Crickley Hill, Gloucestershire
Access note: 417 Bike Park is open following its May 2025 reopening. Normal opening is Wednesday–Monday, 9am–5pm, with uplift from 10am–12.30pm and 1.15pm–4pm; Tuesdays are closed.
FlyUp 417 Bike Park is a riding venue at Crickley Hill Farm in Witcombe, Gloucestershire. It brings gravity trails, an indoor pump track and dirt jumps together with uplift, coaching, hire and a café. This is a place for repeated practice on purpose-built terrain, with a range of challenges that lets riders choose a session instead of following one long cross-country circuit.
Blue descents require dependable braking and balance. A coached introduction or pump-track session may be the better starting point if those foundations need work. Experienced visitors can plan a descending day, but the hardest feature should never decide the whole group’s itinerary.
Blue
The operator describes a flowing descent with rollable pumps, jumps and berms. Start here at a controlled pace and leave the wheels on the ground while learning the line. A blue sign does not make riding fast compulsory.
Official route information →Blue
This is the next blue choice, with features the park identifies as slightly more challenging than Blue Raccoon. Repeat familiar sections until braking feels settled before adding speed or considering a jump.
Official route information →Red
Rock gardens, drops and steeper terrain make this a step beyond the blues. Take a sighting run and discuss unfamiliar obstacles with staff. Choosing a red trail should follow demonstrated control, not pressure to keep pace with friends.
Official route information →Double black
The park reserves this for experts already experienced with large features. Slab and ladder drops and gap jumps require specific skills. Leave it out of a first-visit progression plan unless that experience is already established.
Official route information →The site map separates downhill trails, the pump track, dirt jumps and other riding areas. Choose your session before assuming every facility shares the same opening conditions.
Begin with a conversation at the base about today’s open areas, the appropriate return route and how your ticket works. Prepare the bike before joining other riders: effective brakes, sound tyres and secure wheels matter more than an ambitious list of runs. Keep enough time for an unhurried first descent.
The indoor pump track offers a separate way to practise timing and balance without a hill descent. Start slowly, follow the instructions at the entrance and give the rider ahead space. Speed changes what a roller demands, so an apparently small feature can become difficult when approached too quickly. Private coaching can concentrate on the specific movement that is holding back your riding.
Dirt jumping is another distinct discipline. The official Table Line provides an entry point; Main Line introduces progressively sized doubles, while Pro Line has large doubles. Do not transfer confidence from a blue downhill run directly to a jump line. Watch the take-off and landing relationship, ask a coach about suitable progression and leave any feature you cannot approach with a clear plan.
Use the operator’s map destination for 417 Bike Park. The farm address is GL3 4UF, but its directions warn that the postcode alone does not lead directly to the entrance. Official directions →
Use the operator’s map destination for 417 Bike Park. The farm address is GL3 4UF, but its directions warn that the postcode alone does not lead directly to the entrance. Follow the current entrance instructions and signs, then bear left on the driveway towards the car park. Keep bikes and equipment clear of moving vehicles while unloading.
Book the product that matches the session you want, whether uplift, admission, hire or coaching, and read its cancellation terms before paying. Complete the waiver and confirm any family supervision arrangements. The published normal pattern is Wednesday to Monday, with Tuesday closed; uplift has a midday break. Consult the date-specific booking information before arranging travel, particularly for an event or holiday visit.
Find the planning area on a map →Approximate trail-area pin. This marker identifies the riding area; follow the official arrival directions to its entrance. Official coordinate source
The Stables Café serves baguettes, pizza and other snacks, making it a practical meeting place between sessions. Its own page distinguishes weekend, school-holiday and limited term-time weekday opening. Bring water and something to eat if your schedule depends on arriving early or riding at a quieter time. A café listing should not determine whether you carry the essentials.
FlyUp Bikes provides a shop and workshop at the park, with repairs, protective equipment and full-suspension hire bikes in adult and youth sizes. Reserve the right size in advance and ask what equipment accompanies the hire. A workshop can help with a problem, but take your own usual spares; neither stock availability nor immediate repair capacity is guaranteed.
Helmets are mandatory under the park rules, which recommend full-face protection and additional protective equipment. Jump-and-drop coaching specifically requires a full-face helmet. Fit matters as much as the label: organise suitable equipment before the trip and tell a coach about anything unfamiliar. The site states that e-bike charging is unavailable, so do not base your day on finding a charger at the café.
FlyUp’s on-site hire fleet includes full-suspension bikes in adult and youth sizes. Reserve through the park’s booking service and choose equipment appropriate to your planned session.
The normal park schedule runs Wednesday–Monday, with a midday uplift break. Select the actual booking session and read seasonal or weather restrictions for the outdoor riding areas.
The downhill trails are mostly surfaced, while other riding areas have their own weather limitations. The dirt-jump field is explicitly weather dependent, and dual slalom normally closes in winter to prevent damage. Call ahead if either is the main purpose of your visit. A usable downhill session does not establish that every discipline is operating.
Allow conditions to set the pace of the day. Rain alone does not normally cancel uplift under the published terms, but dangerous roads, ice or high winds can affect operation. Keep the booking contact details accurate and read messages before leaving home. Pack a dry layer for breaks and avoid treating the last available uplift as a reason to continue when concentration has faded.
For companions, Crickley Hill nature reserve provides a separate walking outing with woodland, views, a visitor centre and a café. It has its own entrance and parking arrangements near Birdlip; do not confuse that car park with the bike park. Some reserve paths are steep or muddy, so choose a route that suits the party and the day’s conditions.
The reserve’s accessible visitor facilities and selected trails can help a mixed group plan time away from the riding. Ask about mobility-scooter arrangements before travelling if needed. Keep the outing separate from the park session: walking routes are not additional downhill trails, and cycling access at the reserve is limited to the appropriate public bridleways. Overnight camping is not permitted at the bike park.
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.
It can be, provided you choose a session that matches your current control and experience. Start with coaching or the indoor pump track if braking and balance need practice. For a first descent, begin on the easier signed option and keep speed modest.
No. Dirt-jump opening depends on weather, and dual slalom normally closes during winter. Confirm those areas directly before travelling if they are your priority. Follow any closure signs even when other trails remain available.
Park rules require a helmet and recommend full-face protection. Jump-and-drop coaching makes a full-face helmet compulsory. Establish the requirements for your particular booking before arrival and bring properly fitted protection.
The operator lists full-suspension hire bikes for adults and younger riders. Arrange the size and booking beforehand, and ask about the intended riding and included equipment. Do not assume the bike you want will be available on arrival.
The contact page states that overnight camping is not allowed on site. Arrange accommodation elsewhere and confirm bicycle storage with the property itself. Daytime companions can use the café or visit the separate nature reserve.
Cannop, Gloucestershire
Near Exeter, Devon
Bodmin, Cornwall
Bristol
Somerset
Ashton Court Estate, Bristol
Book the right uplift, riding pass, hire bike and coaching session, confirm equipment and carriage rules, and plan a controlled first bike-park day.
Develop braking, cornering, climbing and technical riding through deliberate practice, with sensible progression for roots, rocks, steeps, wheel lifts and jumps.
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 →