Rendlesham Forest

Rendlesham Forest is a Forestry England pine forest in the Suffolk Sandlings near Woodbridge, and a gravel and family ride more than a mountain bike venue. Its one cycling trail is the waymarked FIDO Trail, a 16km forest road loop with a shortcut, running on gravel, sand and grass tracks across the northern end of the forest and the old Woodbridge airfield.

The Trails

• FIDO Trail (Forest Road grade, 16km): follow the brown waymarkers from the Forest Centre on a mix of forest road, gravel, sand and grass. A waymarked shortcut makes for a shorter family ride. It is named after the Second World War Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation, which let around 4,200 Allied aircraft make emergency landings at Woodbridge airfield. The route and shortcut are on the Forestry England trail map.

Forest road grading means gradients can be steep or variable, surfaces can be uneven, loose or potholed, and you should look out for forestry vehicles and other visitors. Give way to walkers and horse riders, and do not cycle through the tree plantations, the picnic areas or on the Discovery Trail, which is a walking trail. Trails at Rendlesham are subject to periodic closures and diversions due to forestry operations, so check the Forestry England site operations page before travelling and follow any signed diversions on the day.

Gravel Riding

The FIDO Trail is a natural fit for a gravel bike, a hybrid or a hardtail: 16km of flat to gently rolling forest road and gravel with sandy and grassy stretches, waymarked all the way round. Sand can be soft in dry spells, so wider tyres help. For singletrack in the same forest block, the Viking Trail at Tunstall Forest is a few miles to the north, so check its listing for current status first.

Facilities

• The Forest Centre at Tangham has a cafe, toilets including an accessible toilet, picnic areas and a large play area, with camping and caravan sites nearby.
• There are no public litter bins in the forest, so take your litter home.

Getting Here

• Park at the Rendlesham Forest car park, Woodbridge, IP12 3NF, by the Forest Centre at Tangham, off the B1084. The forest is open dawn to dusk every day except Christmas Day.
• Parking is pay by card or the RingGo app only, from £3.15 for an hour to £7.80 for the day, and free for Forestry England members. Prices are correct as of September 2026 but subject to change, so check the Forestry England Rendlesham page before you go.
• Butley Corner car park, on the far side of the FIDO Trail, is an alternative start.
• Melton station, on the East Suffolk line, is around 7km to the west.

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