[Closed] Old Swinley

Did that last weekend racing with Gorrick and the weekend before with a mate. Great fun.

I was driving past there and saw the racing which inspired me to pop over - you will understand which Old Bits I was referring to. I did bits of the race course with the drops before the descent down towards B'moor

Quite a few bits of the red I didnt recognise and obviously (as I havent been there for over a year) the start of the red is different. Poignant moment passing the memorial especially as I have more confidence to hit the jumps on that section now. I thought that bit was in the 30s before, but perhaps the numbers have changed now? There seemed to be a whole climbing section missing to me...

A few bits have changed, new sections added like the old tank traps etc.

Most the old stuff is still there, the few times I take a look these days. A few bits less ridden than they used to be, but I can still do just about my old loop avoiding fresh cobbles generally. Only really touch Seagull and maybe Tank Traps for the one week it's open in the year. Sadly some nice bits in Crowthorne got logged, but there's plenty more. My old route did do Whole Nine Yards the other way though and one section is part of the official stuff going the other way. The "alpine" bit is a bit chopped up and a route cutting across has cobble trails going across it and people have given up riding across. Tend to go play over the fence round Car Crash.

I used to ride around Swinley 3 or 4 times a week before they built the new trails. Ruined it for me and rarely go now. It's great to hear the old names again. Nostalgia eh..........

Labyrinth! Cool trail, haven't been there in ages. Good in the depths of a frosty winter, so hopefully a trip up will be made soon.

Spent a lot of time near Corkscrew and the Bomb hole drops. Two drops on both that I would like to master.

The big bermy route to the right of Deerstalker was great fun too.

Spent a lot of time near Corkscrew and the Bomb hole drops. Two drops on both that I would like to master.

The big bermy route to the right of Deerstalker was great fun too.

I didn't do the bomb hole drops last week as i was off to BPW 3 days later, it wasn't that i expected to crash.. but you never know 🙂

Me, a mate and my 8 year old will be there on Sat around exactly where we're thinking for a good 2-3 hours if you're coming over and want someone to natter and talk rubbish to
We'll be mostly practicing skills/whatever with the little man more than riding trails etc.

Thx weekly. Can't make Sat but would love to meet at some time.

first drop to master is start of corkscrew then the one with the log edge over at bomb holes which requires more commitment by the look of things

first drop to master is start of corkscrew then the one with the log edge over at bomb holes which requires more commitment by the look of things

The one mid/late Corkscrew is harder at the moment, it's a rooty step-down, but if you 'pop' it a little then it's absolutely effortless. The start one is a little more rooty on landing area though i admit.

the log over bomb-hole is honestly completely rollable... i watched my mate roll it about 4 times last week. The only minor downside is that you need to pay attention slightly to your back wheel as he was getting a little lift on it, but nothign major honestly.... It's considerably easier than it looks.

(p.s. i've never seen you ride, so i'm not saying "go do it, you'll be fine" hahahaha. )

I had no problem on corkscrew itself until jumping off the very final root and ending up in the bush on the LHS! 😳 oh and splitting my trousers shifting in the saddle 😯

I was on my own so didn't fancy taking any risks in either - well that's my excuse. Seen YT clips of people riding the drop at the top of C'screw and looks like nothing. Like all these things juts need to do it once.

You'd be able to do that drop no probs @teamhurtmore. You basically just carry on going the same speed or faster as you approach it, arse over the back a bit, you land at the bottom of the ramp and then sharp right into the corkscrew. As always, I have a video!

That's Tank traps ? Whilst similar to corkscrew, not the same section.

My bad then, the last bit on tank traps is called cork screw on Strava. Where's the other one?

The trickiest section is at 1min 11 on this vid, it's more than it was when the vid was taken.

Corkscrew is over the Crowthorne side of things. If you're doing the red, you come out of a woody section and then you've got a Fireroad approach to the trail entry, the fireroad is very off camber and has a big telegraph pole in the middle of it, you then go up into a rooty section.... (sorry i don't know the numbers)

Well, just before you get to the rooty section, between the pole and there, there's a gate to your right, over the other side of that gate is the start of Crowthorne Woods Gorrick races... All that stuff there is what i'd call 'old Swinley'... Corkscrew is in there.

