[Closed] Swinley.... Worth a visit ??

Where are you coming from?

Its a bit flat, trails flow quite well though and plenty of unmarked stuff about if you wander off the marked trails.

Sat morning, 11am Renton 🙂 Me and a few other STWers. We're with our nippers but i rekon they'll give you a run for your money 😉

2 hour round trip? Not a chance.

Go to Peaslake instead.

Depends what else is within 2 hrs of you!

I ride swinley alot (like 3/4 times a week). Just because I hate the gym and need to do a bit of fitness. An hour and a bit takes me round red.

It's dry and running well. Flat as a pancake and only a few decent down hill runs.

If you make the trip make sure you find out where the off piste stuff is (lot more to swinley than the yellow brick road). Join sfmb group on Facebook if you use it for maps and advice on where to look.

If you not been before well worth a trip... I like it but then again it's all I have on my doorstep. It's not Wales.... It's not got hills but for a forest in the middle of Bracknell it's not bad.

If downhill is your thing rather than xc /edurognarrrrrr give it a miss.

Depends how far away you are and where you're coming from but The Surrey Hills are miles better around Peaslake.

I've only ridden Swinley a few times but I have to say I found it pretty dull.

Conditions early in the week were perfect, bone dry. There has been has bit of rain since but not a lot so I expect it will be fine.

People cant agree on Swinley, some love it and spend most weekends there, some find it boring.

I am somewhere between the 2, considering it is a relatively flat piece of land near Bracknell, I think they have done an ace job to create what they have and it is a great hour and a bit to blast around. That said, it is pretty tame and it is no BPW so go with the right expectation and I am sure you'll enjoy it.

I'd give it a go if I were you.

I'd always pop in Swinley for a ride if I'm in the area as I rarely am but no way would I make a special two hour round trip. It's nice enough but no MTB mecca, just happens to be relatively close for London types so appears more popular than it maybe warrants

It may not have 'hills' in the context of climbing Whites or up BPW, however, if you go to Swinley and ride blue/red/blue you will be knackered at the end of it ! It's as good or bad as you want it to be.

IMO for the location, the price and the effort, it's impossible to beat.

Its not that bad, if you can find some pointers to the off piste stuff youll have more fun

just the waymarked trails are best hit flat out ( the signage is a bit confusing at a few points) it can get quite busy on the blue especially at weekends

anyway youve got a challenge ....

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/swinley-lap-under-an-hour

Thanks for all the replies.

Im coming from Wallingford just south of Oxford so its about an hour there and an hour back.

Im mega unfit at the moment as Ive been limited to the amount of cardio and loading I can do on my leg due to a suspected tibia stress fracture (plus also just being a lazy bugger anyway)

Weeksy I suspect I would be left well behind by all of the nippers that are riding with you mate !! 😯

Sounds ideal for me then cheers

Might actually get my new bike dirty

Steve

I had never been before and went for the first time last month, it's mint, great fun. If you mean it'll take you an hour to get there then yes go iiwy. It's weird though judging by the size of the carpark you'd think the forest is a small one but it's not. Parts are very fast and I loved it.

It's a bit like Cannock in a way. If you're somewhere between the two, it can make for a different day. It's nothing amazing and a bit hard going on a hard tail on the official trails due to the cobbled surfaces, breaking bumps and ruts on the more jumpy trails. It's also incredibly busy at weekends.

That said, add in the wider forest and off-piste options, and there's some nice stuff there.

If you're anywhere west and Welsh places are 2hr away, I'd go to Wales easily in preference (or FoD 😉 ).

If coming from straight down by south coast, I'd go with QECP but if bored with it, maybe Swinley for a change.

However if you're up for more gnar and fun, Surrey Hills easily, but it's not a trail centre and you will need to know where you're going.

Sounds ideal for me then cheers

I think it does. Having marked trails takes away the hassle of navigating and the blue and red are fun. Hope you have a good one 🙂

If you're not fit then its really perfect in in ways that a forest prety much in the centre of Bracknell can be....

Its good use of space and it's Bracknell not Leith Hill and certainly not a bike park like BPW..

The use of space means its easy to get back to the car form anywhere as you've been essentially riding in lots of circles.. You can have cycled miles and be knackered but the car-park is never more than 10-15 minutes away by firetrail.... (Perhaps longer if you were truly knackered)

It's more technical than say Sherwood and less than Guisburn Forest....as a comparison ... I didn't find a Red at Sherwood more technical than some blues at Swinley but there is nothing as technical as say Hope Line at Guisburn

Weeksy I suspect I would be left well behind by all of the nippers that are riding with you mate !!

I was kidding with that bit.

Seriously, come over at 11am fella..

