[Closed] Salisbury plains , worth a few days riding ?

You're very much governed by military activity! Most weekends the Plain is open but there has been the odd time when I've turned up and it's closed. There is a monthly newsletter published giving the dates.

Someone else with better knowledge will appear I'm sure but it's a large area with variety although some of it can be boring.

I've got a nice little route that starts off on the Plain, drops into the Avon Valley and then returns via the Plain. Let me know if you want a gpx.

Have you thought about the Wiltshire Downs, ie around Avebury? Or how about the Wylye Valley which is where I rode today? Wiltshire/Hampshire border (Northern Test Valley) has some terrific trails that hold up well in bad weather.

Weather conditions will dictate though, there's a lot of chalk around here so lethal when wet.

Give me a shout if I can help further!

@ cinnamon girl , a gpx would be great thanks, email in profile 😀
Ive never ridden anywhere down that way so kinda open to offers as it were 🙂 ... just quite fancy a ride down there 🙂 ...... any decent campsites as well would be useful 🙂

The Avebury area could be a goer as well 🙂 ...

cheers 😀

What sort of riding do you want? There's obviously a huge amount of history around here, does that interest you? Do you like scenery?

Campsites - well I've noticed some in the most odd locations! Haven't a clue what any are like, let me have a think about that.

@ cinnamon, not into hardcore stuff, normally ride cannock or nant-y-arain etc, i like history and love my scenery so a mix would be good .... just a nice steady few miles will do .... anything considered 😀 ..

As C-G the plains are limited by MOD activity, although this might be worth a look [url= http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/things-to-do/outdoor-activities/cycle-routes ]Cycling in Wiltshire[/url] nothing to technical but should help you plan a few routes. Also has link to campsites.

MOD contact info [url= https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/33328/dte_info_leaflet_salisburyplain.pdf ]here[/url] give them a call they will be really helpful.

[url= http://www.urchfont-pc.gov.uk/News_and_Events/MOD_Salisbury_Plain_Newsletter.aspx ]MOD Salisbury Plain Newsletter[/url]

Hope this helps

CG is right when it is wet the chalk is mega claggy.Last Tuesday rode Barbury Castle/Ogbourne St Andrew/Milk Hill then Avebury etc.Very yuk.Strange area for riding nothing rad not the best singletrack in the world but there is something about the area scenery/monuments/white horses/crop circles.I think its the fact you can get away into great bit open spaces.Wilts doesnt have a great population when you take Swindon and Salisbury out of it.Enjoy.Quick when dry very hard going when wet 😀

Personally I would say that you need to be a local to appreciate riding there, I wouldn't travel far to be there. All C-G's comments about scenery are spot on though and I like it up around Gt Ridge Wood and over to the German Village and back to Grovely Woods. MBR has always described it as middle ring territory and that is right.

You could go 25 miles further south to Blandford Forum - there is a v good camp site there called Inside Park that will open at Easter and is run by a v good rider. Its hillier there, 25 miles can easily involve 1,100 metres of climbing but its not rocky but plenty of woods and singletrack. The local shop Off Camber does mid week rides that are good.

If you like history then can I recommend Bokerley Ditch? Not on the epic scale of the Wansdyke but impressive nonetheless.

Was the gpx received?

One of the bike mags recently did a feature on riding The Ridgeway on crossers, which looked good. I have done bits of the RW as part of a road/offroad circuit. I met a gorgeous girl in a cafe and we chatted for an hour before she revealed that she was home on holiday from her job in.... Australia! Shame!

tbh There are far, far better places to go for a couple of days riding.

Where you coming from?

tbh There are far, far better places to go for a couple of days riding

+1

Personally, I'd avoid Salisbury Plain. All a bit... 'plain' apart from the good stuff at Erlestoke which is on MOD land.

If you're heading for the Avebury area (bit claggy this time of year, TBH) have a look at [url= http://map.1sw.org.uk ]this[/url] website and zoom in on North Wessex Downs area. Every legally cycle-able off-road trail in the AONB with pics, film clips, descriptions, etc.

🙂

Well, it rather depends what you want, doesn't it?

A day of shredding the gnat in your gnar-pyjamas? Not the right place.

A lovely day of wide open skies, skylarks trilling on the gentle breeze and getting out there with friends and covering mile upon mile of lovely terrain, interspersed with an occasional stop at a cracking pub for lunch? Nowhere better.

