Mountain biking in Peak District & Midlands

The Peak District and Midlands grouping offers three contrasting woodland venues: Cannock Chase, Sherwood Pines and Hopton Wood. The regional title does not turn these centres into one neighbouring trail network or a single Peak District loop. Each deserves a day chosen around its own routes and the group’s experience. Cannock gives a pronounced cross-country progression from short family outings to a demanding red ride; Sherwood offers longer woodland flow with a clear family option; Hopton introduces a more compact warm-up and a separate specialist downhill choice in Shropshire.

At Cannock Chase, Birches Valley is the main riding hub. Fairoak is a four-kilometre green shared circuit through the valley and pools, while the two-kilometre Pedal and Play route gives younger children practice challenges and places to stop. Perry’s Trail is a 4.3 km blue with gradual climbing, rollers and rollable rock features. Moving up to the 10.8 km red Follow the Dog brings more climbing and a technical mix of rock gardens, boardwalks, steps and drops. The 22.8 km Monkey Trail is the longer, more demanding red outing, reached through the opening part of Follow the Dog. The current tree-safety update keeps the top car park closed and some areas out of bounds; follow the signs before choosing individual trail sections.

Sherwood Pines suits a party that wants different distances from a shared visitor area. Maid Marion Family Cycle Route is a 6.4 km green circuit with places for picnic stops. Robin Hood Adventure Trail extends the choice to 11.2 km of blue riding, while the 13 km red Outlaw Trail links pine and broadleaf woodland with roots, rocks, berms and rollers. Limited mountain elevation does not make the red easy. Pedal and Play is a separate skills-development area, with Arrowhead Loop, Quiver and Duel challenges. The other Skills Loop is currently closed for maintenance; the two names should not be treated as interchangeable.

Hopton Wood gives experienced groups a useful contrast. The blue Warm-up Loop is 1.1 km, and the 0.7 km red Qualifier lets riders assess technical features before choosing the 12.6 km red Pearce XC circuit. That longer ride combines switchback climbing, descending and sections shared with other woodland users. The three black downhill tracks are expert objectives with a published network length range of one to 1.4 km; the range does not establish a precise distance for each run. Choose a cross-country day or a specialist descending session deliberately, with equipment and energy suited to the decision.

Hicks Lodge supplies an accessible National Forest starting point near Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Wood Farm is a purpose-built green circuit of 4.4 km, useful for settling into off-road turns and braking. Shell Brook extends the day to 8.9 km on a blue route with uneven ground, bumps, jumps and berms. Choose Wood Farm first for a new group, then decide whether the longer circuit fits everyone’s energy and basic trail skills.

Wyre Forest offers a blue woodland circuit from Callow Hill near Bewdley. The 7.7 km Family cycle trail descends towards a former railway, follows the old corridor and climbs back to the visitor centre. Its family name still means basic off-road skills are needed on changing natural surfaces. Start with the signed loop, then use the official cycling map for any forest-road extension that suits a stronger group’s time and fitness.

The Long Mynd gives Midlands riders an upland classic above the Stretton valleys. The National Trust’s 26.08 km cycle circuit climbs Mott’s Road towards Shooting Box and Pole Bank, descends through Minton Batch and returns using further tracks and the Portway. A contained Portway outing offers a different scale of ride, while the Jack Mytton Way along Wenlock Edge provides another permitted off-road setting. Choose the complete itinerary around the group’s natural-riding experience.

The Malvern Hills Trust’s three published mountain-bike circuits make the ridge a structured natural-riding choice. The 5.6 km Short Route circles North Hill and Table Hill; the 8.7 km Medium Route passes St Ann’s Well and the Gold Mine. The Long Route extends to Black Hill and Pinnacle Hill over almost 19 km. Their coloured arrows identify routes, not technical grades. Start short, then build towards the longer contour paths and repeated climbs.