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Swinley Forest Mountain Bike Centre
Avg 3.92
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup
Number of Reviews (64)

*You can claim this trail if you are the trail owner

  • Information:
  • Type: Purpose Built Centre
  • Grades: Green,Blue,Red,Black,Ungraded,Forest Road
  • Riding: Cross Country,Downhill,Wild Trails,Skills Area,Bike Park
  • Facilities: Car Park,Toilets,Visitors Centre,Cafe,Bike Wash,Bike Hire,Bike Shop
  • Distance(s): Under 5km, 5-10km, 11-20km, 21- 30km
  • Country: England
  • County: Berkshire
  • Website: Swinley Forest
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Trail Network & Rider Segments

Trail network status from Trailforks and recent rider segments from Strava (see full mapped routes and details in the Tracks tab).

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Description

Swinley Forest Mountain Bike Centre is in Bracknell, England and consists of red, blue and green XC trails, a skills area, and a few Downhill tracks. Swinley Forest is quite sandy so holds dry well in the winter and rainy months. All trail maintenance, design and construction at Swinley is Managed by Earthworx Trail Co in conjunction with The Crown Estate 

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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 Area’s 

  • 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’s 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 found on trail centre) 
  • Day access is available through single-session passes (£10 adult / £7 under 18), 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

Share

  • If you have ridden the mountain bike trails at Swinley Forest then please share your experiences and post your reviews, pictures and videos to this listing. 
JoF:
Avg 5.00
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Fabulous family trails

For a beginner / family, the Swinley Forest trails are great.

My six year old will whizz round the green a few times and then have a go at parts of the blue - there are lots of short-cuts and easier paths to cut away the full route, so you can shorten the trail for little legs and you know the trails are maintained well enough that you don’t need to worry.

You can take a break in the adventure playground, build a den, or have a snack in the picnic area to break up the cycling.

Would you recommend?

yes

Date written:

27/07/2025 - 6 months ago

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1
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guest:
Avg 4.40
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Good variety of courses and a great introduction to the sport. Big fire roads so you can go home when ever you have had enough.

What do you like?

Good flow to the courses that changes as you get faster. Not the biggest slopes but that because the land there isn’t that hilly.

What could be improved?

Bigger signs at the entrance to each section.

Would you recommend?

yes

Date written:

22/07/2025 - 6 months ago

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1
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Simon Howes:
Avg 4.70
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

A ride around Swinley always makes me smile. It has lots of variety, enabling me to grow my skills.

What could be improved?

Signage at the start of each trail

Would you recommend?

yes

Date written:

18/07/2025 - 6 months ago

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1
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guest:
Avg 4.40
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Swinley Forest has some great trails, a good variety and extremely well maintained. For greater variety and higher skill level you need to visit The Summit skills coaching area. Altogther a great place to learn and hone your MTB, or gravel, skills.

What do you like?

Great variety of trails and within riding distance.

What could be improved?

The trails already make the most of the topography available. 

Would you recommend?

yes

Date written:

17/07/2025 - 6 months ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
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guest:
Avg 4.80
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Great local bike trails. 

Would you recommend?

yes

Date written:

17/07/2025 - 6 months ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
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guest:
Avg 4.40
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Lovely place to go, well kept and a good variety of trails... Just avoid weekends.

What do you like?

Regular upkeep. Good mix of trails, some nice, fast ones too. Guys at the Hub are friendly and helpful.

You also have the look out, you can dump the family in the park and go for a spin 😂

What could be improved?

Some new trails, maybe some further out and some more fast ones.

I know people park outside, however, weekends are a nightmare... Just don't bother. (I go weekdays, car park empty)


Would you recommend?

yes

Date written:

17/07/2025 - 6 months ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
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