[Closed] Swindon area - what's the riding like?

Well, the M4 takes you straight down to Wales, you can cut across to the Forest of Dean, where you can spend hours riding the hidden trails north of the cycle centre, and riding south towards Wroughton will get you onto the Marlborough chalk downs, where there are many miles of byways and bridleways.

Isn't there a good track round the back of a building society near there?

As CZ said, plus a half-hour drive North gets you into the deepest darkest Cotswolds, where there is lots of lovely riding, road and MTB.

And as Lister said, there are of course the infamous woods behind Nationwide 🙂 (Google the Croft Trail)

The problem with Swindon is not the riding; it's, well, Swindon...

Go for a day out, its only an hour away.

Its hardcore round here. We're a mecca for world class downhillers, and the town centre is full of rad, sick gnarly kids here for the skillz riding.

No, actually its rubbish (expected swear filter to take that out, sorry).

Plenty of good road riding up North to the Cotswolds, or South to Marlborough Downs. Good mountain biking is rare though - most of it you need to drive to. Either the Forest of Dean, Cranham or other Cotswolds. Fair amount of bridleway pootling, and/or double track riding (like the Ridgeway)

If you can work from home, I'd try the Forest of Dean as you are likely to get more house space for your money there.

Saw this posted last week ...[url= http://www.mbswindon.co.uk/prospect-big-bike-ride-2013-charity-event-in-wiltshire-28th-april/ ]http://www.mbswindon.co.uk/prospect-big-bike-ride-2013-charity-event-in-wiltshire-28th-april/[/url]

Thanks for the replies so far folks.

Yep, I realise that Wales/FoD isn't far away and this is an advantage, however I was wondering about the immediate area for short local rides, night rides, etc. I have a young family so days out to Wales aren't really on the cards too often.

Just to clarify, I'm talking Swindon area, not Swindon itself! I've no doubt it's a lovely place but if I wanted to live somewhere like that I'd just move down the road to Basingstoke!

richardk - FoD would be great, however I need to be within reasonable striking distance of the Thames Valley in case I change jobs and need to commute. As for house space - we can get a decent 4 bed detached around Swindon for the price of a mediocre 3 bed semi where we are now.

Isn't there a good track round the back of a building society near there?

MrNutt spent 13 days bivvying and exploring the mystical trails round the back of the Nationwide...So I've heard...

DrP

Tony, Royal Wootton Basset would be worth looking at as well, it's just the other side of the M4, and is a nice little town.

CZ - thanks, Royal Wootton Basset is one that we've been looking at. Seems nice. Any idea what is happening with RAF Lyneham when it's closed? Just wondering what might happen to the local area as I'd imagine a lot of folks are employed there.

The problem is that due to the chalk, riding can be quite restricted in Winter. I don't live in Swindon, a different part of Wiltshire.

I find that I'm using the car a lot compared to when I lived close to Swinley Forest.

Don't know where you live but there is some excellent XC riding not far from Basingstoke. Yes I know but I've surprised a few folk by showing them some trails!

My biggest problem with Wiltshire is that the roads are not maintained, in fact they're bloody awful so much so that I won't road ride here. The 'A' roads are in an unbelievable state.

I thought Lyneham was becoming a training college for the services?

Thanks CG. I'm in Fleet (you used to live in/near Crowthorne IIRC?) so have some great riding on the doorstep and it would be a shame to lose that. Unfortunately it's just too expensive round here, hence we're thinking of heading west.

Surprised to hear about the roads not being well maintained, I guess we're somewhat spoilt round here as it's the same where my folks live (North Kent).

No idea what's happening with Lyneham, just that the repatriations had stopped there because it was closing/had closed.

Tony, Lyneham is going to be a tri-services engineering training unit, bringing together all the current establishments onto one site.

Not sure if that's a good or bad thing, does it mean three lots of squaddies fighting in the streets?!

Wouldn't have thought so, it's engineering types, not grunts!
What the Navy bods will do, being so far from water, though...

tony - yes, I'm from Sandhurst so could ride to Swinley from home and, believe me, really do miss that!

Could you not consider the M3 corrridor?

