Train to trail — Exploring the UK's bike parks by rail

For complete beginners to lifelong riders, bike parks or trail centres are fantastic places to spend a day in the dirt. Luckily, in the UK we’re blessed with plenty of them. Typically set in forests or moorland, they feature networks of graded, purpose-built trails that cater for a range of abilities, and usually are accompanied by some great facilities to help you enjoy your ride; bike washes, toilets, car parking and the all-important trail cafe.

Yet one of the aspects that makes these centres so brilliant — their remoteness — can also be their downfall. Suppose you don’t have a car, or want to cut down on using it? Or perhaps you’ve already ridden all the trails in the centre and want to branch out a bit?

That’s why I’ve created this Collection, linking major train stations to these MTB meccas, so you can travel all over the country to sample the best built trails, as well as the natural bridleways, byways, singletrack and gravel roads that lead to them. While there are many, many more trail centres to explore all over the UK, this is a Collection of just a few with some alternative routes to get there, car-free.

The Tours in this Collection vary in length and suitability for different ability levels, though they can all be modified to suit your ambitions. From easy riding like the trails in Cornwall to the more challenging trails of Dalby Forest and Glentress, could you be inspired to try somewhere new?

These areas all boast brilliant riding both within the centres and around them, so I’d really recommend taking a few days if you can to make the most of your trip. You’ll find plenty of campsites and other accommodation options nearby too.

Although a lot of these routes could be ridden with a rigid mountain bike, you’ll definitely be more comfortable on a hardtail. It’s worth remembering that most trail centres offer bike hire, so why not ride to one and then treat yourself to an upgrade for the day?

Although one of the major benefits of trail centres’ purpose built trails means that they can be ridden year-round, the best time of year to ride these Tours is in the summer months when the surrounding natural trails have dried out as some of these areas can be pretty boggy when wet!