It's worth a trip, yes it's flat, but it flows well - just don't expect BPW.
I go about 4 or 5 times a year when I'm in the area. If your going over the weekend / bank holiday Monday, get there Early as the car parks gets full by 9:30am....

Swinleys ideal for you I'd say. Flowing trials with little elevation and a few nice descents. It won't set your world on fire compared to welsh trails centres or your Scottish riding, but for a weekend ride it's spot on.

Well armored so it's rideable all year round. Well marked and you can split the red and the blue, so not a full on commitment if you're not feeling it (though the best bits are on the red).

Offer still there if you want to ride it sometime.

Thanks for all the offers peeps !!

I will take you up on them I promise but this weekend will be a spur of the moment thing depending on family/work duties etc !

I havent ridden properly in over a year due to work commitments so I know Im going to be pretty rubbish bike wise and fully expect to come off at some point !

All part of the fun though eh 😀

Oh and Weeksy..... I wasnt joking mate I am seriously unfit

Worth a visit and even better if you can go with someone who knows the place and can tell you what features are coming up rather than going in blind

Oh and Weeksy..... I wasnt joking mate I am seriously unfit

Shouldn't matter as we will have kids with differing ability/fitness.... so the fitter ones might do a loop fast twice whilst anyone wanting a more mellow experience can do it slow just the once and even push any bits they need to....

There would even be opportunity to taking a half hour break whilst some kids do a loop and get back to a meeting place. Last time I went with my brother (seriously unfit and never ridden single track... I had to add a lot of pressure to tyres and shock on my HT I lent him....and he stopped at a meeting point for a smoke and lie down while I did a loop (seriously)

I only tend to go in winter when I need some off road that isn't mud, as I prefer XC from the door. But having said that it is good for what it is, and there are lots of trails on the site and plenty are fun. Being flatter you have to work pretty hard if you want to keep some speed, but if you're not fit then it's a good place to go round at your own pace, make your own route from the red and blue, and pause whenever you want.

I made the mistake of going on a weekend once and it was mega busy and I hated it, maybe try a weekday evening?

Hour each way for me too, but it's a decent place to ride for a change (live very close to QECP). Probably do Swinley trip 3-4 times a year.

Called in on the way out to France a couple of years ago. OK if you like riding round in circles in the woods. Not sure I'd bother again, I'd find somewhere on the South Downs next time.

Note: I'm not fond of trail centres so the above comment should be taken as tongue in cheek from a grumpy old man!

if you're in wallingford, just head to the end of Rectory Road in Streatley, and go up the Ridgeway to Ardington, come down to Stanmore, then back to the Ridgeway, and back to Streatley. Only 30km or so, and no real hills (apart from the first one...)

Tend to pop in if I'm passing, especially during the winter when everywhere else is mush.

2 hour round trip = hour each way? Yeah, why not, if you've nothing better to do. Sat will be utterly heaving tho.

Personally, if it's dry, I'd head to QECP.

Ah, the old flat as a pancake thing again.

Yes, it lacks the elevation of the welsh or scottish centres, but there's still 250m of climb per lap, and in contrast to some of them it keeps coming as opposed to 300m of climb followed by 300m of descent.

If you do a lap of Swinley and aren't blowing by the end of it - go back and do it again but this time try harder 😉

If you do a lap of Swinley and aren't blowing by the end of it - go back and do it again but this time try harder

Dont worry, Im fairly sure I will be blowing lifting my bike out of the car !

Yes, it lacks the elevation of the welsh or scottish centres, but there's still 250m of climb per lap, and in contrast to some of them it keeps coming as opposed to 300m of climb followed by 300m of descent.

Put into context, it's ~10m per km.

I bet there are hillier TT races out there 😉

[i]I'd head to QECP.[/i]

[i]Im coming from Wallingford just south of Oxford[/i]
[i]I am seriously unfit[/i]

I wouldn't! An hour to Swinley, or almost 2 to kill yourself Petersfield? Not an option for the OP I wouldn't think...

and I'm blowing out of my arse on those too.

your point being 😉

Im coming from Wallingford...

If dry I'd go to the Chilterns. 😉

Got to say i found the Swinley trails pretty boring/poor when i visited the first time a few months back. They had done a great job of making the most out of the complete lack of elevation. But found it surprisingly laborious as it was a constant pedal fest. I wouldn't go again in a hurry, but then it is 2hrs away from me. That said you may love it Renton, its just not for me.

I think Swinley is great fun personally.

It's not got a huge hill that takes you hours to go up then a long descent down like some of the Welsh trail centres - it's much more undulating up and down.

That said the climbs therefore don't kill you and you're fresh to just go flat out everywhere. One lap is pretty tiring but I have done 2 in a day before and I'm not hugely fit.

