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Thetford Forest Mountain Bike Trails

Thetford Forest Mountain Bike Trails
Avg 3.33
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup
Number of Reviews (36)

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

  • Information:
  • Type: MTB Base
  • Grades: Green,Blue,Red
  • Riding: Cross Country,Pump Track
  • Facilities: Car Park,Toilets,Visitors Centre,Cafe,Bike Shop,Bike Hire
  • Country: England
  • County: Suffolk
  • Website: Thetford 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).

Trail Status

status via Trailforks.com

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Description

Thetford forest is on the border of Norfolk and Suffolk and offers a range of mountain bike trails from Green, Blue, and Red as well as a pump track.

Like this?

It also has a bike shop (Bike Art) which does cycle hire. There is a Visitors Centre with a cafe. 

Lime Burner Trail (Red)

  • The Lime Burner is a 15km Red graded trail. Varied and changeable surface with technical features such as drop-offs, sweeping single-track, rock features and optional black graded pits.

Beater Trail (Blue)

  • The Blue graded Beater Trail is an 18km trail that is mainly single-track winding between the trees. There is a short 10km route or a long 18km route. Mostly single-track, winding through the trees and over obstacles such as roots.

Shepherd Trail (Green)

  • The Shepherd trail is an 8km Green graded for families and beginners. there is also a 5.5km shortcut version. Offers relatively flat, wide open forest roads, tracks and rides. Appropriate for most bikes, including tagalongs, trailers and child seats

Pump Track

  • A small pump track for progressive skill development.

Pedal and Play (Green)

  • Four green graded cycle loops
  • Progressive blue graded opt-ins
  • Almost 2km of new off-road cycle track

Poacher Trail (Blue)- Brandon Country Park

  • The Poacher Trail is a moderately graded Blue 16km trail. The Poacher Trail is located in Brandon Country Park. This loop can be linked with the High Lodge Shepherd Trail to lengthen the trails.

Off Piste

  • Like most of the official trails in the UK there is a selection of off-piste unsanctioned natural feel trails. Mainly, on the Brandon side.

Other Stuff

  • You can download the trail map here
  • Bike Shop on site: Bike Art

Clubs and Groups

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  • If you have ridden the MTB trails here at Thetford Forest then why not share your experience and write a review, post pictures or videos to the listing

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Darren Power:
Avg 3.96
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Love it

I cant believe somebody gave a 1 star rating. Maybe they expected a rampage course!

What do you like?

Excellent work by the volunteers who've managed to scrape some thrills out of the flatlands of Norfolk.

What could be improved?

Would like some proper downhill but the beast is fun and the re-built fast bit after that is excellent also

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

05/11/2016 - about 9 years ago

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1
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Shane:
Avg 1.39
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Not mush to write home about.

Needs to be faster. new layout  so people can get the most out of going down hill and needs to be more challenging.
Can't see why anyone would want to travel more than 10 miles to have a go.

What do you like?

Good for a nice day out and a picnic but very uphill trails not mush down hill at all 20% at most down hill 80% up hill not very well layer out.

What could be improved?

Very loose ground on new down hill parts poorly made burns very slow going. Jumps none.

Would you recommend?

*No*

Date written:

31/07/2016 - over 9 years ago

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0
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Matt :
Avg 3.89
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

My local playground

Parking can be pricey. But great for family day out

What do you like?

Well maintained trails on high lodge side, fast rolling flatish trails with some nice features. If you know your way around you can find some hidden gems of single track that aren't marked. Bike art (shop) is well stocked and the cafe and kids play areas are great

What could be improved?

No real bad points. Just remember it's in the flattest part of the country so you won't get many hilly sections. But what there is is fun

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

31/10/2015 - about 10 years ago

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2
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wideboydave:
Avg 4.38
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Huge Area

Most of the trail network around Thetford is not technically hard... a 5yr old can ride 90% of the trails... but the challenge comes when you can ride the trails fast and duck through the trees (it's possible to average over 15mph if you're pretty fit and that feels like 50mph in between trees!). If you are adventurous, there are hundreds of miles of unmarked trails too (Brandon Country Park, and Santon Downham, both accessible on trails from the main High lodge area... try and join a locals' ride (TIMBER MTB members regularly ride and know the good spots) The waymarked trails are slowly being upgraded in quality too with the help of TIMBER MTB working with the FC The Beater Trail is the best in my opinion. If you want to see unusual races... check out the 12 hr night endurance held annually in early October... I've done it 3 times... Difficult to find hard technical sections if you're not a local.. and even then it's not exactly a DH Bike Park, so don't expect it. Lack of gradient means people you like practising tail whips will be disappointed, don't go to Thetford if you have 8" travel and expect not to pedal... Car park may seem expensive, but other than the cafe, there is no other revenue for the site (ie the trails themselves are free)

What do you like?

-lots of fast, smooth, flowing single track -few long grinding climbs (maintain a good average speed) -relatively low technicality: broad ability spectrum encouraging more people to enjoy cycling -lots of unmarked trails for the adventurous -friendly local clubs willing to guide visitors and newbie locals -easy to get to (halfway between Cambridge and Norwich, will be even better when A11 is finished!)

What could be improved?

-relatively low technicality: may disappoint the more expert technical riders, especially the DH/Freeride riders

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

05/11/2014 - about 11 years ago

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1
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andy:
Avg 3.87
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

05/11/2014 - about 11 years ago

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1
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Robin Cope:
Avg 4.35
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Thetford Lime Burner Trail

It is a work in progress and I could see if they continue to develop this center further then it may well feature in the top five in MTB trails in the UK. They will probably need to look at more landscaping to build in some greater gradients or possibly North Shore decking to create more elevation. Some rock garden obstacles could also be beneficial but give this center a try as it is far better then you may think.

What do you like?

True single track with a number of difficult sections. The track is mainly sandy and as such can be ridden all year round. Takes you through some of the most beautiful pine forest you can find. The track features a number of man made "bomb holes" to test skills and there are a few which are very tricky to manage. Due to the terrain this is not a mountain bike trail to rival the best of Wales or other mountainous regions but if taken at speed this Trail will test even the very best riders. It also tests stamina as there are few places where you can ease off and coast downhill. The track is in development and each year I can see better trails and more features. A pump track has recently been added to the Thetford track. Fantastic cafe and well stocked bike shop are also a plus!!

What could be improved?

Lack of gradients.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

28/08/2014 - over 11 years ago

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1
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