We could consider M3 corridor, however most potential future employers that I can think of (outside of London) are in/around the M4 corridor so it makes more sense there.

My missus is from Little Sandhurst, we'd love to move back there.

I work in Royal Wootton Bassett, and used to live here years back. No real military feel to the town - it's very separate/distinct from Lyneham.

There's enough diversity in employment in the town, so its not dependent on Lyneham. Not sure how turning it into a college will change that though (if it does).

RWB is a good place to live, but the comment about riding is still valid. You'll have a 30min ride on roads to get to any offroad stuff.

Richard - out of interest, if you still work in RWB why did you move and where to?

Hi Tony - moved out because there wasn't a house here that we liked. Wanted to move up from a 2 bed, and there was no 3 or 4 bed houses for sale in the town that we liked - very little choice at all, just 1 or 2 of each size.

This was 9/10 years ago, and when we sold, ours was the only 2 bed house for sale, didn't even get to market, it sold within 24hrs to someone on the agents waiting list.

There's a big spate of building going on now, so this problem shouldn't exist any more.

Friends have lived in WB for around 12 years and, as Richard says, there is building going on.

Driving from WB into Swindon at peak time is a nightmare apparently.

How about the Vale of Pewsey? A346 takes you to Swindon.

Thanks. Seems like there's a bit more choice now in the 4 bed market, which is where we're looking. Seems like the market moves a bit slower there than where we are at the moment too.

Do you mind if I drop you an email for some specific info? One house I've been watching for a while looks great on paper but any local info would be appreciated (eg how busy are the roads).

CG - it is a nightmare to get to Swindon. If you are going to the M4/Thames Valley then it is slightly better as the jams are on both sides of the M4.

Edit - sure Tonyd, if my email isn't in my profile, then I'll drop you a note

CG - thanks. Pewsey looks nice but might take a bit too long to get to the M4? Marlborough looks nice to, we've seen a few houses on rightmove that look OK there although it's still a little pricey. Guess it's still just about in commuter land.

Any of the villages to to the south of Swindon like Bishopstone, Liddington, Chiseldon, Wanborough will give you MTB trails and v close proximity to the M4. Marlborough is a good option, also the villages surrounding it like the Ogbournes or Aldbourne. Again MTBing without having to use a car. Don't totally dismiss Old Town in Swindon as its not like the rest of Swindon and you can cycle out to the Ridgeway from there.

After Cumbria, Wiltshire has the most bridleways and BOATs of any English county trouble is its mostly non-technical double track stuff but nonetheless in places like Tan Hill you can get a really good days riding in with a bit of a wilderness feel to it. Also the combes to the south of Hungerford can feel a bit like wales if you plan a good route. Don't bother MTBing Wiltshire in winter though as the chalk and clay make it a muddy hell.

Road riding is good and what I do most of. I must obviously use different roads to Cinnamon Girl as I've no problems with any of the roads in the Marlborough, Swindon, Calne, Devises, Pewsey, Hungerford area.

Thanks uponthedowns. Even non-technical double track would be good as they'll make for good family rides, so long as they're nicely countryfied 🙂 I realise I'm never going to get the perfect mix, but it's nice to understand what I might be signing up for. I enjoy road riding too and have to say the area as a whole always appeals whenever I drive through - rolling hills, big skies, lovely.

There is plenty of countryside riding around Swindon. I live in the town but can ride to the trails in under half hour to either the Wanborough or the Chisledon side.

A lot of its not particularly technical but even in the winter (normal winter) most of its rideable or you just have to pick your route more carefully. Also avoiding any lanes that have been "Chalk Capped" is a good idea. As said there are a lot of trails here. I can go out and ride all day.

Get a feel for it by going for a ride out with MB Swindon, just google it and see when their club rides are. Just checked and the Bronze Age Epic on the 23 Feb looks good.

Oh yes and I ride at night as well so quite doable.

As uponthedowns states, huge network of rights of way but do have to be shared with mx'ers etc. Tan Hill is on the Wansdyke, an amazing earthworks, and short-eared owls are to be seen in daylight. 🙂

Agree about riding area near Hungerford, my go-to in Winter and it really is lovely there. Loads of hills definitely!

Wiltshire is definitely a big-sky experience, also quite a varied county as I'm discovering. Interesting stuff to the South too.

Pewsey is definitely commuter-land with its station, Marlborough is most pleasant for shopping although the amount and variety of shops has declined over the years imo.

uponthedowns - where do you ride in Winter then?

Might check out that epic in a couple of weeks, looks interesting.

I live in Swindon. I've ridden round here for years. There's ace riding on and off road. I laugh in the face of the "lack of good riding" comments and just label them "lack of imagination". There's plenty to do and those of us that can be half arsed find plenty of riding all year round. MB Swindon has to be one of the most active and friendly clubs there is. The work they have done on the Croft trail is astounding. Again, imagination was all that was needed to turn a shitty little copse into a great off road blast.

Swindon is a town sullied by its centre and west Swindon. Old Town is a nice place to live as are many of the surrounding areas. There's a great local music scene and some ace off-the-beaten-track pubs, like the Beehive. I laugh at Wootton Bassett as well. The press have turned a mediocre town into a national shrine. I went to school there and also spent many Saturday nights watching bored locals beat each other to a pulp in the Cross Keys/Angel etc... The off road riding around WB is basically non-existant.

Finally we have a local CX team as well if you are that way inclined www.laatste-ronde.cx

I grew up in the Pewsey Vale and also in Old Town, Swindon for a bit. the PV is beautiful, lots of nice countryside and some cracking pubs. as peps have already said, there's plenty of bridlepaths around, and there's a massive network of country lanes for nice road biking on. Marlborough's growing a lot it seems with a lot more up market shops than when was a kid (both my schools have been ripped down!). Devizes, Calne, Chippenham, Melksham are all very similar market towns or differing sizes. Old Town's the only place worth living in Swindon, not that bad really.

worth checking out the Sarcen Trail, organised by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, a 30km or 50km circuit from Stonehenge, or a marathon distance on foot from avebury to Stonehenge. Rare chance to have good blat over Salisbury plain
[url= http://www.wiltshirewildlife.org/sarsen-trail/ ]Sarcen Trail[/url]

I do love the riding here, always cheers me up to get out. I like the way I can ride from my house out in to middle of know where, no one about, brilliant. Not that I'm anti social at all.....

uponthedowns - where do you ride in Winter then?

On the road 🙂

I was liking the sound of Wootton Basset until DavidB laughed at it. Personally I was thinking it might have improved since the repatriations stopped and the TV cameras left (not that I'd know). I must say having grown up in a small town myself and now having two sons I do worry a bit about them spending the weekends fighting, but I guess that could happen anywhere.

Pewsey Vale sounds nice, but could be a bit far from the motorway. So where else? Ideally needs to be an hour from Reading (OK, without traffic), countryside (trees are good), decent schools (primary within walking distance, secondary within cycling), good pubs, stuff for the wife and kids to do in the daytime (playgrounds, playgroups, softplay). And houses need to be cheap, or at least cheap enough to allow me to retire some time before I'm 90.

Presumably around Newbury is too dear? Tadley? When I was looking a couple of years ago I liked Oakley, west of Basingstoke. Village feel about it and quite removed from Amazingstoke!

How about the Candover Valley/New Alresford/Alton vicinity?

Another suggestion - villages around the Calne area?

Cirencester:

Ideally needs to be an hour from Reading (OK, without traffic) - yep, plus regular fast trains from Kemble

countryside (trees are good) - yep

decent schools (primary within walking distance, secondary within cycling) - yep

good pubs - enough in the town, buckets of good country pubs surrounding villages

stuff for the wife and kids to do in the daytime (playgrounds, playgroups, softplay) - er probably

And houses need to be cheap - prices not shocking.

Newbury is a bit pricey, although a couple of places in the surrounding villages have come and gone pretty quickly, with a bit of effort we could have managed those. Oakley, Alton etc a bit too far south really.

Calne looks very affordable actually, so much so that I've been wondering what's up with it!

Cirencester - interesting, hadn't thought about there. Is it really an hour from Reading?

Did suggest the villages surrounding Calne! I did actually look at a few houses there myself and whilst the houses were fine, it is a rather down-at-heel town.

Interesting buildings with stables, due to being on the coach road from London to Bath, cobbled streets, huge church, ghastly precinct with er ghastly people. New estate on the west side of town that looks OK location-wise.

[i]Cirencester - interesting, hadn't thought about there. Is it really an hour from Reading? [/i]

According to Google, 1hr 4 mins.

About the same by train from Kemble (slightly quicker if you get the direct train)

Also half hour-ish from Swindon, Glaaaacester, 'Nam, and and hour from Brizzle and Oxford. For somewhere in the middle of the coutryside it's remarkably well connected.

The prices in the surrounding (cutesy Cotswold chocolate box) villages can be a little ridiculous though.

Was thinking of adding a comment until DavidB wrote it for me 😆

Would echo his comments particularly about RWB 😉

I'm in a village between Lyneham and Calne (no prizes for guessing), wouldn't want to live in either of them but happy where I am, very quiet which I like.

Traffic between RWB and M4 can be a mare, if you were going to Reading though getting on this end (earlyish I assume) would be ok.

Do you RWB haterz feel that way because it was on the telly and now everyone there thinks they're special <insert winking smiley thing>, or is there something particular about the place?

Would prob be getting on the M4 at 7:30 ish so hopefully not too busy at that time?

My friend is quite happy living there. Parking in the High Street isn't easy apparently. I guess really it's pretty much a suburb of Swindon, is it?

It is difficult when you have kids but when my friend's kids were teenagers, she did worry about them going clubbing in Swindon.

Now let me clarify a minute, I wouldn't class myself as a RWB hater 😯
but as DavidB said it is mediocre.
What the town did on the repatriations was fantastic and a credit to them, however the feeling I got from the people that live there is most of them were pleased when the repatriations finished.

The senior school in RWB is I believe (not having kids) very highly rated (a mates Mrs works there)

Getting on M4 at that time would be no problem.

People parking on the High St is a pain, there's a massive car park round the back of the shops which people don't like to use as they seem to prefer interupting the traffic by trying to park on the High St 🙄

for the love of everything that is good, right and true DO NOT MOVE NEAR THAT HOLE!!

look at Hungerford. close enough to the M4 and just far enough from the "anus of the south"

And as for needing to use your imagination when riding around Swindon, I wholeheartedly agree, I spent ages trying to convince myself I was elsewhere. Then I moved to Exmoor.

I'm not sure how the riding around Swindon can be so good, yet non-existent around RWB; you only have to look at this map of the area to see that Swindon's the wrong side of the M4, for a start, you have to get across that and down through Wroughton to pick up the Downs.
[IMG] [/IMG]

MrNutt - you mean Swindon, RWB, or both?

Hungerford looks lovely, as does Marlborough, unfortunately from what I've seen it's too expensive for us.

I definitely approve of Cirencester.

A few more suggestions.

Shrivenham, Highworth, Cricklade, Lambourne.

Although it sounds like you need VFM so I'll suggest New Town in Swindon again. Despite what the Count says going through Wroughton to the Ridgway is no problem as is going through Coate Water Park over the M4 footbridge and up to Chiseldon. Takes 20 mins or so

RWB + Wroughton are part of Swindon, so much the same, with the exception that the inhabitants have a slight superiority complex over the Swindoners.

Calne is the armpit of Wiltshire.

The MTBing is saved by the fact that close access to the M4 makes it easy to go elsewhere. The road club is pretty active though.

Going back to the riding around Swindon, for MTB you've got the downs/ridgeway which I've been riding on since I was a kid. I's not great this time of year unless it freezes in which case it's great (if you like big open spaces and are not after anything technical). In the summer you have a whole day's off-road riding from Swindon, I live on the west side of town but can easily get across town and into the hills without going on the roads. There's a cycle track from the west to Old Town, from there to Coate Water or up Ladder Lane and you're then out in the sticks.

The Croft Trail is ace. It's not Wales, granted, but it is a lot of fun and better than you would believe for a tiny area.

The road riding around here is great too. I commute a couple of times a week to Hungerford by bike and it is a really beautiful ride (not so much tonight in the damp / snow mind).

