LOCATION DETAILS

Wiltshire’s rolling hills provide some big, long climbs and descents, with great views. There are lots of well-surfaced, wide tracks, which are easy to navigate, enabling you to cover big distances quickly. While there isn’t much technical riding, many of the trails are hard or drain well, so they provide good riding at all times of year.

GETTING THERE

Our ride starts in Codford St Peter, north-west of Salisbury. From the A303 (between Basingstoke and Exeter), follow the A36 north towards Warminster. Turn o right, into Codford, and park on the High Street, near the pub or theatre.

MAPS & BOOKS

OS Land ranger 184: Salisbury& The Plain. Mountain Bike Ride sin& around Wiltshire& Dorset by Max Darkins (Rough Ride Guide).

FACILITIES

The George pub in Codford has just reopened (01985 850270). In nearby Heytesbury, the Red Lion has B&B rooms (01985 840315, www. redlionheytesbury.co.uk). There’s a Budgens shop and petrol station in Codford, the Hillside Cafe (01985 850712, www.hillsidecafe.co.uk) and Toran Indian restaurant (01985 850081, www.toran.co.uk) just up the A36, towards Warminster, or the Courtyard Cafe at The Ginger Piggery (01985 850381, www.thegingerpiggery.co.uk) over the road in Boyton. On the route, The Swan at Stoford, near Great Wishford, welcomes MTBers (01722 790236, http://theswanatstoford.co.uk), and The Boot Inn (01722 790243, www.theboot.pub) and Farm Shop in Berwick St James are both good too.