haven’t been there in a while. Dived in and out of a gully a few times…
Bincombe, especially with the slightly cheeky top part 😉
ShanAndy sounds like your group are more of the hoop n holler jumpy persuasion otherwise I would have off ered to show you round 😞
Is it anyone on here who is organising next year's SSUK?
If so what's the plan route wise?
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.
ShanAndy sounds like your group are more of the hoop n holler jumpy persuasion otherwise I would have off ered to show you round 😞
@oldfart we're the absolute opposite of that.
We're (mostly) old South Downs riders with delusions of gnarr and a wide variety of skill levels, but none of the Combe riding is beyond us. If I've given a different impression, that's my mistake. Some of us could only be described as "jumpy" if we were taken by surprise...
What I'm looking for is a "Quantocks best bits" ride that takes in the highlights of the area. We're starting from our accommodation in Doniford, so will be entering via West Quantoxhead, and probably finishing down Weacombe. I'm willing to take any local recommendations over my vague memory of what's good from previous visits.
So any suggestions of a route would be gratefully received. being showed around has some appeal too.
When I lived there and rode the q’s 3/4 times a week, the only time I rode smiths was if someone came to visit and had read the latest rehashed mbuk/mbr quantocks route guide.
So you'd avoid it and do another combe somewhere else with the energy? If so, what would you suggest?
Knotty8 to the thread..
Ssuk is on the q's next year!?
Weacombe, stert combe, concrete block, north side of frog combe.
i really should pay a visit. It’s only 90mins away but I rarely bother.
knottie seems to mostly ride road these days.
friday 13th? sounds about right! 🙂
Bah, wrote a whole long answer about my favourite Q trails and it disappeared!?
Short version...
Triscombe trails are ace, bit hairy in the wet though. Fav trail is the very far right top to bottom, or one towards the far left around the corner, ends up at a stream crossing.
Then over to the south side of the Great wood valley, loads of trails inc. some nice newer ones.
Then there's a great trail that starts above the activity center/campsite. Think it's been used for enduros occasionally.
Then Bincombe.
Concrete block, though last time I went down it was really blown out and rutted.
North bit of Frog Combe into...
Holford Combe down to the pub - not technical at all, but great fun choosing random lines/paths.
Weacombe obvs.
Loads of other stuff. There's even a few nice trails north and east of Lydeard Hill, but a bugger of a climb back up.
I haven't ridden the quantocks in over a decade
I rode Smiths Combe yesterday for the first time in 5 years. I remember it being pretty smooth and was caught unawares as it enters the first tree section as it's turned into a messy rocky motorway! Can't believe its erosion from bikes but maybe e-bikes. The lower parts are still ok but yes the climb (walk!) out is hideous.
Weacombe is still the best imho.
The Chimney in Great Wood is epic still
I remember it being pretty smooth and was caught unawares as it enters the first tree section as it’s turned into a messy rocky motorway!
straight-ish section under the conifer type trees? was always pretty rough and you came into it at warp speed.
-
<li style="text-align: left;">Not a fan of the Chimney these days far too much erosion for me . Current faves are Slaughterhouse Somerton, Five Lords . Robbo Smiths was a rock fest under the trees way before E Bikes were a thing , I don't bother with it much although once I got my Orbea Rise I tried it just to see if I could climb back out on half power 👍
Quantock miles are generally tough due to steepness and the general up/down nature of the terrain. Unless you are on eebs or very fit as a group, you wont be able to span all the good bits in a day.
Weacombe is okay if you must in a 'XC descending' kinda way, same with smiths, but with both you spend alot of beans getting back out.
Personally, I'd sacrifice both of those for the interesting stuff in the east facing coombes, which alao leaves you closer proximity to great wood and triscombe.
YMMV
Thank you to everyone who contributed and made suggestions. I got back from Somerset last night and can safely say that everyone on the weekend is planning to go back soon. A bunch of mainly South Downs riders have been seduced by the delights of the Quantocks*
Everyone had a great time and really loved it. I've been before but managed a couple of new trails, but most were experiencing it for the first time. The ride wouldn't have been half as good if I'd been planning it on my own, and lots of the tips here will be on my *next* ride. So thank you.
We didn't get as much done as we'd have liked: everyone was tired from a day in Exmoor that included a detour to casevac a fallen rider (nothing broken, thankfully, but lots of pain & swelling).
Thank you for being a cracking bunch of people.
What we ended up with was: Five Lords/Bincombe, Frog Combe, Weacombe, Stert/Somerton/Hodder's Combe. Loads more to do next time.
*though one member of the party said it "reminds me of Afan" but some people have no imagination...
A quick note to say thank you again to everyone who helped with suggestions for our trip to the Quantocks.
I've finally managed to put together a wee film of our ride in case anyone is interested: