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Yo.. One of our new users penfolduk passed me a cool video on Swinley forest and as I've been a few times I thought it was a trail worthy of some coverage. 

(video courtesy of http://www.youtube.com/user/PENFOLD1979UK)

First time I went was on my own and I didn't have a map but I hooked up with a freindly couple out riding. They took me straight for the specific mountain bike trails and we went through the forest into a lot of forest singletrack. There has been some decent building there and I came across some decent drops strategically put on corners to catch you unawares!!. Lots of fun. The knew the trails well and after the specific mountain bike trail we headed off into the miles and miles (place is a warren) of gorgeous flowing singletrack through surprisingly given the geography, some really steep sections (short mind but certainly a hit). So the set trail is ace but if you get the chance to go with locals then do as there is so much more on offer.

Last time I went I turned up it was unknowingly a XC race. I wasn't going to waste the trip so entered. Tons of fun as I my lungs felt like they were going to collapse and in the year since I had been last a lot of building seemed to have taken place and the race track which is I guess one of the normal tracks is great fun. It is twisty, few drops, little sections with kickers, steep corners and more.

Cafe is a general visitors centre cafe and many come for walking or to use the GO Ape activity centre etc there, so wouldn't say it was a trail centre cafe as such but it does grub and has a toilet and really those are the main requirement me thinks.

Gorrick are the club that manage it (link below) and here is some useful blurb from their site about the place) ...

Swinley Forest is an area of Windsor Forest, owned and managed by The Crown Estate, comprising of 2600 acres of mainly Scots Pine woodland. It is located between Bracknell and Bagshot to the west of the A322. Cycling is permitted on hard tracks and within a specific expert mountain bike area. The wide variety of trails is suitable for everyone from families to cross country riders, freeriders and downhillers.

It is a condition of cycling within Swinley Forest that you must hold a cycle permit if over 16 years of age. Children who are under 16 do not require a permit as they are deemed to be their parents or guardians responsibility whilst riding in the Forest.

As times are changing, it's now essential to comply with the requirements of English Nature, whose powers are far reaching, by showing that cyclists can act as a responsible cohesive group to enjoy all the benefits Swinley Forest has to offer.

Enjoy the vid and check it out.

Some links

Trail centre: http://www.gorrick.com/swinley/

Clubs: http://www.bigfootbikeclub.org  (club penfolduk) rides with.

Location and weather: http://www.multimap.com/maps/?&t=l&map=51.3876,-0.7401|15|4&loc=GB:51.3876:-0.7401:15&dp=841

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Comments (2)

JMS said:

	... Here's a PDF from Mountain Biking UK about Swinley Forest. http://www.gorrick.com/swinley/
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November 08, 2007
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goblinshimmer said:

	... Thanks for the vid to watch Penfold...looks cool place to ride. There was article in MBR this month also bout Swinley...def on my list of new places to ride this year
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January 13, 2008
Votes: +0