Riding near Birming...
 

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[Closed] Riding near Birmingham Airport

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Working at BHX Airport for a few days next week, I like to take my bike to save me from spending all night in the hotel bar.

Anywhere decent nearby I can ride? either MTB or take my Gravel Bike?

I can't see anything on Trailforks!


 
Posted : 17/05/2019 11:04 am
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There isn't much MTB riding around that area sadly. With a gravel bike you open up the lanes which are pleasant or the canal network which is also good for a few miles.
Depending on where you're staying you may find it easier to get the train 1 stop to Hampton in Arden as that opens up the Warwickshire countryside a little.


 
Posted : 17/05/2019 11:14 am
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Unless you can get up to Cannock by car it's definitely gravel/road bike territory. As lunge says, plenty of canals and lanes south of BHX.


 
Posted : 17/05/2019 2:44 pm
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Train to Cannock chase (rather than drive) for MTB.

With gravel bike there is passable road+bridleway- but it'd be more of an out-and-back e.g. Coleshill - Kingsbury Waterpark - Weeford (coming out in dog lane) - Knox's Grave Lane - descend by Bucks head cottage - rookery lane - then back the way you came.


 
Posted : 17/05/2019 4:30 pm
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There are also bridleway options out Meriden/Fillongley way.

How long have you got? I.e. are these going to be evening 6:00-8:00 rides after work? If you've got longer I'd just hop on a fast train to Stafford for Cannock chase.


 
Posted : 17/05/2019 4:39 pm
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Evening. Could be getting away for 5 but it looked liek cannock was probably an hour drive at rush hour. I might take the gravel bike and just follow my nose a bit!


 
Posted : 17/05/2019 6:44 pm
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Yeah Cannock prob. wouldn't be worth it for an evening.

Following your nose in combination with an OS map will get you some pleasant stretches. Not sure where you're staying from the station I usually take Coleshill Heath Road. It's generally OK apart from crossing the A452 and then A446.

A few random snaps
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Posted : 17/05/2019 10:43 pm
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Lickey Hills? They’re about 20 mins drive clockwise round the m42. Officially I don’t thing there’s anything in the country park. Unofficially there’s enough for an hour or so of fun. Clent hills are a little further on. More likely to get told off for riding there though.


 
Posted : 17/05/2019 11:07 pm
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Hopwas woods?  Hicks lodge about 30 min drive from bhx. Nothing special but better than propping the bar up. Some ok rides from there using bridle ways and a bit of road work. I tend to ride half hicks then off packington/ ticknall and finish the rest on way back. Can put a couple GPX together if intersted.

Also think there's now a bit round Polesworth Country Park


 
Posted : 18/05/2019 8:35 am
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@sparkerfix- last time I tried to go to Hopwas woods earlier this year it was completely closed (military) :/ Maybe that was only temporary but it's probably worth checking before driving.
Edit: firing times

]. However, if you're driving that far may as well go the extra few miles to the eastern edge of Cannock (e.g. park around Gentleshaw and ride past the old castle).

I tried those new trails near Polesworth (Pooley) a few weeks ago. There's the possibility of good airtime but they were really short. If not driving you can do a nice loop on the canal towpath using lanes/bridleways to Atherstone, like [url= https://i.ibb.co/gSYRLK0/image.pn g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/gSYRLK0/image.pn g"/> [/img][/url]


 
Posted : 18/05/2019 9:21 am
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I think the M42-A5 would be ok if you left a little after rush hour. This would allow you to drive from BHX to closer to eastern side of Cannock (i.e. avoiding going through the town), where you'd have plenty of options to get to the monkey trail. E.g. Gentleshaw common through old castle to Monkey Trail.
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Note there is also a little car park at the castle and also I've seen cars parked near "Beaudesert Old Park Car Park" on Google maps if you wanted to get closer.


 
Posted : 18/05/2019 9:48 am

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