Hamsterley Forest MTB Trails

Description

Hamsterley Forest mountain bike trails can be found near Bishop Auckland in County Durham, within a large Forestry England-managed woodland in the North East of England. The forest offers a broad mix of waymarked cross-country mountain bike trails, newer Forestry England-developed routes, a dedicated skills loop, longer off-road cycle routes, and a separate downhill bike park.

The core XC trail network is supported by the local volunteer group Hamsterley TrailBlazers, working alongside Forestry England. Several newer routes have been developed directly by Forestry England as part of its wider cycling programme.

There is also Danny Hart’s Descend Bike Park, a dedicated downhill and 4X facility within the forest. This operates independently from the XC trail network and has its own separate iBikeRide listing.

Hamsterley Forest MTB Trails

Blue Trail

• The Blue Trail is a waymarked blue-grade cross-country route of approximately 9 miles.
• The trail starts from the Visitor Centre area.
• It uses a mix of purpose-built cycle track, forest road, and surfaced sections, making it suitable for newer and progressing riders.

Squirrel Chaser (Blue)

• Squirrel Chaser is an 8.4 km (5.25 mile) blue-grade cycle trail developed by Forestry England.
• Opened in April 2025, the route combines forest roads and riverside paths with around 2 km of new singletrack.
• The singletrack section, known as Oakey Cokey, includes flowing descents, a switchback climb, and rollable rocky features.
• The trail is signed as suitable for adaptive mountain bikes.
• Phase 2 of Squirrel Chaser, known as Potato Hill, is under development and is planned to open by Easter 2026, extending the blue-grade route further by 1.6km into the forest while remaining suitable for non-standard cycles.

Skills Loop

• The Skills Loop is a short, purpose-built progression circuit of around 1 mile.
• It includes optional features graded from blue through to red and black.
• The loop is designed to allow riders to choose their level of challenge rather than following a single graded line.

The Big ’Un (Red)

• The Big ’Un is a red-grade cross-country mountain bike trail.
• The route combines forest road climbs with sections of purpose-built singletrack.
• It forms part of the main intermediate-level XC offering at Hamsterley Forest.
• Access is commonly from the Bedburn area of the forest.

Transcend (Red)

• Transcend is a separate red-grade mountain bike trail developed by Forestry England.
• The route offers a longer, more flowing ride with extended climbs and descents.
• Some sections link with or share parts of the wider trail network.

The Edge (Black)

• The Edge is the black-grade XC trail at Hamsterley Forest.
• The route features narrow singletrack, steep gradients, rooty terrain, and technical descents.
• It is aimed at experienced riders comfortable with sustained technical riding.

Natural and Off-Road Cycle Routes

• Hamsterley Forest includes longer natural and mixed-surface routes such as the Hamsterley Half Century, Doctors Gate, and Eggleston Moors routes.
• These are not formal trail-centre loops and are better suited to riders comfortable with navigation and varied terrain.
• Ants in Yer Pants is a waymarked off-road cycle route that primarily follows forest roads, offering a lower-technical riding option.

Facilities

• Visitor Centre
• Café
• Toilets
• Multiple car parks, including the main Visitor Centre and Bedburn car park
• Waymarked trails and on-site signage

Directions

• Hamsterley Forest is located near Bishop Auckland in County Durham.
• Main access is via local roads from Bishop Auckland, with signed approaches to the Visitor Centre and Bedburn car park.
• Trail start points vary by route, with most XC trails beginning from the Visitor Centre area or Bedburn.

Useful Sites

• Forestry England – Hamsterley Forest
• Hamsterley TrailBlazers – volunteer group supporting the XC trails
• Descend Hamsterley – downhill bike park
• Hamsterley Riders – local rider community group

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