04 FOREST OF DEAN

Just over the border from Wales, Gloucestershire’s Forest of Dean is a popular place to ride. It’s full of great trails and there’s a buzzing atmosphere at the trailhead too. There’s a mix of wide forest tracks, marked XC routes and plenty of DH trails to test your skills on. The red-graded Freeminer Trail was extended last year and the downhill tracks have just seen a bit of a revamp, with the addition of a skills area and a big pump track too. The downhill trails are easily accessed via the uplift service or a fireroad push-up, and the regular Mini DH and enduro events are a great way to cut your teeth racing. What’s more, the forest is full of great o -piste singletrack too, if you know where to look...