Stanmer Park Mountain Bike Trails

Stanmer Park Mountain Bike Trails

Stanmer Park mountain bike trails are in Brighton, East Sussex, next to Sussex University on the edge of the city and within the South Downs National Park. The 485-hectare park is unwaymarked woodland riding: a web of twisting singletrack through the trees, peppered with rollers, jumps, drops and roots, including around nine well known local descents. A permissive bridleway and a wide gravel drive through the park also link up to the South Downs Way for a longer mixed-surface ride. It is a popular spot for mountain bikers, horse riders and walkers, and sits next door to the MTB spot of Wild Park.

The Trails

• The trails are not waymarked, so download a route or use GPS navigation before you set off, or try to hook up with a local who knows the network.
• The terrain is singletrack through woodland, with rollers, jumps, drops, roots, and tight turns throughout.
• Popular local descents include Buzz Lightyear with its tight corners, the steep and rooty Rail the Roots, Simon's Business, Zorro, Witches Table, Stuart's Bits, Tea and Cake, Doctors Orders, and Clara's.

Gravel Riding

Stanmer Park also has a proper gravel option alongside the singletrack. The Woodland Walk is a permissive bridleway open to cyclists that loops most of the park's perimeter for around five miles on hardpack and grass. The wide gravel Green Drive runs for most of a mile from the park's main gates up to Stanmer House, and from the top of the park a bridleway connects onto the South Downs Way for a longer ride out onto the Downs.

Etiquette

• Ride only on bridleways, restricted byways, and byways. The trails at Stanmer Park are informal and undesignated, so stick to established lines and avoid cutting new paths through the woodland.
• The South Downs National Park asks riders not to cycle on the South Downs Way itself, as the land is rich in ancient burial mounds and sensitive chalk grassland. The park trails are the right place to ride.
• Give way to walkers and horse riders. Slow right down and pass wide, announcing your approach with a bell or a calm shout from a distance.
• In larger groups, split into bunches of three or four to avoid intimidating other users on narrow singletrack.
• The trails can become very muddy in wet conditions. Avoid riding excessively churned lines and consider giving heavily degraded sections a rest after heavy rain.
• Livestock may graze in parts of the park. Keep well clear and dismount if needed.
• Follow the Countryside Code.

Groups

• Brighton MTB Facebook group, the main community group for riders in the area.
• Brighton Excelsior CC runs weekly MTB sessions at Stanmer Park through its youth section, meeting on Sundays at 10am at the southern football pavilion car park.
• Brighton and Hove Girls MTB Network runs regular social rides at Stanmer Park for girls, non-binary, and trans riders aged 12 to 17.
• Marmalade MTB runs guided rides and sessions in the area, including introductory mountain biking days at Stanmer Park itself.

Beyond the Trails

Stanmer Park is a lot more than its riding. At its heart is Stanmer House, a Grade I listed Georgian manor, and next to it One Garden Brighton, a walled kitchen garden with a farm shop and a cafe. There are woodland and historic walks throughout the wider estate if you want to stretch your legs after a ride, and bike hire (Circa in the Park, plus Beryl e-bike docks) if you have come without your own.

Getting Here

• The Lower Lodges car park, on Stony Mere Way off Lewes Road, postcode BN1 9PY, is the main mountain biking access point. Both Lower Lodges and the Patchway car park, further into the park near Stanmer House, have cycle stands.
• Car parking is paid across all of the park's car parks, with rates varying by car park and length of stay.
• By bus: the 78 service runs from Brighton city centre into the heart of the park on weekends and bank holidays. The 25 provides a frequent seven-day service to the park entrance from the city centre and Lewes Road.
• By train: Falmer Station is a short walk from the park via an underpass, connecting to the Lower Lodges entrance.

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• If you have ridden the mountain bike trails at Stanmer Park, please share your reviews, photos, and videos to this listing.