England
Forest of Dean Cycle Centre
Forest of Dean Cycle Centre is a flagship Gloucestershire MTB hub offering everything from family-friendly loops to award‑winning blue flow and a technical red singletrack, through to a hillside of short, punchy downhill tracks. Base yourself at Cannop in the heart of the forest and pick your poison — it’s all well signposted and easy to lap.
- Verderers Trail (Blue, 7 miles) – fast, flowing corners, big berms and rollovers with the Dragon’s Tail finale
- Freeminers Trail (Red) – technical singletrack built and maintained with love by Dean Trail Volunteers
- 14 downhill tracks in the Sallowvallets zone, including Ski Run, GBU, Corkscrew and Sheep Skull
- Skills areas and pump track near the cycle centre for warm-up and progression
- On-site facilities at Cannop (cafe, hire, workshop) make it ideal for groups and mixed abilities
Under the trees you’ll find classic Forest of Dean roots, loam and the odd rocky section, with generally all‑weather surfaces that ride year‑round but get slick when wet. Expect quick 2–5 minute laps in the DH zone with a dedicated push‑up track or FlyUp uplift on operating days, and flowing XC loops that reward momentum and bike handling. It’s a brilliant venue for first timers, progressing riders and gravity fans alike — just arrive early on weekends and bank on it being popular.
