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Come out to Forest of Dean. One of the most popular blue trails in the country, plus you can do the blue loop and instead of finishing on the blue trail final descent (which is pretty fantastic) you can alternate and try the blue downhill descents of countdown and launchpad.
Pm me if you plan on going.
dancing james
Tallboy
This week we rode 2 welsh trail centres that were close to holiday house and on way home
Coed Y Brenin- average cafe but everything else top drawer. Clear signage, stuff to look at, brilliant trail design for even the blue- lots of features, changes in gradient constantly, most climbs were bermed, had features to keep interest etc. lots of flow, very few slow rocky drags up logging roads- mainly just to link 2 fun bits. Skills area for kids and adults, ideal to gauge your level. Well marked and explained. Would 100% recommend for xc/ trail riding up to the black. Free bike wash, toilets great, free EV charge, parking from £2. Cafe quite cheap but average stuff, but lovely views from balcony
Also lots of running trails, walking, nature hunts, play area etc.
Llandegla.
Worst trail I ever rode on the blue with my lad. Boring, almost logging road most of the way round blue which also made up a lot of the red. Poor drainage, forest has been smashed to bits for logging and left a right mess.
Signage for bikes and walks looks the same, wife went on the wrong walk route as their map doesn’t match the colours on the ground, we lost the blue briefly and rode red (the only interesting bit!). Skills area is a bit mushy as it’s all loamy forest stuff- like what we make in our local woods but not very professional. Pump track is signed at the start, not on the map and it isn’t clear that it’s really at the end of the trail. Parking was £5 per car plus £2 per passenger for any amount of time. If you were going for the more enduro type stuff it might be ok, but for trail and family stuff it’s not worth a trip.
Where can you find reviews of trail centres? I’d like to plan our next trip!