Peak District & Midlands
Burlish Bike Park in Stourport-on-Severn is a woodland riding venue run by the local charity Open Trail. Its layout brings a family trail, dual slalom and progressive jump lines into one place, so a visit can work for a younger rider learning to roll off-road or an experienced rider practising airtime. Choose the right part of the network for the person riding it, and build the day around repeatable skills.
Burlish is paid riding with a community purpose: income supports the park and Open Trail's cycling work. Trail access and staffed facilities follow different arrangements. Riding can be available when the clubhouse is shut; the café, toilets and car park have their own published hours.
Green · 700 m
The official family and trike trail has gentle changes of height, with optional small tables and log balance features. It gives younger riders room to establish control without taking on a jump line. Keep a child within the supervising adult's attention and use the optional features only when the approach and exit are understood.
Official route information →Blue
The operator describes a two-lane track with rollable features. A friendly paired run can give a session a focus, but staying controlled matters more than arriving first. Agree the start with the other rider, stay in your lane and leave the finish clear for the next pair. Begin without trying to jump combinations.
Official route information →Tables consists of nine tabletop jumps increasing in size. Project5 adds a hip and table/double combinations. Inspect each feature and practise at the level that suits you. A line offering progression is not an instruction to ride every stage in one session; repeat a comfortable section until your speed and landing position become dependable.
Official route information →Red
Wishbone brings larger jumps with tables and doubles. The official description notes shared landings with black lines, making awareness of other riders particularly important. Learn how the line joins and exits before attempting it, and do not pause on the landing. Riders who are still developing basic jump timing can continue practising on the easier options.
Official route information →Black
These are gap-jump options identified in the operator's trail description. Leave them to riders with established jumping ability and enough control for the specific features. Walking an unfamiliar line from a safe position helps assess it; riding into a gap to discover its size does not. Watch without obstructing another rider's take-off or landing.
Official route information →The family route and progression lines serve different riding aims. Pedestrians may accompany children on the family route, but must stay off jump trails.
Use the family trail or another appropriate introductory line to begin the day. Take a measured first run, learn the layout and identify a meeting point before a mixed group separates. Set a realistic aim such as a smoother corner or a more controlled roll over a feature. Children can enjoy repeating the same short section; their progress does not need to follow the timetable of an older sibling.
Open Trail offers coaching, including opportunities for riders with different support needs. Discuss experience and access requirements directly, and reserve the session before planning travel around it. Ask what to practise independently afterwards, leaving time for repetition and breaks.
Use Kingsway, Stourport-on-Severn DY13 8NJ. Arrive during car-park opening; prepare the rider waiver and appropriate pass. Official directions →
Plan the approach before leaving and unload safely. If you intend to ride outside staffed hours, establish permitted parking directly: an online pass does not promise an open car park. Keep the group together while organising equipment.
Complete the waiver and purchase the appropriate pass or membership before riding. During staffed opening, follow the clubhouse sign-in arrangements. A parent or guardian must complete the waiver for an under-18 rider. Keep the booking information available offline if travelling with several people. Sort out who is supervising and carrying supplies before moving into the woods so the first run starts calmly.
Find the planning area on a map →Nearby planning base. Approximate centre of operator-published Kingsway postcode DY13 8NJ. Not an entrance or trailhead; follow operator arrival directions. Coordinates obtained from Postcodes.io postcode-directory lookup, with retrieved response retained in the audit. Official coordinate source
Carry water and food for the riding session, especially outside staffed hours. Arrange family breaks before a child becomes tired or cold and starts rushing a line. Ask about food and access requirements directly when planning the visit.
Burlish's family trail can also be walked beside younger riders, while the jump trails do not permit pedestrian access. This gives parents a useful choice of how to accompany a child, but it does not make the entire riding network a walking route. Watch advanced lines from designated safe positions. Give riders a clear run-out and keep bags and spare bikes away from the riding space.
Plan this ride with your own mountain bike. The official visitor information describes rider facilities and access.
Trails offer 24/7 access to members and online day-pass holders, subject to closures. Car park, café, toilets and clubhouse open 10am–5pm at weekends and during school holidays.
Round-the-clock trail admission does not make darkness appropriate for inspecting unfamiliar features. Plan a first visit in daylight. Shorter winter days favour a modest, focused session with enough time to learn the lines before visibility falls.
Weather or repairs can close the park, and the operator publishes those notices on its own social channels and signs. Read the latest update before travelling and follow the notice you find on arrival. Rain can change grip and the way an approach feels, even on a line you know. Keep the first attempt measured, avoid riding damaged surfaces and finish when fatigue begins to reduce consistent bike control.
Stourport is the most straightforward town to consider for an overnight visit. Actual accommodation choices include Stourport Manor Hotel, The Bird in Hand and The Angel Inn Stourport. Compare their addresses with your travel plans and arrange bicycle storage directly. Different properties may suit different arrival times or group sizes, so decide those requirements before choosing by room price alone.
Bewdley adds overnight options including The Mug House Inn. Plan the park transfer without assuming a journey time. Discuss dry clothing, muddy kit and bicycle security with the property: nearby accommodation does not guarantee bike storage or washing facilities.
Some links are affiliate links — if you book, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Displayed distances are straight-line estimates using OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), not road journeys. Ask the property about secure bike storage and wet-kit arrangements before booking.
RIDE PREPARATION
Consider what suits the route, forecast and your own experience.
No. Open Trail sells day passes and annual memberships. Buy the appropriate admission and complete the waiver before using the trails; income supports the park and the charity's cycling work.
The operator permits riding with a valid membership or online day pass, unless the park is closed for weather or other reasons. Café, toilets and parking have separate hours.
The Rosie Route is the operator's green family and trike trail. Start with its straightforward riding, leave optional features alone initially and keep supervision active throughout the session.
Pedestrians may accompany younger riders on the family trail. The operator does not permit pedestrian access within the jump trails; watch those from a safe spectator position.
The operator's FAQ permits pedal-assist e-MTBs. Choose features that suit your handling ability and follow the same pass, waiver, helmet and trail-closure requirements as other riders.
Staffordshire
Nottinghamshire
Near Craven Arms, Shropshire
Dark Peak, Derbyshire
Shropshire
Northamptonshire
Develop braking, cornering, climbing and technical riding through deliberate practice, with sensible progression for roots, rocks, steeps, wheel lifts and jumps.
Choose manageable family trails, fit children’s bikes, pace the day, assess clubs and coaches, and make a separate safe plan for dogs.
Choose and fit mountain-bike helmets, pads and clothing, understand venue rules, inspect equipment and plan layers for changing UK weather.
Trail conditions change — check the official page before you travel.
Open official site →