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Anyone got any off road rides in the Marlborough area? I might well be spending the odd weekend in the town later this year and into 2013
Ta
Ridgeway ain't far mate.
West Woods?
Coolio
Cheers chaps
Marlborough is a delightful little town although it's become overun with poncy coffee shops.
It's chalk downland so obviously in the wet it's bloomin' awful. When it's dry there's some gorgeous scenery to be enjoyed. Would strongly suggest that you get hold of an OS Explorer map for the area.
In the meantime here's a few suggestions:
North of Marlborough: Avebury/Fyfield Down/Barbary Castle/Smeathe's Ridge. Further north (Swindon) is singletrack at Croft Trail.
South of Marlborough: West Woods/the enigmatic Wansdyke/Golden Ball Hill/Huish Hill/Oare Hill/Martinsell Hill and fort/Knaphill/Pewsey Vale.
East of Marlborough: Savernake Forest.
The Ridgeway is useful for linking, as is the Kennet & Avon canal, as is the Wansdyke.
That's just a quick taster, you're welcome to post up with any questions. I'm still learning new routes!
Cheers CG As it happens a friend has just bought a pub there so no poncy coffee shops needed! 😀
Is there much around Oare hill and W. Woods then? Originally from Devizes way so would be nice to go and have a play when I go back to visit the folks 😀
xcgb - ah, you move in the right circles. 😀
LoCo - Oare Hill can be used for xc ride along the ridge towards Martinsell Hill/Golden Ball Hill. As for West Woods, well I did go for a little pootle there at bluebell time and saw someone in a full face getting air. 😯 I really couldn't say. 😉
😀 Ta 😉
Cheers CG, I'm moving to Marlborough at the end of the month and keen to find out where to ride. I'll be keeping clear of the coffee shops!!
West Woods has some decent trails but you've got to go looking for them and I imagine they are pretty horrid at the moment. I have a few epic routes around the area in gpx format if interested
There are a couple of good coffee shops namely Appleby's in Old Hughenden Yard just off the High Street, also one whose name escapes me but it's in Hillier's Yard and that's just off the High Street too.
🙂
Thanks DavidB- I dont't have a GPS so not sure the files would be any good for me at the moment.
CG- I'm moving from Bradford on Avon, so well conditioned to a fair degree of 'ponce'. I'll check out your recommendations. 🙂
Ooooh, haven't investigated Bradford-on-Avon, apart from departing the canal to cross the BoA bridge and being shocked at the amount of traffic and car fumes!! Rode out pretty smartly too.
Is it worth a visit? (I'll take my own flask!) 😉
I agree on the traffic! I would say BoA is well worth a visit. I'm going to miss it, but looking forward to Marlborough.
OK, thanks. 🙂
I came across some in Westwood one day
There are a few good descents down through Conkwell Woods onto the Canal.
B-O-A is not that great off-roading but is nice place.We use to own a canal boat at the marina just out of town not top-lock.The tow path is nice to Avoncliff and Dundas over aquaducts.I use to ride the towpath to near Bronham then go off-road over Roundway hill then over to Lansdown tower nice views all around not radical tracks but ok.
Excellent indian in B-O-A nr top lock just down from the bike shop.Road riding around there is great very quiet.
I might well be spending the odd weekend in the town later this year and into 2013
May I suggest you bring a road bike then as the trails round here are a muddy slog fest/chalky ice rink in winter.
Apart from the areas mentioned above there is some good MTBing to be had in the combes to the south of Hungerford between Hungerford and Andover. Nice and hilly, some of it even feels like it could be in Wales. Also Collingbourne Woods near Ludgershall is worth a visit.
Did a 30 miler over the Marlborough downs area today. A lot of doubletrack byways and bridleways but there's some half decent riding if you look for it. As CG said there's also the croft trail in Swindon which we (MBSwindon) ride every Friday night. Give us a shout when you move here and I'm sure you'll find one of us willing to show you around. Also there's the Bertie Mafoons shop rides from Marlborough.
Second uponthedowns suggestion of between Hungerford and Andover. 🙂 Gorgeous area and stunning views. 8) Here's some routes that you can download:
http://www.testvalley.gov.uk/resident/communityandleisure/cyclingwalking/cycling/
davesmate - was it not damp on the Downs? I've been avoiding that area for a while.
To be fair the chalk drains pretty well. Granted the rutted mess that is the ridgeway can get pretty bad but get off the beaten track and things aren't too bad.