It's not technical nor are there any steep descents - but it just flows everywhere nicely. It's all weather surfaced but can get a little slippery. There's one section at the top of the red route where it gets twisty through trees - there are a few evil braking ruts / steps there by roots so just take it steady.

theotherjonv: the old flat as a pancake thing happens to be true though, doesn't it? The limited elavation (in small chunks) basically makes it an XC ride on man made trails, so not your typical trail centre fare. It's good for what it is, but for me if it's not that different to my local bridleway riding - especially in summer.

Renton - I said earlier it was fun and worth a go, but if your time is limited then why not save the hassle of driving and go for a nice ride from the door, plenty of decent rides nearby and choose your distance?

YMMV - what might be flat to some isn't to others, there are a few sharp sections where it's perfectly possible to hit max HR and 250m per lap isn't flat. I think back to the days of the Gorrick Spring BH Enduro, which was run on a very similar type of course, one of the top guys in the 7 lap / 100K event reckoned it was as hard as a day of the TransAlp that he'd done before because of the incessant up-down-up-down nature. That and the fact it was unseasonably hot and Mr Gorrick screwed up course marking and it was closer to 120K 😉

The last trail centre I rode was Glenlivet, how does it compare to that ?

As my local trail, it's incredible.

Waymarked, always rideable, fun bits you can session easily and more stuff opens up the faster you get. My biggest regret is not sessioning the gully more when it was there.

Still, not worth the round trip unless the weather is terrible and you want somewhere that is guaranteed to be rideable.

Has anyone done cannock and swinley? how do they compare, they sound similar ish, except swinley sounds even flatter than cannock.

Surrey resident.... Just don't get Swinley at all. Been there a few times, and always come away a bit bored. The cafe is dire. Cannock? Just been the once and enjoyed it hugely. Just a better experience all around. Swinley isn't as easy to ride as people make out - flat means to get the best, you have to crack on. There are also bits that left me dizzy. OK if you live in the area, but I'd not put any effort into getting there otherwise.

Cannock's my local and I'd say Cannock is marginally better as there is much more elevation. There are times where you don't have to pedal and I definately noticed I had to keep pedalling at Swinley. Although they are both great fun.

Cannock used to be my local trail centre, now its Swinley and I think they are a bit different. Purely as a xc trail centre Swinley is great, particularly if you loop in other off piste xc stuff. Yes its flat, but put the hammer down on a HT over those undulating cobble sections and I'm stuffed after a circuit. Some of Cannock's sections just don't flow but the down hill sections are longer and better, with black options which are as intimidating and difficult as many a other trail centre.

I love Cannock as there is so much more than just the trail centre stuff.

Infact my ultimate goal is to be a nice house with room for log burner right on the edge of the chase somewhere so I can ride everyday.

If you're in Wallingford OP, pay [url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=497090&y=211790&z=120&sv=497090,211790&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=743&ax=497090&ay=211790&lm=0 ]Ashridge[/url] a visit instead. It's flat, there'a great café, two good pubs just below the ridge (Aldbury - Trooper welcomes muddy people) and plenty of interesting trails. Presonally I'd head out through Berkhamstead Common toward Frithsden Beeches (which is where Jaja Binks, Obi Wan and Qui Gon get chased by Trade Fed robots, as well as a lurking place for Robin Hood and Harry Potter) and explore the bridleways and *cough* other paths that may see foot traffic, and possibly pop into [url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=501636&y=209875&z=115&sv=501636,209875&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=743&ax=501636&ay=209875&lm=0 ]this pub[/url].

This time of year the bluebells will be stunning.

Times I've been to Cannock I've felt it's got a Swinley feel to it, though the trails flow together better. It was okay but for me as a Surrey resident, Cannock is a fair way to go and my opinion was for that kind of journey, screw that, I'd rather go to Wales.

renton - Member 
I love Cannock as there is so much more than just the trail centre stuff.

Which to be honest is true of Swinley, though we deny all knowledge of anything other than the official trails of course 😉

Oh and Swinley has the upcoming Freeride area, due sometime in 2040 😆

For what it's worth my riding buddies and I enjoy our once in 8 weeks (roughly) trip to Swinley, it's about 45 - 60 mins drive from us (near Winchester) but we nearly always do it as a night ride. Occasionally we go with families which makes it just a pootle around for which it's perfect.

Not super challenging but at night in mid-winter it's had it's moments!

Been quite a few times and never really enjoyed the experience much.
In fact, a couple of times I vowed never to bother to return.

Too pedally for my fitness level, too repetitive, a lot of rough and unpleasant surfaces, and when it's wet, too much mud in between the trails.

There are a couple of fun bits, but nothing warranting it as a go to destination, and especially not if the Surrey Hills are nearer.

So I've just got back from Swinley and have to say I've mixed feelings.

Some parts are very pedally and not very rewarding for the effort that you have put in.

