Woolley Woods Cycle Skills Area

Woolley Woods is the National Trust's new outdoor hub on the Arlington Court estate, just off the A39 at Shirwell, a short drive north of Barnstaple. Its cycle skills area is free to ride: several lines of rollers, berms and jumps on a compacted gravel surface, from a small loop for young riders up to a pro line, built by Forte Trailscapes. A 1.2km surfaced trail, a natural play area and a Welcome Hub sit alongside it.

The Skills Area

• Four lines of rollers, berms and jumps laid out side by side, including deep bowl-shaped berms, surfaced in compacted gravel rather than tarmac, so it suits bikes better than scooters.
• The lines step up in difficulty, from a small circular route for younger riders to a more advanced line whose jump lips are best left until you're confident.
• A narrower skills line also winds through stone-pitched rock sections and up and over a surfaced roller.
• The National Trust describes it as having berms, ramps and jumps, with an introductory route for younger riders.
• Balance bikes can be hired from the Welcome Hub for the youngest riders.
• Built by Forte Trailscapes, the Devon team behind Dartmoor Bike Park and Burlish Bike Park, with local BMX rider Toby Parker on the build crew.

Also at Woolley Woods

• A 1.2km surfaced multi-use trail for cyclists, wheelchair users, walkers and pushchairs, linking into the wider path network across the Arlington estate.
• Waymarked walks from the hub: Woolley Meadows (easy), the Woolley Ramble (moderate) and the North Woolley Loop, which uses bridleway.
• A natural play area with balance beams, swings, accessible swings, a climbing net, slides and a wooden climbing tower.
• A Welcome Hub with a kiosk, toilets including an accessible toilet, picnic areas and cycle parking. A Tramper all-terrain mobility scooter can be hired from the hub.
• Dogs are welcome, kept under close control.

Riding on the Arlington Estate

The National Trust publishes two cycle routes on the wider Arlington estate, both starting from the main Arlington Court car park: an 11km gravel and off-road figure-of-eight through Woolley Wood, graded challenging, with sections of singletrack, steep climbs and a few minor roads, and a shorter 7km loop through Deer Park Wood and past the Old Lake. Route guides are on the Arlington Court page.

Opening Times and Parking

Woolley Woods is free to enter and open every day from dawn to dusk, and the Welcome Hub is usually open from 10am to 4pm. The skills area is free to ride. The car park is pay and display for non-members, and National Trust members park free by scanning their membership card. Overnight stays and camping are not allowed.

Getting Here

• Woolley Woods car park: off the A39 at Shirwell, Barnstaple, EX31 4JZ. what3words: ///duet.clever.telephone.
• Arlington Court main car park: Arlington, Barnstaple, EX31 4LW, the estate's main car park and the start of the National Trust's cycle loops.
• Barnstaple, the nearest railway station (on the Tarka Line from Exeter), is about 7 miles away.

Share

• If you have visited Woolley Woods Cycle Skills Area, please share your reviews, photos, and videos to this listing.
• Photos: the finished skills park, courtesy of Forte Trailscapes