Description
Stainburn Forest mountain bike trails are in the west of Stainburn Forest on the edge of Nidderdale, close to Harrogate and Otley in North Yorkshire. The site has two red graded trails, a black graded trail, two pump tracks, and the natural Norwood Edge trails on the doorstep.
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The Trails
Stainburn's trails are short but designed to be ridden more than once, given how technical the riding is. They are built and maintained by the SingletrAction volunteer group, working with Forestry England.
The Red Loop
- The Red Loop is a 2km single track loop. It is full of rocky boulders and berms, and on the return leg there is a log ride and a selection of skinnies to test your balance.
The Descent Line (Red)
- The Descent Line is a 1.5km Red graded trail. This has a great descent, drops, a mixture of flat and bermed corners, and a big rock you can roll down. If you want to extend your ride, this fast line splits off from the Red Loop and joins up at the bottom of the hill with the black climb.
Warren Boulder Trail (Black)
- The Warren Boulder Trail is a 4km graded Black track. It has narrow single track, a Slab early on (a bit of a qualifier), and steep climbs and descents. It is very rocky in places, littered with technical obstacles, and dotted with some technical north shore. Some of the named sections are The Slab, Hovis Corner, Cascade and The Coal Chute. SingletrAction describe it as one of the toughest black graded trails in the UK.
Pump Tracks
- There are two pump tracks on site: a small original track, one of the earliest built in the UK, and a larger track added in 2017.
The Norwood Edge Trails
- The Norwood Edge trails are natural, ungraded singletrack across the road from the car park. The main loop is meant to be ridden clockwise. Cross the road, go through the gate, and about 20 metres in turn left onto the rooty path, following the yellow marks. They are less manicured than the main SingletrAction built trails and more weather dependent, so check conditions before riding after heavy rain.
Getting Here
Norwood Edge car park is on the side of the B6451. From the A59 take the B6451 towards Otley. Pass through Bland Hill and the car park is 2km further on your right. A second Forestry England car park at Stainburn Moor gives an alternative approach to the forest. Parking is pay and display, up to 2 hours is 3.50 pounds and over 2 hours is 6.00 pounds, free for Forestry England members.
Local Organisations
SingletrAction Volunteer Mountain Bike Trailbuilders work with Forestry England to build and maintain the trails at Stainburn. There is the SingletrAction Stainburn Trail Crew Facebook Group, and monthly dig days on the first Sunday. Please do not do any unofficial trail building.
Share
- If you have ridden any of these MTB trails at Stainburn Forest and or Norwood Edge then please share your pictures, videos, and reviews