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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

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  • 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. 
Davo:
Avg 3.85
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Good Times at Swinley Forest

(I have only visited twice but plan to go more often now I am closer) Overall Swinley Forest has extremely well built trails and is great for beginners and slightly advanced, however it needs more variety and options ;) Definitely needs more trails another blue and another red and a black. Some short red diversions for people wanting to try some red that can go back to blue. Swinley Forest is already very popular and can get pretty over crowded at times, I feel this could be a even bigger and better place with the added suggestions and more trails would take some pressure of the current trails.

What do you like?

Fun factor Quality of trails Facilities Great for Novice - Intermediate

What could be improved?

If you are looking for technical or advanced this is not the place as of yet! Better sign posting around the trails

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

27/12/2015 - about 10 years ago

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1
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Nathan:
Avg 4.08
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Great for novice to intermediate and fitness

Swinley forest is a short ride from home so I visit about 4-5 times a week. I ride the blue and red about 4-5 times a week and I haven't got bored yet! I don't enjoy 10" jumps and "no fitness required" downhill cycling though.

What do you like?

The trails are well managed and maintained. Great for novice to intermediate riders and for those wanting to keep fit.

What could be improved?

If you're wanting some real adrenaline and big jumps you'll be better off going to trail centers dedicated to this.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

02/11/2015 - about 10 years ago

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0
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DF :
Avg 1.20
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Avoid...Unless you're just afer spinning the legs

Dire

What do you like?

You get to ride your bike

What could be improved?

This is what's wrong with mountain biking today. Monotonous drudgery of homogenized trails that onky panders to the lower common denominator

Would you recommend?

*No*

Date written:

01/11/2015 - about 10 years ago

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1
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aaron:
Avg 2.04
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Swinley forest

Needs to be more challenging

Would you recommend?

*No*

Date written:

31/10/2015 - about 10 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
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Andy Shilley:
Avg 4.54
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Swinley

None

What do you like?

Excellent all round facility

What could be improved?

Can get awfully busy at times

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

31/10/2015 - about 10 years ago

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0
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Steve wiggins:
Avg 3.52
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Well worth a blast

Great place for all the family to enjoy :)

What do you like?

If you love just blasting around without the fear of a 10 foot drop off or jump in you way as you speed around then this is your place. I think for bike park training it's fantastic to build up your handling skills and fitness before you move into bigger things. Great for all the family to enjoy with bike shop cafe etc. If your looking for hardcore full face action then best head into the unmarked routes where you will not run the risk of hurting a less experirenced rider.

What could be improved?

None as long as you stick to the rules and you respect all other riders your be fine.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

31/10/2015 - about 10 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

0
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