ESCAPE TO THE CITY
Quick rides with zero commute
MANCHESTER – HIGH PEAK 25.6KM (15.9MILES)
The west side of the Pennines probably doesn’t get the attention it deserve. While Sheffield to the east is the go-to Peak District destination for many riders, the hills that act as the backdrop for Manchester are just as fun and often quieter.
Starting in New Mills on the edge of the Greater Manchester metropolis this ride takes you out of the urban sprawl, through a post-industrial landscape and into the edge of the High Peak. It’s a punchy little ride that does away with pleasantries like a warm up, once you start you’re right into it – making it perfect for an afternoon blast that ticks all the boxes.
GPS download bit.ly/newmillsride
EDINBURGH – PENTLANDS 33.5KM (20.8MILES)
You don’t need to go far to find great riding in Scotland and you don’t need to go to the Highlands to find high land. The Pentland Hills butt right up to Edinburgh’s periphery, making them the easy and obvious escape route for mountain bikers in the city. Despite this they are often quiet and you can get that out-there feeling while still being within easy reach of chips ‘n’ sauce, making them ideal for a quick afternoon blast. At 34km this is no short and sharp blast, but it’s worth the effort. If time is tight there are a couple of places to cut corners, take a look at an OS map and tweak the route to suit. GPS download bit.ly/pentlandsride
BRISTOL – MENDIPS 25.5KM (15.9MILES)
Bristol is a city with a vibrant mountain bike scene. With Wales just a bridge crossing away and some great riding that starts right in the middle of the city it’s no surprise really. The Mendip Hills to the south of the city may be small but they are perfectly formed. This route takes a Mendip classic but adds a bit of a new angle on things by incorporating some trails that have been hand dug by the volunteers at Ride Mendips – the local trail advocacy group. It would be easy to spend the day just playing on these trails, tucked away in Rowberrow Warren, but it’s worth completing the loop just for the chance to ride alongside Cheddar Gorge. GPS download bit.ly/mendipsride
BIRMINGHAM – MALVERNS 13.4KM (8.3MILES)
Unlike some of the other cities on this list Birmingham is not the obvious place to get your riding fix. While there might not be a lot going on for mountain bikers within the city limits, only a little further afield there’s the likes of Cannock Chase, the Shropshire hills and the Malverns. The Malverns holds a special place in the heart of British mountain bikers, being the site of the iconic – and recently revived – Malverns Classic festival.
Think of this route as a rough guide. There are so many trails that criss-cross the Malvern Hills that following your nose as much as a GPS is definitely worth your while.
GPS download bit.ly/malvernsride
GODALMING – SURREY HILLS 24.8KM (15.5MILES)
The Surrey Hills are mbr’s home turf. We love ‘em and so do riders from all over London and the South East. The sheer quality and quantity of trails is what keeps riders coming back but it also makes it hard to pick out favourites, especially as a lot of them don’t actually appear on a map. This route is a good introduction as to what you can expect to find tucked away in the Surrey Hills but as ever it’s always worth asking any locals you meet for pointers on what other trails are worth exploring.
GPS download bit.ly/godalmingride