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Just moved house (well the week before lock down) and lucky enough to have some woods very near. Apparently they are National Trust. Been walking in them a fair bit and there's loads of lovely looking Singletrack. It's not signposted as footpath or bridleway and it's not marked on the map.
Can I ride them? Should I ride them? There is some evidence that horses go on them (horseshit...) but on tyres marks.
I see the odd other walker but it's generally quite quiet...
Fill yer boots.
Posting from Scotland, translation required please...😁
Ride 'em but I'd check whether the woods are designated/protected in some way, SSSI or similar. From my climbing days the powers that be get very sniffy about that sort of thing.
Went out for a ride today, of the off-road stuff I'd say 50% was footpath and 10% not designated as anything.
I also say go for it. From what I can see from the NT website, their remit is to be a custodian of that woodland for you, to protect it and ensure that it can be enjoyed by the public. That's you, so fill your boots. Obviously, rule 1 still applies, so no hooning. For me, woods are places where you should feel free to roam, as long as you have minimal impact on the land. Looked at the NT bylaws on their site, expecting to see tracts about cycling being banned. Horses don't seem welcome mind.
My local woods are FC, not NT, but there's loads of old logging tracks, random bits and nice singletrack. Only once in 15 years had an issue, with a Gamekeeper; we accidentally got close to where they were rearing pheasants. He was perfectly pleasant, just said his boss wouldn't like it. So I avoid that bit now.
Our local NT stuff has clear signs saying no cycling, so if they don't do that then ride and be respectful.
I don't think much single track is designated as a footpath or bridleway. Ride it.
“I don’t think much single track is designated as a footpath or bridleway. Ride it.”
Exactly. But don’t ride it like you own it, ride it like you’re considerately sharing it with everyone else.
You lot in England have weird access rules.
Our local NT stuff has clear signs saying no cycling, so if they don’t do that then ride and be respectful.
Some near me are like that. But only on some entry points to the woods so I just don’t use them...
“You lot in England have weird access rules.”
We’re better off than much of the world!
Yeah ride it but be very courteous if you meet anyone walking, which is more likely at the moment.
Yeah ride it but be very courteous if you meet anyone walking, which is more likely at the moment.
But as soon as you hit a bridleway, start being a ****. Keeps them on their toes.
don’t ride it like you own it, ride it like you’re considerately sharing it with everyone else.
Great motto whenever you ride anywhere that isn't a trail centre
Our local NT stuff has clear signs saying no cycling, so if they don’t do that then ride and be respectful.
Yep same in New Forest although I think even the non sign posted single track is not really supposed to be ridden on and they simply can't put a sign on every track across the forest.
Isn't now the perfect time for the rest of UK to follow Scotland's access laws with all the talk of active travel.
But as soon as you hit a bridleway, start being a ****. Keeps them on their toes
😂
It's a good point about riding the "paths" carefully, especially now that we have loads of extra people wandering about on daily exercise. I've had to come to an abrupt stop several times per ride recently. The newer walkers in the woods are more intrepid and are getting everywhere. Steep and techy single-track is no barrier.
I’m going out early morning to avoid them all. I’ve seen a lot of sunrises in the last 7 weeks. Beautiful time of the day.
Fill your boots but don't publicise it. That way you will get to ride them for longer.