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I was pondering about all those must do rides and couldn't find a list that felt like it was written by real bikers, as opposed to someone using Google and hence this thread for the UK collective.
Using your local knowledge, wherever your locale is, where would be 'the ride' that you must do.
I lived down south and for me it would have to be South Downs Way. Approximately 105 miles and 14000' of rolling hills loveliness.
What would be your local must do ride?
I'm so hoping this thread ends up as a ticklist for good rides for us all.
James
Eastern Dartmoor, taking in Smallacombe, Hound Tor, Coombe Down, Bowermans Nose, Easdon Tor and The Nutcraker.
Well I’m on 1/2 so far…
Lollipop in Torridon, I guess. Though might well get a bit a bit trashed it too many people do it! West Highland Way (ideally in a day) is a bit of an epic. At least one of the Ft Bill DH tracks depending on ability/bravery.
All of the local woods, And the finest Hebden cheeky stuff.
Louise?
Would have to be Cutgate for me from the Langsett end. Rode it first in 1987 when we first got mountain bikes. Have rode it on regular basis since in all conditions. Always leaves me with a big grin
The woods behind the Nationwide in Swindon?
For a very average rider the WHW from Kingshouse to Tyndrum great fun in some really wild country and all rideable for mere mortals
Snowdon rangers
Le Pleney
Barry knows best😀
Les arc Black 8
And Tribhuvan highway for epic.
Some iteration of the PDS circuit.
Devils Staircase to Blackwater Dan the down the Ciaran path.
Cairngorm, Macdhui, Hutchinson, Larig an Lui then Ryvoan.
Crab and Troutwrestler seem very confused about where they live.
But I am also a bit confused as the OP hasn't set the goalposts very clearly. Is this a local ride that every local should do, or a local ride that everyone in the UK should do, or a local ride which everyone should do?
If 1, then fine, we can all play
If 2, then only people in North Wales, Lakes and northern Scotland can play.
If 3 then I'm not convinced that anyone south of Drumnadrochit can play 🙂
Swinley Blue trail.
A coast to coast. Doesn't really matter what one(lots to choose from),there's just something really satisfying about starting and finishing on a coast.
Sligachan out and back
Torridon
Borrowdale bash
wharnscale bottom
Skiddaw/ Ullock Pike
Swaledale - Fremington edge/ pinseat/ gunnerside
They seem to have lost popularity in favour of ebike laps of win hill trails nowadays, but for me the edale and/or ladybower loops are quintessential. Even better, make an epic of it and get the train to edale, hit edale loop, then up Jagger's to do most of the ladybower loop before breaking off for stanage and up over Burbage to finish down devils elbow to clean up most of the gritstone classics in one go. One day I will get round to that.
That said, I think there should be at least one ride in this list that is just the modern style of winch and plummet. Don't know where would be the defining place for that.
Even better, make an epic of it and get the train to edale, hit edale loop, then up Jagger’s to do most of the ladybower loop before breaking off for stanage and up over Burbage to finish down devils elbow to clean up most of the gritstone classics in one go. One day I will get round to that.
This is supposedly 9 of the top 10 downhills in the Peak, according to vertebrate graphics book:
https://strava.app.link/tZP9Q9m9ztb
( it's clearly not, as it excludes Cut Gate, but worth a go regardless)
And double points if you incorporate the 10th as well ( without getting in the car to drive to Hayfield like wot I did)
Local loop that I ride far too often but still love: Rodbrough Common, Spinney Woods, back o Woodchester, Penn Woods - Selsley and then winch up to the Fort again.
It seems churlish not to put in a mention of The Wayfarer pass over the Berwyn Hills. There's various ways of linking it into a loop, all of which involve a good bit of road, but even the roads run through some lovely countryside, and the pass itself always makes a cracking ride.
The woods behind the Nationwide in Swindon?
I hear it’s good to ride at this time of the year,less crowded 🙂
For an epic sense of achievement, with the minimum of stress, it has to be the South Downs Way, West to East, in two days if you can, or three days if you want it a bit more leisurely.
Other than that, Snowdon Llanberis path, while observing the hours of the voluntary riding ban.
I have to admit I have ridden in the woods behind the Nationwide in Swindon. I test rode a SantaCruz Nomad from Red Planet Bikes, sadly no longer in business. The bike was awesome, much like the woods....
Local trails don't cut it, so much as I would like to say Wakerley Woods should be on every UK MTBers bucket list I can't in good faith suggest that. For me the list should deffo include (ignoring trail centres)...
Skiddaw, down via Ullock Pike.
Snowdon / Rangers / Telegraph Alley.
Any 'classic' Ladybower loop (but ought to include The Beast, Spud Alley, Lockerbrook, WLT and Hagg Side).
An Edale loop of some sort (preferably taking in Jacob's Ladder, Roych Clough and Cavedale)
Extended / cheeky Borrowdale Bash (add on a loop round Lonscale Fell and Latrigg for extra fun).
Some variant on a Helvellyn winch and plummet.
Otley/Ilkley skyline.
Conwy to Aber falls and back.
Anything that takes in Grizledale Pike.