However some of the bits on the red are pretty decent to be honest.

I did the blue/red/blue in just over two hours which considering my level of unfitness and also not knowing the trails is pretty good. This time also includes a lot of stopping and chatting to other riders which was cool.

Bike was good however I'm seriously not used to a hardtail and found it hard going on the legs.

Cheers.

Steve.

Some nice bikes out too.

Loads of whyte t130 bit was also chatting to a chap on a very production privee Oka.

The Whyte t130 is the local hire bike so not popular so much as default. I tried one recently while shopping and floppy was my main impression of them. Very little effort got to the wheels.

Swinley gets better the more you know it. On a first go you'd be caught out by a lot of the pump sections and berms so lose a lot of speed and energy. When you know it these are fast and fun, and you can get air on all of the drainage humps too.

The Whyte t130 is the local hire bike so not popular so much as default. I tried one recently while shopping and floppy was my main impression of them. Very little effort got to the wheels.

Did you set the shocks up ??? (I find unless you ask or do it yourself you just get whatever the last person had them set on)

As a casualty of hiring I bought a used T-130 and with the shock set for me I don't feel like I'm losing much at all (and that's compared to a hardtail)

Some parts are very pedally and not very rewarding for the effort that you have put in.

However some of the bits on the red are pretty decent to be honest.

That sums it up..... though agree with lustyd.... not to mention we often cut bits out and double up instead doing other runs that are more rewarding for the pedalling ... though you need to get to know the place before you can really do that.

Some nice bikes out too.

Loads of whyte t130 bit was also chatting to a chap on a very production privee Oka.

That might have been me on the Oka if it was black and yellow and I was with my son on an orange commencal..

That might have been me on the Oka if it was black and yellow and I was with my son on an orange commencal

Aye I did see you today, I was following your lad down one of the trails and he is pretty good to be honest. His bike looked mint too.

I caught you when there was a lad on a cannondale asking you about your lads bike.

@stevextc yes the shocks were set up, just doesn't seem to be a very good bike. Admittedly I'm used to high end bikes so it might be good in its bracket, although I tried the XT version (RS?). Went with a Scott Genius tuned plus in the end which is in a totally different class in my opinion after trying on at a demo day. I didn't try the tuned version, but same geometry and it was just better all around with less power loss, floppyness, bounce, pedal strike...
Now I just need to source some boost and plus components to turn it into a bike, harder than it sounds!

I really like swinley has a good mixed bag of xc ,the climbs are petty tough if sprinting great
High speed Burms , good climb up to the flat area near the mod with 5 decent descents some with table tops and doubles forestry bits are great flying round , if you crack out 3 flying laps and you aren't tested you ain't going fast enough ,peas lake is good but if you don't know the area could be frustrating it's good to have variation, thetford is flat ish but ride Brandon side as well you will be tested if push you all the way, bedgbury is pretty good but a little short but crack out a few laps all is well, the Hadley Olympic track is ok for training good climbs Knarly descents air ambulance is always busy ,you can't please everyone depends what the rider requires .

Surrey Hills still beats it by miles, but then if you prefer groomed trail centres then SH is not your thing (unless you want to ride BKB all day).

I've only been to SH twice, both times with a local. I rode all the main ones although it had been a bit wet and wintery.

I'd much rather ride Swinley. I'd much rather drive to Swinley than SH.

I like Swinley - it's all about swoopy fun, it holds up well in the wet when the Chilterns (where I live) is a choice of bottomless mud, wet roots or slimey clay.

It's not Wales and if Llandegla was closer I'd ride it in preference but it's a good ride an hour from my doorstep.

I probably ride it 2-3 a year. I ride Ashridge and Chilterns more generally more often but it's a nice change and isn't as far for me as Cannock or any other trail centre.

Go there quite regularly with my lad (aged 7) and he loves it - did the whole of the red last week end. Swinley works well for him because the climbs are short and rewarded fairly quickly. More recently we've been having quite a lot of fun finding the old trails that I used to ride about 10 years ago. Car Park always seems to be rammed but in general I've found the trails not too busy and people mostly pretty friendly. The new trails also drain a bit better than the old ones (well a lot actually!)

Hi. Honestly their are more technical and hillier trails out there. But some are so poorly marked you'd just get lost, some just take but don't? give back and some are just too far away, unless on a holiday. But Swinley personally blue/red/blue is a pretty good package. A bit of everything and at the end of it you will be knackered but with a after buzz, which is what's its about in my opinion. I travel 1½ hours each way and i think it's worth it. There are closer ones to me QECP just takes dont give and no buzz, surry hills, unless your a local or got a guide your get lost, don't really do the full on dh, as like to make it into work on the Monday

Got to love dry and dusty trails though...

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