Nice one, I'll seek it out next time I'm over there. Cheers.

https://www.opencyclemap.org/?zoom=16&lat=51.37525&lon=-0.75942&layers=B0000

Slightly out of date now as they've moved Red1 to be Red32 (?)

All that stuff there is what i'd call 'old Swinley'

Why not call it by it's name - Crowthorne Woods? 🙄

Then, 'old Swinley' could refer to the old trails (not covered in ginger stuff) that can still be found in Swinley...

Why not call it by it's name - Crowthorne Woods?

Then, 'old Swinley' could refer to the old trails (not covered in ginger stuff) that can still be found in Swinley...

Because he started the thread and was calling it that... i called it Crowthorne Woods too in the posts, however you can't deny that even though they're now split both by the fence and by the style/trails, they are one and the same to anyone who rode there 5-10 years back.

When you did a day there you'd do all the other stuff at the end of the Fire-road too from Go-Ape, that's not part of 'Swinley' now either, but is still the same forest, just now not regularly used as it's not part of Blue/Red/Blue... so most people will have never known it as Swinley.

Didnt know what to call it - just the old swinley trails to me!

Weeksy - it looks so easy on your vid - dont know why you mention 1:11 after that. That's just a wee root step versus what seems to me a more committing drop off at the start.

Thanks for the vid acidtest - I was confused by that section yestreday and juts realised that it was tank traps but just without the trees!!! I enjoyed that section, especially doing your trick and chasing two deer down part of it.

Vids always look easier though don't they. I've never been phased by the drop in at the start, but back in the day we'd regularly do 5-10 runs of Corkscrew when out playing.

@teamhurtwood, is it just me or does there seem to be a lot more deer about this year??! Hardly saw any last year whilst out and about.

True weeksy - the drop is one of those things that I came across as a newbie with my old HT and so it has a bit of a thing on me. I am gradually ticking these all off as my confidence grows. On the very final bump there is a root that I took some air off but positioned my bike badly ie straight into the bush that isnt on your video!!

Acid, yes there are loads around at the moment and badgers!!

I am glad I have worked out what that section was - I should have realised by the end (which is similar to Corkscrew).

I'm there tomorrow about 3pm if you fancy a play ?

This old trail was running sweet today.
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Those of you who are heading out to Swinners...

Can I ask a favour?

It's really soft out there currently & there are far too many "desire" & Strava lines appearing (with the vegetation dying back) on some of the runs.....the Summer lines are still there - please try to keep them..

So could you please, please not use these "cheat" lines & if you see one appearing block it off with a couple of well placed sticks. Obviously any trail pixie work should be safe & considerate, but if we don't try to keep the lines running nicely we will end up with 2m wide straight slop rather than some nice sinuous and twisty singletrack..

No worries

Mrlebowski I fear it's a losing battle in some places. Back when I worked from home I'd spend time trying to sort out Satan's Grotto, the labyrinth (when it had more switchbacks on the first climbing stretch) and the old trails to and from the manhole cover. No matter how many logs I dragged out of the woods they'd usually get moved or ridden around within a few days. Cudos to anyone who tries though.

I'm another one who loves the old Swinley. I often try to see how many trails I can ride without touching the official stuff. 20 miles is easily achieved.

New England is great but cheeky. The Twisty bit parallel to the fireroad on Blue route (Monaco?)

All 5 Downhillish routes - Original Deerstalker, Deerstalker right , BabyMaker , Does my Berm... , Axle Run and The trail with the traffic light.

As for Crowthorne, loads of stuff. Corkscrew is an absolute must. You can easily find 10-15 miles of constant singletrack and with Gorrick redesigning bits. Your spoilt between old & new.

Finally 'Rollercoaster' is always good fun. Loads of small drops probably kerb height but at speed great fun.

@thepurist

Maybe, maybe not....every little bit helps.

& likewise kudos to those who give a bit back..

Slowly discovering what I presume is old Swinley. Enjoyed riding the Sept Enduro stages too - loving the various drop offs at the end of the extension to Stickler DH

All this talk of drops on Corkscrew - start and end. Were they on the Crowthorne Gorrick XC. I recognise the end drop but for the life of me I cannot remember a drop at the start?