🙂

PS - The Swan at Enford for great beer, the Malet at Newton Tony for truly epic food (esp the burger) and equally epic beer (Best pub in the world, I should add) , the Crown at Everleigh for a great beer garden (Not been in a while, I should add), Red Lion at East Chisenbury for another beer garden, Stonehenge Ales in Netheravon for the full brewery tap experience (Say hello to Stig!), The Shears at Collingbourne Ducis for a lovely all rounder, I could go on....

Erlestoke's great but only in the dry and is on MoD land.

I live in the plain and have some great riding on my doorstep, but it's very 'local knowledge' specific and not something I'd travel for when there is so much quality riding within an hour.

Was out Sunday and sadly witnessed the 4x4 (not anti it as I occasionally go off-roading too) lot doing their worst; trashing some of the damper tracks and totally blocking the byways with what can only be described as a five abreast roadblock. Clearly no other users exist in their minds. Idiots!

tbh There are far, far better places to go for a couple of days riding

+1

Personally, I'd avoid Salisbury Plain.

I agree with these two comment given above.

A lovely day of wide open skies, skylarks trilling on the gentle breeze...

Agreed - in the dry, that is! I've said this before, but I have great memories of the riding on the Wilts/Dorset border - not especially technical, but an amazing landscape in high summer. Chalk droves at dusk have a sort of luminous quality... and you [i]definitely[/i] feel the history.

riding on the Wilts/Dorset border - not especially technical, but an amazing landscape in high summer. Chalk droves at dusk have a sort of luminous quality... and you definitely feel the history.

Pratchett portrays that landscape as chalk clad whalebacks rising out of the valleys. He's right. Glorious countryside!

I had a great ride about 18 years ago from the White Horse at Uffington to Avebury. A nice bike ride, nothing more, and yes, as dusk hits,the chalk trail just glows. You can (and we did) ride it without lights.
Now whenever I listen to PJ Harvey's track "white chalk hills", I remember this ride.
Moving from Faringdon to Oxford meant I no longer have the Ridgeway, and in fact don't have anything to ride, I have to drive everywhere, which I hate.
It may not be classic mountain biking, but it is lovely. I used to go out on the ridgeway on virgin snow and just ride and ride, some old school house on my tape player, little rushes fizzing through me as the endorphins worked their magic.
I didn't know how lucky I was.

An old mile stone in the middle of Salisbury Plain, on the old Marlborough Road:

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Fyfield Down, near Avebury. Huge collection of grey wethers (sarsen stones).

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Imber Church, in the middle of the Plain.

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Silbury Hill, close to Avebury.

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Barrow Clump, site of a recent excavation featured on Time Team TV programme.

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Wansdyke earthworks runs for around 14 miles. Have spotted short-eared owls here:

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Liking those pics CG.... Reminding me of home.

Beaker, whereabouts? (I'm via a mix of Nethers, Bulford, Marlborough, Upavon and the Wallop Valley)

Lovely pics not been like that for a while.

When I'm in the UK (i work overseas)I live just south of Warminster. Been there since my early teens and Salisbury Plain is where is started biking. I don't ride there often enough now.

You could start in Avebury, head towards Silbury Hill, Fyfield Down, Barbury Castle, Marlborough Downs. Stunning views and needs to be dry conditions.

I've got a route that includes Stonehenge, Normanton Down with its huge number of tumuli and barrows, fun descent into the valley to stop at a village cafe to enjoy bread pudding and a pot of tea. Climb out of the valley to Yarnbury hillfort.

Hi beaker. 🙂 Hope you're well, where are you now then?

Stumpy, just for you:

I was riding in Grovelly last night and it was a bit dull, middle ring farm tracks with the odd slope. Same as Salisbury Plain really, all very beautiful as said but not for a super fun ride so it depends what you want.

Personally if you wanted to come down this way, I would head to coast/wareham and ride the purbecks - bigger hills!

Let me know when you are down and I'll show you round

Hello CG! Been a while hasn't it? I'm overseas with work (won't be too specific on location needless to say it's hot) and only get home every few months. Roll on next R and R.

It may not be classic mountain biking, but it is lovely

Absolutely - still rather haunted by those landscapes (in a good way!), tbh.

chalk clad whalebacks rising out of the valleys

For a little while, I lived just down the road from him (and Toyah). 😉