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Haldon Forest Mountain Bike Trails

Haldon Forest Mountain Bike Trails
Avg 3.41
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup
Number of Reviews (14)

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

  • Information:
  • Type: MTB Base
  • Grades: Green,Blue,Red,Black
  • Riding: Cross Country,Skills Area,Pump Track
  • Facilities: Car Park,Toilets,Cafe,Bike Hire,Visitors Centre,Guiding
  • Distance(s): Under 5km, 5-10km, 11-20km
  • Country: England
  • County: Devon
  • Website: Haldon Forest
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Trail Network & Rider Segments

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Description

Haldon Forest Mountain bike trails are situated in Haldon Forest Park near Exeter in Devon. It is set in a woodland forest of 3,500 acres with scenic views it is home to five mountain bike trails, a bike skills area, and a pump track.

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Discovery Trail - Multi-Use

  • The Discovery Trail is an easy family friendly 1.5-mile (2.5km) route on a fully surfaced track. This is a multi-use trail, please be aware of cyclists and other users.

'Spicers' (Light Blue)

  • This is 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long and stays up on top of the ridge line, a good step between green and blue grades. There is a short 'two-way traffic' section near the beginning of the trail.

Kiddens (Blue)

  • This is a 4.0 miles (6.3 km) long blue trail 

Ridge Ride Trail (Red)

  • The Ridge Ride Trail is a shortish 6.4 miles (10.3 km) in length and is graded as difficult encompassing more technical sections, tighter corners and steeper descents combined with fast flowing singletrack.
  • In Dec 2023 they opened a new 700m red section on the Ridge Ride built by  Clixbys Land Design , funded by car parking income and aims to improve the enjoyment of riders on the trail and improve visitor safety by reducing the number of cyclists needing to use the (shared use) green graded "Discovery Trail". This has historically been a high 'user conflict' area. There are also plans for an additional bermed section which will provide a shortcut to the Clapham Road crossing.

Ridge Ride Extreme (Black)

  • The Ridge Ride Extreme trail covers a short 0.6 miles (0.9 km) and is graded as Severe in ability and effort. This is an optional Black graded section off the Red. It consists of rocks, berms, drops and step downs.

Bike Park Skills Area and Pump Trail

  • The pump track and bike skills area are built with progressive skills development at its ethos. The Skills area gives you a taster of some of the features you will find on some of the trails with easy, medium and hard options allowing you to develop your confidence and skill.

Off Piste

  • Like most MTB regions there is a selection of unsanctioned off piste trails in the area.

Cycling Clubs and Groups

  • EMBC Exeter mountain bike club

Share

  • If you have ridden any of the Haldon Forest Mountain bike trails then why not share your experiences, post some pictures, videos and / or leave a quick review. 

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SaddleSource:
Avg 3.43
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Not a challenge, but some fun sections. Good for families

A very family orientated trail centre, There probably wouldn't anything to intimidate most riders even on the red route which can be taken at any speed. Very nice setting for a ride but a serious lack of gradient for a rider who is after some downhill action. Cannot really compare with trail centres of the Lakes, Wales and Scotland. I've said I would recommend if you're in the area, but it's probably not worth a long drive.

What do you like?

Great for families and beginners. Fantastic setting, well maintained skills area and pumptrack, some lovely views and fast descents. The black section offers some interesting technical challenges for the more serious riders as well. The cafe serves some fantastic sandwiches too!

What could be improved?

Not really enough to keep an advanced rider interested. The black section could do with being a lot longer. There can be a lot of flat peddling involved.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

04/03/2013 - almost 13 years ago

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1
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krisk:
Avg 3.15
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Good all rounder

The visitor centre is pleasant and there's a skills area just by the car park. The whole setting is nice and when I was there, the other users were friendly enough.

What do you like?

Well maintained friendly centre. the blue and red and both fast flowing, and the red offers a good ride.

What could be improved?

Limited on the technical side

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

20/12/2012 - about 13 years ago

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1
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tjmoore:
Avg 3.12
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

What do you like?

Nice well maintained and managed trails. Great for beginners, and those progressing or for anyone just for a ride out. Blue is a nice flowy trail, no features to speak of. Wide and smooth loop, with some gentle climbing. Family suitable but a little more of a challenge, just really in distance. Watch out as some may speed along there and others are taking small kids along on a trike or a trailer. The red is more of your typical singletrack you find in a UK trail centre. Features are essentially some simple easy roll-able rocks, switchback style corners, narrow in places and bit steeper. Nothing expert. If you're quick it will be over in half an hour, though a nice pace if it's quiet. Enjoyable woodland countryside run. Facilities are fine, plenty of non-bike related activities.

What could be improved?

Red is a shadow of its former self, and it's too short. Compared to Wales or Scotland this ranks as a blue in grading. Run it quick and there's more technical skill involved but watch out for other people at busy times. The black is an optional section at the bottom of the red, but 'extreme' is hardly the word for it. Though it does take more skills than the red and certainly not one for beginners, but think of a rocky red section on a Welsh trail at Afan or CYB. The initial roll in is more demanding however. It's very short, over in a minute or two, with an annoying fireroad climb back up. Skills area is limited though nice to see some simple woodwork to practice on. If you are just planning on the red/black, it's over too quick and not worth a long trip. Still, it's fine for a run out if you're in the area or local. Link it with the blue and it's more of a ride.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

18/12/2012 - about 13 years ago

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1
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jr:
Avg 3.19
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Worth a visit

If you're driving more than hour then go to Dartmoor if the weather's good. Great facilities. The tracks may not be that extreme at first glance but if you give it some stick the consequences of coming off are are pretty harsh as there are plenty of rocks and stumps everywhere so don't get lulled into a sense of security.

What do you like?

The tracks hold up in all conditions so you can get some miles in regardless of the weather, good cake in cafe, the trails reward speed if you want to push it, good bacon sarnies, you can string lots of the tracks together and have a good day out, awesome views - including loads of huge buzzards and deer in the forest. The swoopy bit before the start of the black run - nice and quick. Rangers really helpful and friendly.

What could be improved?

The sections aren't long enough (both up and down) to really get going. Dartmoor isn't far away so it's competing with 'proper' riding (still ride there a couple of times a month though as live 5 mins away). Idiotic dog walkers and runners going the wrong way round the red run (despite the really clear 'no entry' signs).

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

18/12/2012 - about 13 years ago

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1
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Davv:
Avg 0.00
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Really enjoyed Haldon growing the past few years. Kept clean and plenty to do for non biking family. Rangers always on hand for first aid too.

Would you recommend?

Date written:

18/12/2012 - about 13 years ago

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1
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Jake Read:
Avg 3.92
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Great for beginners

What do you like?

Being relatively new to mountain biking this centre has provided a great introduction. The blue trail is suitable for family rides (my son is 9yo) but can also be great fun with fast flowing sections when riding with your mates. The red route steps it up slightly and leaves a grin on my face each time I ride it. Again fast, twisty sections with a few oportunities to get airborne (slightly). The black route is just enough to make a beginner curious about bigger things. Alongside the trails are the skills and pump tracks, these (skills in particular) are entertaining for kids, big and small alike and allow you to safely hone your bike control. The mixed routes never pose a problem and everything is verywell maintained. The centre is also home to a great cafe, go ape and and always has an event or two happening.

What could be improved?

Regarding the trails I would say that my only negative would be that the black route could be longer. It wouldn't hurt to have a larger selection and I am now looking to try other centres simply to get this variety. The skills area is quite compact and the pump track easy to tire of - that said the kids stay on it for ages quite happily while you have a drink.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

18/12/2012 - about 13 years ago

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0
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