Description
Danbury Common Mountain Bike Trails and Baddow Hall Pump Track
Danbury Common, on National Trust land near Chelmsford in Essex, has a volunteer-run freeride and downhill area alongside plenty of unmarked cross-country woodland riding. A short drive away at Baddow Hall Park in Great Baddow sits a dedicated 50m by 30m pump track. Between the two sites you'll find a handful of flowy downhill lines with jumps and features, miles of linkable singletrack through the common, and a purpose-built pump track loop. The trails on the common are informal and unwaymarked, so download a route or use GPS navigation before you set off.
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The Trails
- Freeride and Downhill Area. A volunteer-maintained zone on Danbury Common with around four tight, flowy downhill runs mixed with one-off features such as a hip, river gaps and kickers, including local lines known as The Ski Lift and The Canyon.
- Cross Country. The common's woodland is criss-crossed with unmarked trails that can be linked together into a longer ride. Routes are not waymarked, so download a route or use GPS navigation before you set off.
Getting Here
- Park at Bicknacre Road Car Park (National Trust, free, The Common, Danbury, CM3 4JQ). The trail entrance for the freeride and downhill area is a dirt track off Gay Bowers Lane, with trails starting on the left about 10 metres down the track.
- Alternatively, Mayes Lane Car Park (CM3 4NJ) is a short walk away. Since February 2025 it has been managed by Ocean Parking: the first two hours are free, then charges apply on weekdays, with free parking in the evenings and free all day on weekends and bank holidays.
- Chelmsford station is about 6 miles away, with local buses running towards Danbury.
Baddow Hall Pump Track
- A 50m by 30m pump track at Baddow Hall Park, New Road, Great Baddow, Essex, CM2 7DA, a few miles from Danbury Common. The outer loop suits novice riders and the inner sections are more technical.
Local Organisation
- Danbury Common MTB, the volunteer group behind the trail network, posts updates via its Facebook page and Facebook group.
- The Essex-wide, Cycling UK-affiliated Essex MTB Group has run organised rides from Danbury Common, though its regular Sunday rides are based at Langdon Hills.
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