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Friston Forest Mountain Bike Trails

Friston Forest Mountain Bike Trails
Avg 3.45
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup
Number of Reviews (18)

*You can claim this trail if you are the trail owner

  • Information:
  • Type: MTB Base
  • Grades: Blue,Red,Ungraded
  • Riding: Cross Country,Downhill
  • Facilities: Car Park,Toilets,Visitors Centre,Cafe
  • Distance(s): under 5km 5-10km, 11-20km
  • Country: England
  • County: East Sussex
  • Website: Friston Forest
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Trail Network & Rider Segments

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Trail Status

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Description

Friston Forest mountain bike trails are in Exceat, East Sussex and offer a red, blue XC and a myriad of unsanctioned off-piste downhill tracks.

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Jeremy Cole - Red

  • The 9km red graded XC route revolves around natural forest trails. Single track, short descents, some fire road connecting the bits together and steep climbs. In the wet, it can get muddy. There are several non waymarked trails to explore. Start from either Butchershole car park or Seven Sisters Countryside Park.

Family Cycle Trail - Blue

  • The 6.25km blue graded XC route runs mostly along forest roads. Unsurfaced paths, flat, family friendly It starts from Seven Sisters Countryside Park.

Off-Piste and Downhill

  • There are several off-piste unsanctioned tracks you ride at your own risk around here that are rooty with jumps, drops and bomb holes. Some of the popular ones are: Snakes and Ladders, White Horse, Doris and Bert, Flying daggers, The X files, Lover or hate, Crater run Clint Eatwood, Tron and more.

Cycling Clubs and Groups

  • Local Facebook group can be found here 

Share

  • If you have ridden the XC or downhill trails here at Friston Forest then please share your experiences and write a review or post some photos or videos to the listing.

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guest:
Avg 0.80
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Not woth the time getting there . Parking is expensive and got a ticket too

Would you recommend?

yes

Date written:

18/07/2025 - 6 months ago

Was this review helpful to you?

0
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Tom White:
Avg 3.38
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

friston forest mtb trails

i need to start a ww3 so the germans can bomb friston forest more so that there are more bomb holes to ride down.

What do you like?

there are plenty of fun and exciting trails that all have there different features. there are great views of the south downs and a large verity of different skilled trails which gives a large verity for different skilled riders. the bomb holes are very existing and make the trails more fun and exciting.

What could be improved?

trails could be more mentioned to give riders a better time on the trail. another point would be that i wish that the germans had bombed it heavier during the war this would lead to more satisfaction when riding the trails.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

12/04/2019 - over 6 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
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neil B:
Avg 4.33
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

great natural riding, proper fun. sticky when wet

Please respect other trail users. It's a public area for walkers / dogs/ horses. Let's live in peace together. Say Hi. Have a chat, enjoy the day out.

What do you like?

Great single track in a beautiful setting. No uplifts of course, no massive berms or drops, just great natural riding with some sensitively built additions. It's "self assisted" to the top each time, so it's a workout. Downhills are short but fun and can be testing - it's speed dependent. Friston is brilliant both up and down, flying between (and sometimes into) the trees, testing nerves on the bomb-holes. Plenty of flow and some very nice berms. The Saltmarsh café by the carpark is good, delicious coffee and salads / cakes. Take a lock, though, as bikes are not allowed in the yard. It gets very busy on a nice weekend too. Best to park on the official carpark. The Forestry Commission Discovery pass is good value for frequent visitors - it allows all year parking for one fee and saves messing with the machines every visit (otherwise take at least 4 pound coins for the picky machines). Pay by phone is easier but reception is poor to nonexistent in the carpark. Useful map here, I prefer the "realistic" one: http://www.sxmtbstmaps.co.uk/rmap.html

What could be improved?

Natural surface trails so its clay South Downs mud and very claggy when its been wet. Dealing with the wet roots takes some learning. Most tracks are not marked but the "red" is and it leads to many other trails. Those new to the area could miss much of it - so explore, enjoy. After 18 months exploration I am still discovering trails.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

30/10/2017 - about 8 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
^
James hill:
Avg 4.67
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Friston Forest

I ride Friston every weekend and its the perfect place to tune in your natural skills to becoming a good mountain biker.

What do you like?

As this is totally all natural trails the Forest changes with the weather and the Seasons so one weekend is never the same so you will not find any better place to experience pure Mountain Biking fun.

What could be improved?

None !!!

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

25/10/2017 - about 8 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
^
Graeme McKee :
Avg 3.75
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Brilliant forest fun

I love this place

What do you like?

Great single track in a beautiful setting. No uplifts, no jcb crafted berms, just nature at its best. It's a workout. It's not a heroic downhill trip, but it's brilliant up and down, tree swerving, bombhole blasting peice of heaven.

What could be improved?

No facilities. Most tracks not marked. Us locals have a blast but visitors could miss much of it or just get lost. Find some locals to guide you.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

25/10/2017 - about 8 years ago

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2
^
nb:
Avg 3.54
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Great trails but can get sticky when wet

Love it.

What do you like?

Nice flowing trails with varying degrees of speed attainable. Nothing steep and long but some fun short "DH" runs off the Southern bank. Takes some time to explore and find the trails. The marked red route is a good way to recce the area if a little easy going. Youll pass a lot of singletrack entrances to the woods from that trail. Try them out. Good maps available on t'internet! Google Firston mtb trails. There's a friendly Facebook group too. Parking is easy at the visitor centre carpark just North of the coast road, ticket machines can be a pain and mobile signal poor to pay by phone. Take £4.00 in coins and maybe a spare or two in case they get rejected. Good cafe, The Salrmarsh, great coffee and I love their salads post ride - it gets incredibly busy on sunny wekends (cant take bikes into garden so carry a lock or leave in car).

What could be improved?

Currently (early 2017) the area to the North of the valley access track is pretty cut up by forestry work. The tree clearance will eventually mena better trails and a healthier forest but bear that in mind. Some trails are virtually obliterated in parts. It can get very muddy. Carpark pay machines can swallow your cash and fail to issue a ticket, or refuse coins. If younlose your cash, try find the ranger, he'll issue a hand written ticket for that day (only) to compensate. Theres no number to call about problems. Parking on passing point at the side of the road towards the village is not great for locals. So, really its paid parking, some of the fee goes towards maintenance so it's not all bad.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

25/03/2017 - almost 9 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

2
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