Swinley Forest Mountain Bike Centre

Swinley Forest Mountain Bike Centre is in Bracknell, Berkshire, with 24km of purpose-built, all-weather singletrack through Crown Estate woodland. The network covers a 1.2km green beginner loop, a 10.1km blue intermediate trail, and a 13km red advanced route, with a cluster of gravity lines and jump runs at the midpoint and The Summit paid-entry skills area running from green to black. Trail maintenance, design and construction at Swinley is managed by Earthworx Trail Co in conjunction with The Crown Estate. Sandy soil drains fast and the trails ride well year-round.

Blue Loop

• The Blue moderately graded route is 10.1km long. The Blue is built for novices and its aim is to inspire confidence. You leave the Lookout past the trig point on Gravel Hill. You then descend to a bermed, single-track section then through a pine forest and finish through Windsor Ride to New England Hill. Incorporates "Full Nine Yards", "Devils Highway" and "Stickler". Around The Stickler point, you have the choice of continuing the blue back or taking on the Red.

Red Loop

• The Red graded loop is 13km long and connects sections such as Seagull, Tank Traps, Whole Nine Yards, Deerstalker and Labyrinth into a loop.
• The route continues from the Blue as described above. You enter Tank Traps and then on to Crowthorne Reservoir. On to Satan's Grotto with its tight twisty single track and then crossing Devils Highway onto Seagull. Follows the forest road to Surrey Hill Reservoir down the "F1" descent into the forest then up the tough Boardwalk climb. Down to Deerstalker, through the Labyrinth out onto the forest ride. Some more Forest Road sections till you hit Cobblers before returning on the blue trail back.
• For clarity, the Red starts at pretty much the midpoint of the Blue and returns at its end again along the Blue.
• Along the red route you can diverge onto a neat jump line (splits into two options to step it up a gear). This line(s) can be sessioned over and over to improve those skills.

Green Loop

• The Green graded Loop is for families and beginners and is 1.2km long. It has gentle dips and rises on a wide track.

Downhill Areas

• There are a few short downhill runs dotted along the way off the red route at the mid way point.
• In the downhill area (around Red Route marker 10) you will find the rebuilt red graded line that replaces the old Bikini Line, running straight from top to bottom with features all the way down and no mid trail pull outs or cut ins.
• Babymaker is a separate red graded jump line with berms and tabletops that can be sessioned from the same push up.
• The same small hillside also includes a handful of other short red descents and jump lines, including Berminator and Deer Stalker, giving a compact cluster of gravity focused options beside the main red route.

The Summit - Skills Area

• The Summit is a purpose-built skills area with trails and features ranging from green to black. It is designed for riders of all abilities to build confidence, work on technique, and progress at their own pace. The Summit is run by Swinley Bike Hub (shop on trail centre).
• Day access is available through single-session passes (£12 adult / £9 youth and under 12), along with 5-credit passes and monthly memberships for regular riders.
• The area is open via bookable sessions, with online registration and a signed waiver required. Sessions are staffed by first-aid-trained managers, and riders are responsible for choosing features within their ability level. Includes:
  • Berms and rollers
  • Tabletops and gap jumps
  • Wooden drops
  • Flow trails
  • Tech trails
  • Graded progression from green to black

Local Groups

• Facebook group Swinley Forest Mountain Bikers.
• Local bike hire and shop: Swinley Bike Hub.

Getting Here

• The Lookout Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 7QW. Located to the west of the A322, between Bracknell and Bagshot. Car park is pay and display.
• Swinley Bike Hub is open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm (last bike hire 2pm).

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