People have mentioned Hngerford and Marlborough and I can see why but Hungerford stikes me as a strange place with more antique shops and tweed than is healthy. Nothing much to do for kids (here is a swimming pool at the school and that seems to be about it). Marlborough is lovely, pretty posh and very very busy in summer. Savernake forest is right next door, which is nice for picnics (not so grea for biking IMO) and you have the Pewsey Downs nearby which are lovely.

The area to the south and south-east of Swindon is generally the best for biking, both road and mtb IMO. The Cotswolds are good too but you have to go further away from Swindon to get to the best bits.

For living, Wootton Bassett is OK, nothing special really. Quite nice small town (not really a subhurb of Swindon although very near). Wroughton is alright, masses of 1960's estate housing which you either like or don't. Old Town is where lots of people would say is the pace to go if you have to be in Swindon itself, personally I prefer to be on the edge of Town for a relatively quiet life. I am within a short walk of Lydiard Park which is a great place for kids.

Sorry I have gone on and on. To sum up, I live in the place, it's fine as a place to live and if you find the right area for you a great place for kids too.

Would agree the town centre should be avoided if at all possible though.

if hungerford is too pricey try around Pewsey, Devizes, The Collingbournes, Lockeridge, or if you really must, Chiseldon

Countzero - from Swindon to the downs you go through Coate Water then over the wiggly bridge. The wiggly bridge is ace, every town should have one. Wootton Bassett doesn't Swindon does. QED.

But if you're not a fan of wiggly bridges you can go up Ladder Lane. Ladder Lane is an amazing descent when dry and an epic when wet. Wootton Bassett does not have a Ladder Lane. Swindon does. QED some more.

Both of those routes go nowhere near Wroughton.

Thanks Marvin/all - very helpful.

I used to work at RAF Lyneham and there's a natty blast right round the outside of the perimeter fence. You'll get a bit muddy but its all rideable in pretty much the worst conditions.

Personally I was thinking it might have improved since the repatriations stopped and the TV cameras left (not that I'd know).

Wootty B had/has a lot more about it than its association with the repatriation ceremonies and its not as if the press had an outstation there!!!

But you needn't worry now about scary military types daring to disturb the general public with such interruptions now the base has closed 🙄

Go on then mikertroid I've known WB for 30 years, please tell me the good bits, apart from the pottys in the Borough Arms or my old maths teacher pissed in the Couriers

Sorry - didn't mean to sound insensitive. I've no experience of RWB other than what I've seen on the TV and I applaud the empathy and kindness the town as a whole showed. It just occurred to me that a large majority of the rest of the country would be in a similar position to me and that to the actual population of RWB it might feel like a bit of a media circus.

I'd imagine that being known for just that one thing can get a bit tired, you yourself felt the need to say there's more to it than the ceremonies.

Pretty sure we're in agreement, hopefully I haven't come across as more insensitive in trying to explain!

I'd actually forgotten the Coate Water/wiggly bridge route, it's been quite some time since I was out that way. As you say, the wiggly bridge is awesomz! There really ought to be more of them, great fun. I've driven in and out of Swindon lots over the years via Avebury and Wroughton into Old Town, which is a lovely part of Swindon. A close friend used to live there, and I've been to gigs at the Arts Center there several times. The Town Gardens are very nice, too. Riding that road isn't something I'd choose to do, but I don't know a route, other than the Coate Water towards Marlborough on the Sustrans route.
I'd ignore llama, he really seems to have a few issues to resolve.
The main reason I said Wroughton was because I did a sponsored ride from the Swindon side of the motorway, down towards Wroughton and then onto the Ridgeway, Barbury Castle, Rockley, then back towards the Ridgeway and Wroughton. I still ride a big chunk of the route, but starting in Avebury. Not living around Swindon I'm not familiar with what's available up there, only what's south of the M4.

I've grown up in Swindon and while it's not amazing, I can't see why it gets such a bad rap. Yeah, it's pretty boring, but there's cinemas and swimming polls and all that stuff and the riding's really not that terrible.

With the recent volunteer work, Croft is getting to be pretty much all-weather and you can cover a lot of miles out on the Ridgeway if that's your thing. Personally I quite like those long routes with lots of climbs and descents, and the Ridgeway lets you see lots of different terrains, with wide open stuff and wooded areas.

