Leckhampton Downhill Trails

Leckhampton Hill's wooded escarpment above Cheltenham holds a well established network of black, red and blue downhill trails, dug and maintained over many years by a local volunteer group known as the trail fairies. There's a dedicated jump area partway up the hill and another at the bottom, cross country riding across the open top of the hill, and Cheltenham's Burrow's Field BMX pump track and Cleeve Hill's open grassland riding are both a short drive away.

The Trails

The downhill trails are cut into the wooded escarpment directly above Daisy Bank Road, mixing short technical descents, berms and tight corners with a scattering of jumps. Runs are generally only a few minutes long, since the climb back up the hill is what limits each descent.

• Two main jump and session areas serve riders of different levels: one at the bottom of the hill near the car park, with beginner friendly features and a large hip for more experienced riders, and a second set within the old quarry about a third of the way up, with several lines running from smaller sends to sizeable ones.
• The longest continuous descent runs from the top of the hill down through the quarry to the jump area at the bottom.
• Named lines on the hill include black and red descents such as Corporal, Main Line, Martial, The Coming, 2nd Coming, Mike's, Dragon's Tail and Diablo, and blue lines like Going Down, Twist and Shout, Hi Ho and Goatsteps Descent, all built and maintained by local riders.
• There's no trail signage on the hill, so download a route or use GPS navigation before you set off, or ride with someone who already knows the lines. Individual lines can open, close or get renamed at short notice on this kind of informal network, so check current trail status before you head out.
• At the top of the hill there's a good amount of cross country riding and some easier skills building terrain for beginners and kids, plus a small area of dirt jumps in Daisybank Fields.
• Cyclists have permissive access to most of the hill and common, granted by Cheltenham Borough Council, but the open grassland is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest, so stick to the established tracks rather than riding across the open ground.

Local Organisation

The hill and common are looked after by Friends of Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common (FOLK), a volunteer group working in partnership with Cheltenham Borough Council, who own the site. The downhill trails are built and maintained separately by a local volunteer dig crew known as the trail fairies. In June 2026 the site, officially named the Cheltenham Escarpment, was declared a National Nature Reserve.

Nearby Riding

• Leckhampton BMX Pump Track, also known as the Burrow's Field Pump Track, is a free, all abilities tarmac pump track around ten minutes away in Moorend Grove, Cheltenham, with rollers, berms and dusty straights alongside a play park and car park.
• Cleeve Hill, a few miles north of Cheltenham, is a large area of open grassland with informal, unwaymarked riding across a mix of lines and gradients.

Getting Here

Daisy Bank Car Park, Daisy Bank Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL53 9QQ, is the closest parking to the downhill trails, right at the foot of the escarpment. From here, tracks lead straight up into the wooded hillside where the downhill lines start.

• Alternative parking on the lower part of the hill is available at the Bridge Car Park, a little further along Daisy Bank Road.
• For the top of the hill, and access to the quarry jump area from above, use Salterley Quarry Car Park or Brownstones Quarry Car Park, both off Hartley Lane.
• By bus, Stagecoach services including the L and M5 stop at Leckhampton Hill Foot, where Leckhampton Road meets Old Bath Road, about a five minute walk from Daisy Bank Road.

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