Woburn questions

I’ve not been since the autumn, the jump park was closed, some of the locals may know if it’s re-opened.
But I wouldn’t say there is anything suitable for a novice in the jumps area.
The Red Route has a couple of very small challenges, there’s a new tight turn on a downhill recently added been added but nothing too tech and a lot of the previous fun bits have been mellowed out. Pretty much all the tech is walkable or avoidable. The Red while not flowy isn’t really technical. I find it quite “climby”. A couple of nice sections, but that’s it.
I’ll be honest and say I don’t like the Blue, but that’s because I find that side of the woods to get more waterlogged. It starts of well but kind of goes a bit meh in the middle.
I don’t know if the off piste area is ok to ride these days. I didn’t ride it last time as messages were being sent around not to. Most of the fun bits aren’t on the Red or Blue Trail, but I’m sure a couple of other guys will be along soon who know the area a heck of a lot better than me….I go a lot but always seem to go a different way every time but still end up a the right place….there’s a central “hill” section with a load of fun trails coming of it. Your lad may find the climb up a bit of a killer though.

Bike park is open. I ride loads at Woburn on the trails .don't do much waymarked though. The red is good in places .the blue is meh imo. A few riders from here ride there so it's worth posting when you're there to see if me or someone is about to show you around

The local trail crew put a load of work in over the autumn to sort out the issues with water logging on the blue trail. It’s much improved now.

As w00dster says, there nothing majorly technical on either of the waymarked trails, and due to the geography it can feel a bit climby. There’s enough going on to make for an interesting ride most of the time though. ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ are just used to identify each of the trails, by the way, not their gradings.

Things seem to have calmed down with regards riding the (non-permissive) back-woods. Things went a bit crazy during Covid, and I can sort of see why the locals began showing distain given the volume of riders compared to normal, but since shops reopened, Britain have returned to their pastime of choice and the trails are much quieter as a result.

Best place to park is https://maps.app.goo.gl/5uTpsmRysMURpnZE9?g_st=i c">here (note - approach it from the north, not the south. Although that looks like a road on Google maps, you’ll not make it there from the south unless you’re an experienced driver in a lifted Landrover Discovery).

For a nine year old a lap of centre Parcs would be an ok ride. I haven’t ridden it for a week but it was fine then. It goes down hill over the winter particularity if motor bikes get on it. There are options to extend the ride north of the A507. Ask if you want more details of local rides

I’d be more positive about the Woburn stuff, I enjoy it. A child will be on and off to their bike for the odd steep bit, mainly the ups.

There are also the trails at Rushmere. You can either park their or ride over. However there is a fair amount of climbing, perhaps even more.

Woburn and Rushmere both need permits bought from the green sands trust in advance

For non technical, scenic riding, the area between Luton and Hitchin is great. I know that seems unlikely

You’re about the same distance from Chicksands. Not ridden for years in the area you pay for. However I’ve seen lots of families in there. Trail map looks promising

https://www.chicksandsbikepark.co.uk/trail-map

I think it depends on the kid, my 6yo can probably do all of the downs on the red in the dry, with maybe the odd walk. The ups would be harder for her, she probably can't do the distance and it's undulating so towing is impractical. There's a new set of progression tables in the jump park, building up from fairly small that she'd be able to have a go at.

Chicksands is probably a good shout too, some trails are all rollable and can tow up the fire road.

They have marked trees for felling (red side - don't know about blue side) - which was apparently supposed to happen in November - anyone know when they're planning to do that?

We did Rushmere for the first time last week too - about a 15 min quiet ride from Red - good fun but more wide and flowy and less techy (still fun)

For the waymarked trails you're best off parking at the Sandy Lane Car Park (MK17 8TR is the nearest postcode). As mentioned approach from the North - if you're coming from Centre Parcs you will come in this way.

Both routes are very well signposted and start from the Sandy Lane Car Park. I'd echo the comments about there being no real difference in how technical the trails are. The blue is definitely more boggy than the red, there has been work to improve the boggiest section, but it still has some parts which will be a real slog at the moment.

On the red there are several options to shorten the route if needed - there is one point you come back to three times roughly two thirds of the way round (after a short steep climb) - it should be obvious how to do this if needed.

Thanks for all the replys. Does anyone have the actuall distances for the 2 loops?

Can't remember distance but both sides can be done in 90 mins without busting a gut.
Obviously longer with the youngster in tow.

Shout if you want a guided tour. If I'm around I'll bring my lad (11) out too.

It's about 14km in total for red + blue

Nothing too technical on either, signage is a bit flaky in places, but not too difficult

there will be mud!

My boys did both aged 8 onwards on rigid bikes

There's no shop or cafe so take snacks

Enjoy

I think Kimbers is correct red 7km blue 4km

A few decent places in Woburn Sands for coffee/cakes/pancakes post ride.