MTB Routes Next to Brighton Football Stadium?

I’m thinking this currently, or will it be a mud fest in winter ?

It'll be muddy on the downs, less so on the undercliff path.

You can easily get up to the southdowns way from Falmer and spend some time in Stanmer woods. Personally that's a better option than peacehaven and undercliff. Where will you park near the Amex, or take the park and ride from elsewhere? Depending on that a few of us on here can make some suggestions I reckon

Sorry rereading, don't know the competition your lad is playing in, but are you sure they are at the Amex, or at the elite performance centre over near Lancing?

Yep he’s definitely at the Amex will be parking up there for the afternoon and hoping to ride from there

I will take a look at Stanmer Woods too.

He must be a talented footballer.

Here's a loop you could start in Falmer, Lewes for coffee and some of the SDW and Stanmer to get you back to Falmer. Ignore the western out and back, although there are other tracks that drop south from the SDW that can get you back to Falmer.

Check out my activity on Strava: https://strava.app.link/5WjQ58sLbQb

There's lots of singletrack and some Jumps in Stanmer too, but it'll be very slippy roots and mushy leaves in Feb. Others on here will probs be better guides to the best area for wheels off the ground

It depends what you enjoy, the downs around that area are prime Mint Sauce cartoon country with lovely views but parts can be horribly muddy in winter.  Stanmer park is a stones throw from the AMEX and whilst a small area is jam packed with fun trails.  I would happily spend the time you have finding Stanmer trails on Trailforks and repeating the ones I liked rather than slogging around some mudfest XC route but I have done plenty of both.  An option if you are into the cartoon sheep and have the book you could track down the location of the coordinates on the last page of the book.....but I'd session Stanmer instead

Edit:  The Stanmer trails are often very tight (made for 740mm bars and no way you could get a horse through 🙂 ) and twisty with plenty of roots.  Short trails but equally short ride back up.  Just to give a vague idea of what you'd be getting

Parking at the Amex? Have you arranged this with anyone? The Amex is notorious for having no parking spaces - fans are expected to arrive by train, bus, foot, or bike.

No doubt there are some spaces - I don't suppose that Danny Welbeck arrives by bus - but I'd check first.

As above, the best trail riding near Brighton is all in stamner, just north of the stadium. Parking is a nightmare, worse on match days. Easy to extend a loop there onto the downs proper if you want some views thrown in.

Thanks I will look at all of the above.

Don’t worry, parking will not be an issue. He’s not playing at professional level just yet, it’s all part of the journey to that point through hopefully! So no issues with spaces

@susepic I can’t get your link to work?

@funkydunc ... when in Feb?

I can give you a tour if you want and I'm free... either a nice XC loop, or some stanmer trails...

DrP

DrP - just let me get it all confirmed then I will drop you a PM

Also only if you promise not to bring your drone 😉

Sorry @funkydunc not sure what the issue is, i can't save the route to share either as Strava can't find the activity either. I'll have a gander for another outing. Alternatively pm me your email and i can send a GPX

@susepic - cheers thank you it’s working now, I’ve downloaded the route

the stadium is on the outskirts of brighton right next to stanmer park.  The route you have drawn doesnt go near the stadium.  there is definately parkign at the stadium on non match days.

The stadium is ideal access to the south downs and local singletrack. in 3 hrs on an eeb you can do most of the fun trails in stanmer park and wild park. doesnt metter if its muddy if you have the eeb - it will still be fun. wild park will be better conditions that stanmer but the trails may be trickier to find. Look up stanmer and wild park on strava heatmaps. stanmer has more 'segments' but wild park is steeper and has more jumps/fun bits

Here is some Stanmer - the BigDog circuit from 2016: this is the western "lobe" of stanmer, there is also lots in the eastern lobe and quite a few jumps in the smaller middle lobe

https://www.strava.com/activities/675331489

I can’t offer any practical advice, I just wanted to say that Strava link has made me feel incredibly nostalgic for the Big Dog and slightly shocked this will be the 6th year without one.

So did my ride today. I was certainly over biked with 160mm travel 😂, but nice to see the coast and Ditchling Beacon. what I did note is how lucky you are down here to have so many Bridleways and understanding farmers.

Not sure how to add a pic now!!

Well done - you were lucky to get the best weather we've had for a few weeks, and it's dried up a fair bit since mid Jan

Has this added the route pic?

Although fairly dry the wind was really cold. Not used to white mud either