I'm thinking not ADSH, unless it's changed radically. But i couldn't see another any further left where you'd assume it would be. So unless i've missed something too, maybe it's been modified to make it less of a drop in. I recall back many years ago it being more difficult than it was recently... but couldn't work out where... or thought i'd just got a lot better 😉

The rooty bit was on the Gorrick, about 3/4 of the way in Corkscrew, but depends how competent you are as to how much of an issue... i don't recall it being as tricky when there previously, but it wasn't 'hard' as such... just wasn't expecting it.

adsh, I was thinking the same! I raced last week and have raced there many times and can't think of a drop on entry to corkscrew! maybe I was thinking of the trail ahead!

Thanks - was thinking I'd lost my marbles. The rooty bit on the Gorrick was fine for 2 laps but interesting on the final lap when going for it and slightly off line - got away with a slight burp

There are two entrances - one withan obvious drop and roots on the lip and one without. When I was up there it looked like the race track was further to the side with two roll in lines not actually corkscrew.

Can I clear things up - when people talk about Crowthorne Woods is that the area where corkscrew is (ie what I mistakenly called Old Swinley)?

Where is rollercoaster - sounds just what I need?

Cant make today weeksy sadly!

don't know if it was in the race or not, but if going to the corkscrew (proper corkscrew, not the end of Tank traps that some people call the corkscrew) from the fireroad by the quarry play area there's a drop right at the start, even before you get into the twisty bit proper.

Nothing to it really but there's a root across the top that prevents it eroding means it has a definite lip / step to it. You'd have to be glacially slow over it though to hook up a chainring, ie: you don't have to fly off it!

right at the start of this vid which weeksy posted last week

Dunno mate, there seems to be lots of cool names, but i know very few of what they equate to in the real world.

I still get confused as to whether the long flat twisty blue is Stickler or something else beginnning with S

Babymaker and stuff also confused me with names as to which is which.

there's a drop right at the start, even before you get into the twisty bit proper.

Exactly, cant miss it.

Nothing to it really but there's a root across the top that prevents it eroding means it has a definite lip / step to it. You'd have to be glacially slow over it though to hook up a chainring, ie: you don't have to fly off it!

That's what I need to understand!!

Swinley is on the look out side (broadly, east) of the green gate on the Devils highway at the top of Seagull (and by extension the fence that that gate is part of)

Crowthorne Woods is west of that boundary

Don't know if the numbering is right on this map but I'd agree broadly with the names

http://hampshiremountainbikeninja.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/future-ride-swinley-forest-saturday.html

Nothing to it really but there's a root across the top that prevents it eroding means it has a definite lip / step to it. You'd have to be glacially slow over it though to hook up a chainring, ie: you don't have to fly off it!
That's what I need to understand!!

I know once something gets in your head it's hard to shake, but given your descriptions of some of the S.Hills stuff you ride compared to this...... it just doesn't compute.

Also worth riding the corkscrew with other people. I used to ride Swinley and CW all the time with BOBs and do corkscrew most saturdays and always had an issue over one corner. Then one winter after I'd had pneumonia and was proper crocked, I met up with a few other crocks and we went for the gentlest pootle ever, ended up at the corkscrew, and on riding it the bloke I was following took a different line I'd never seen before on this corner. He'd seen one of the elites take it in a race a few weeks before. Made a huge difference to the flow of it!

Its one of the legacy drops that just needs to be ridden once to get rid of the old thoughts!

So is roller coast the fast bit of the red after the reservoir or a cheeky trail on the other side?

The numbers on the red have changed from that map.

don't know. I wonder if it might be the bit that's actually just outside Swinley boundary (on the army land / Old dean side)

On the red trail, there's a short climb from near where the jump gulley was, takes you up to a stony fireroad by the reservoir. Instead of following that round and ultimately to the top of Surrey hill, there's a little cut through the fence, at the top of the stony climb; if you turn right there's a fast 'rollercoaster-y' sort of trail with some little drops and a couple of optional gaps / kickers if you seek them out.