Basically, it's not amazing, but it's really not as bad as people make out if you're prepared to really stare at a map for inspiration. Also, ladder lane is pretty great if it's nice and dry.

Actually, I take back everything I said above^^^

When I wrote that, I was remembering the last time everything was dry and enjoyable. Unfortunately, it hasn't been like that since summer 2011. The soil round here is basically clay. Whenever it rains this clay either turns into deep, energy sapping, wheel sucking bogs, or glazes over and becomes incredibly slick and pretty dangerous to ride at speed, but mostly just deep clay. Once it gets like this, it takes probably a month of sunshine to dry out, and when did that last happen? And once it does dry out, the local trails (basically just the ridgeway, which is just a long, wide bridleway) are pretty mediocre anyway.

Basically, if you enjoy mountain biking stay as far away from Swindon as you possibly can. Otherwise, you may as well just buy a road bike.

Two polar opposite views in less than 24 hours from the same person. You grew up in Swindon you say?! 😆

Basically, if you enjoy mountain biking stay as far away from Swindon as you possibly can. Otherwise, you may as well just buy a road bike.

Yeah, was trying to be optimistic yesterday, but went for a ride earlier and it was just miserable.

I wonder if the oasis BMX track is still there??, i loved that track!!

giant4x. It was 6 months ago when I last went there but the Oasis has now been sold by the council and might be knocked down soon

Good suggestion from MrNutt about the Collingbournes - that's Ducis and Kingston. Very close to some superb xc riding, also Collingbourne Woods singletrack but there needs to have been a drought before venturing there.

Devizes has the most awful traffic due to many roads converging on it and out of it.

I've lived around Pewsey area for most of my life and still finding/being shown new trails.
There's plenty of places to ride all round Pewsey vale, marlborough downs, the ridgeway, wansdyke, the plains etc ...no need for any driving.(bit limited at the moment but plains are fine)

There's a few of us who usually go out for evening rides once or twice a week (when it's not so horrible!)
Pewsey has it's own train station and only around 20 mins to M4.

Actually we're looking to move ...4 bed semi anyone? 😀

It was 6 months ago when I last went there but the Oasis has now been sold by the council and might be knocked down soon

Tonyd: no worries!

DaveB: we lived in Lyneham but wootty b worked well for us with a young family. Swimming Pool, enough shops to avoid the need to drive into Swindon, it's got good schools etc etc. It's no Malborough but its functional!

We used the Cotswold water park all the time (20 mins from Wootty B) and with the M4 on your doorstep, it was easy to get to Wales or London.

I'm further south (right on the plain) and there are some great places this way. Devizes is as mentioned a traffic nightmare!

People seem to be ignoring Wantage and the surrounding area, lived there for a whil and it is an ok town, one of the ex big hitters used to live in Grove which is a bit grim. Easy access to Reading good bike scene good school, usual compliment of nutters and a really unpleasant pikey family who you will hear of but unless your unlucky will never come across. Train to town from Didcot which is a 15 minute drive.

Always seems to get overlooked.

and don't even have any refreshment facilities up there in a van or caravan. Incompetent idiots.

Last time I was up there I'm sure I spotted a planning application for a new cafe stuck to a telegraph pole.

I live in Grove, really dont bother looking here. As for Wantage bike scene? Theres only one shop here and they only sell Trek.
The mountain biking while there are lots of bridleways they are super dull and beaten down by all the horses and 4WD. I now pretty much only road ride.

They did the same with the popular café at Barbury Castle; kicked the tenants off the farm, then let the vandals in to torch it, and don't even have any refreshment facilities up there in a van or caravan. Incompetent idiots.

I remember using the Cafe around 15 years ago at least. It was excellent. 🙂 Didn't realise it was attached to the farm though, was the local Council to blame?

Trouble is in Winter it's such a mess around that area. Was up there last week and not sure whether I can be bothered again. Took an hour to clean my bike. 🙁 Having said that, I do love the Downs. 8)

frepster you miserable sod 😀 well you do live in Grove 😆 the only shop organises weekly rides and is pretty friendly. Yes hammered bridleways is the norm but there was some okish riding to be done.