I think i know the one. Purple bike shed teaches pumping there....

Looks like a Woop section of an MX course ? goes back down to the square grate, then through fence and you go left to Red15 ?

Found it on youtube.

Once you cross the boundary at the top of stony climb, you can go left or right. Left is more pumpy, i actually prefer right.

a couple of people are listing videos of another section as rollercoaster; also on the Old dean common bit, but instead going from near-ish the clubhouse - linked vid shows the rider going through the fence by the top of the climb. But that's not waht i'd call that trail......

Yup, same one as i thought. Didn't know that was it's name though 🙂

bottom vid, i don't recognise.

I am thinking of riding there tomorrow - parking at the Lookout and starting off on the red.

However - I really fancy throwing in Crowthorne too as was ill and couldn't make the Gorrick last week.

Can anyone advise as to where best leave the official red so that I can join the Crowthorne trails? and how to get back on it thereafter?

Yeah, As you are on the red, you'll come out of a short tree section. It's tight/twisty/flowy, you turn left and go down an off camber hill with a telegraph pole in the middle. At the gate on your right just after the pole, go over gate, follow up the hill to the right and then take a left where the XC Gorrick course goes.

I don't know which number trail though sorry.

Yep - from the green gate you'll actually be looking down the start straight (devil's highway) although you're looking back along it, the race came towards you and then hooked 90 degrees left on the loose stony climb at the gate.

So if you follow that there's probably enough tyre tracks to lead you in. make like Tonto and read the tread if not sure of direction!!

Me and a buddy are doing it today actually 🙂

I think we'll do blue red until we get to it and then shoot off, do the Gorrick course and come back in at the same gate after completing the lap. Then likely just head back to Lookout taking in whatever else we find really.

Yep - from the green gate you'll actually be looking down the start straight (devil's highway) although you're looking back along it, the race came towards you and then hooked 90 degrees left on the loose stony climb at the gate.

So if you follow that there's probably enough tyre tracks to lead you in. make like Tonto and read the tread if not sure of direction!!

Thanks for that.... do you know where on this map I would find it please? Somewhere around Red 9?

[url= http://hampshiremountainbikeninja.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/future-ride-swinley-forest-saturday.html ]http://hampshiremountainbikeninja.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/future-ride-swinley-forest-saturday.html
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7 at a decent guess. You can see Corkscrew on the map there on the left.... which is over in the general direction.

think we'll do blue red until we get to it and then shoot off, do the Gorrick course and come back in at the same gate after completing the lap. Then likely just head back to Lookout taking in whatever else we find really.

Any chance of a photo/location thingy for where you leave new Swinley?

Any chance of a photo/location thingy for where you leave new Swinley?

Sure matey, i'll take one at the trail before as that's numbered. I'm not sure the next section of red at the t'graph pole has a number, but if it does, i will.

Will post them up about 8pm

Following this thread with interest. I'm off to Swinley on 27th Nov. Been up once before in the evening and just rode the Blue and Red twice. It would be good to find some other trails this time as we have a lot more time.

7 at a decent guess

Yes. Green gate is at the major track crossroads just south of where the red 7 circle is on the map (west of where the *7 is)

Just noticed that also has 'Rollercoaster' on it - by red 12/13 although their arrow goes in the direction I'd go, not down the pump track in the video above.

In fact - see the triangle on that map created by the boundary of 3 tracks where Rollercoaster is actually written, with the reservoir in the apex. The smaller grey track along the base of it is the second video I linked (runs east -> west) But i wouldn't bother with it today / tomorrow / for the next 6 months unless you like wet feet as it floods in the bottoms of the whoopy-doos.

Those of you who are heading out to Swinners...
Can I ask a favour?
It's really soft out there currently & there are far too many "desire" & Strava lines appearing (with the vegetation dying back) on some of the runs.....the Summer lines are still there - please try to keep them..
So could you please, please not use these "cheat" lines & if you see one appearing block it off with a couple of well placed sticks. Obviously any trail pixie work should be safe & considerate, but if we don't try to keep the lines running nicely we will end up with 2m wide straight slop rather than some nice sinuous and twisty singletrack..
POSTED 20 HOURS AGO # SHARE

Thanking you in advance.

😉

Alternative way to Crowthorne is to do a right/left over the fire road at the end of red 5 (not the one you cross in the middle) go straight on through the gap in the trees, then head in on the right past pips bench and go explore. Heading north ish will lead you to the corkscrew, South ish to Petes plummet and the gorrick start line area.

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Normal route on top, gate on the right, go right at the gate, when you see the bench look for trails behind it

Now Im confused as that looks like start of seagull!!

Ah, easy to miss that gate, flying up to get over the roots on the Red. I think there is a gap in the hedge at the end of the section before? I went through there and saw the bench in front of me and though it didn't look promising so turned back 🙄

is that by pips seat?

teamhurtmore - Member

Now Im confused as that looks like start of seagull!!

Yes, that's correct. Start of Seagull, which isn't really Seagull any more as it goes into Witches Lair and Twin Tribes too... but still ends in the same place by the concrete blocks where old Seagull used to end.

Yes and Yes to both.

It is seagull. There is a gap about 50 yards short of the gate as well but the gates a more obvious directing landmark if people don't know where they are.

Why is seagull taped off?

They're working on it apparently. So is the bottom of red15.

My mate thinks he knows you, Simon, mid 50's, rode a white Zesty with Bobs 4-5 years back. Bit on the tubby side and would have been puffing and panting 🙂

(Sorry mate, couldn't resist)

There re doing the trails yet again, 2nd part of seagull there putting in at least 1 table top. 1st part from green gate is tapped off, don't know what there doing there. Blue 14 has got some work going on aswell. Seems the whole thing is never open for long...

possibly - seen a few zestys over the years. Haven't ridden with them for a couple of years now though. I used to be one of the regulars on the Sat morning brownie point ride.

Many thanks to Weeksy - now I know exactly where I am.

There tomorrow - brrrrr!

What time does the car park open?

Website says 7am

There re doing the trails yet again, 2nd part of seagull there putting in at least 1 table top. 1st part from green gate is tapped off, don't know what there doing there. Blue 14 has got some work going on aswell. Seems the whole thing is never open for long...

It's to be expected with a place that gets so many riders..

Personally, I think they are doing an excellent job!

weeksy - Member 
I still get confused as to whether the long flat twisty blue is Stickler or something else beginnning with S

S for Shit.

If it's the tedious long flat twisty one with berms on the flat, *the* rock garden of Swinley and the wood ramp over fallen tree.

But yes, Stickler 😉

Instead of Stickler I now do the other Stickler which eventually ends in Dragon Valley and then pottle off towards to England drop off trails. And then back to those new looking trails which still need some work, across from Red 29 I think.

S for Shit.

If it's the tedious long flat twisty one with berms on the flat, *the* rock garden of Swinley and the wood ramp over fallen tree.

But yes, Stickler

Bit harsh, every time I see that comment. At the time (long before the TTS / influx of money) that stand of trees was set aside for a trail to go through. It wasn't the choice of the builders, it was what was allowed by the CE. The trail was built by volunteer labour, to make the best (and yes, most) of what is actually a small area of trees with minimal elevation difference in it. There are better trails in Swinley, and on other trail centres for sure, but to just dismiss the efforts of a lot of people as shit without knowing the background is a wee bit unfair.

theotherjonv - Member 
There are better trails in Swinley, and on other trail centres for sure, but to just dismiss the efforts of a lot of people as shit without knowing the background is a wee bit unfair.

I'm always mocking when I say it 😀 I do know the background and witnessed the volunteer effort on the extension to Stickler, pre "new trails". Not knocking them at all.

Not their fault, it's just... it's still shit 😛

Did it for first time in maybe year or two recently as someone wanted to do it despite protests from almost the entire group. I was just swearing all the way round. Makes me miserable that trail. That said, it fits in perfectly for a twisty course in small area suited to a race event for those who like going round and round that kind of thing 😉

Its one of my favourite trails!

I think it shocked the CE - when they said a trail could go through there I don't think they expected it to be a mile!

Weather's nice - feel the urge to have a crack at the drop!!

Will I have the bottle? Doubt it!!