Sandy soil drains fast, so it rides well all year.
Start on: the 1.2km green loop, with gentle dips and rises on a wide track.
Next steps: the 10.1km blue, then the 13km red and its jump lines. The Summit is a paid, bookable skills area graded from green to black.
On site: pay and display parking, toilets, a cafe, and hire and a shop from Swinley Bike Hub, which runs The Summit.

Start on: the two skills areas at Benham Bushes and Wiggly Worm, a 300m light blue track that runs between them and the car park. There is a balance bike track for small children by the visitor centre.
Next steps: the 6km all-weather blue, mostly singletrack with berms, rollers and optional drops, then the 7.5km red, which is rooty and off-camber with steep climbs.
Heads up: riders say loose gravel on the blue's berms can be slippery at speed, and the red's chalk gets slick in the wet.
On site: a visitor centre, a cafe, pay and display parking, and hire, mostly e-mountain bikes including junior sizes, from Southern E-Bike Rentals (book ahead). The trails are built and looked after by the volunteers of the QECP Trail Collective. See Hampshire County Council's cycling page.

Start on: the family cycle trail, 9km of shared-use forest road through the pinetum, or its 4km short loop. Some sections are gravelly and gently hilly.
Next steps: the 13km singletrack trail. It is graded red, but riders find it gentler than most reds: twisty and rooty, with berms, rollers and small drops. An optional black section adds a rock garden roll-in.
On site: bike hire from Go Ape (book online), a cafe by the visitor centre lake, and coaching from Bedgebury Forest Cycle Club, Ride Mountains and Jeremy's Rides. See Forestry England's Bedgebury cycling page.

Start on: the blue lines of the 6km trail network, with wide berms and gentle rollers, which Cyclopark says suit new and less experienced riders. Coached Intro to MTB sessions can be booked.
Next steps: the fast, flowing red lines with rock features, then the black rock gardens. A coached weekend Bike Club runs for ages 8 to 13.
On site: bike and helmet hire (book ahead), a cafe, a BMX track, a tarmac road circuit and a play park. Riding is paid per day, with no booking needed, and under 8s ride with an adult. See Cyclopark's trails page.

Start on: the green and blue off-road loop, about 3.25km with undulating dips, tidy berms and steady singletrack, and the pump track, built on a slope with rollable dips and jumps.
Next steps: the descent, whose berms get bigger and steeper before a run of rollable tabletops.
On site: riding is in booked sessions rather than turn up and ride, including learn-to-ride coaching, balance bike sessions for ages 2 to 5, Go-Ride coaching, hire and adapted bikes. Open Tuesday to Sunday. Book through Redbridge Cycling Centre's booking page.

Start on: the blue trails, beginner-friendly runs with berms and flow, or a taster skills session.
Next steps: the reds, with small rock gardens, drops and technical descents, then the short black lines.
On site: a cafe overlooking the velodrome and toilets. Riding is pay-and-ride or by membership, and skills sessions are booked ahead. Parts of the circuit close for events and maintenance. See Lee Valley VeloPark's page.

Start on: the green Shepherd trail (8km, or 5.5km) on flat, wide forest road that suits trailers and tag-alongs, or Pedal and Play, four green loops for riders from age three.
Next steps: the pump track, the mostly singletrack Beater blue (18km, or 10km), then the 15km Lime Burner red, which riders say rides more like a blue at many centres, so it makes a gentle first red.
On site: a cafe, a visitor centre, and a shop with hire (booked by phone). See Forestry England's High Lodge page.

Pay to ride.
Start on: the green trails, which Phoenix says are "ideal for balance bikes, first-timers, beginners, and novices", with rollable rollers, tabletops and berms. Base Camp, by the shop, has a green, the pump track and the skills training area, plus a green balance bike trail for the youngest riders.
Next steps: the blue trails on both sides of the park, with rollable tabletops, berms, drops and wooden features, then the green and blues at North Summit, across the A14 by a foot route through the underpass, and the 2km Phoenix Lap, which has a B-line round every obstacle.
Heads up: some features on the reds and harder trails may be unavoidable, so check the trail map first. A helmet is compulsory, pads are recommended, and under-16s need an adult on site.
On site: a cafe, toilets and parking, and the Brink bike shop, with hire from balance bikes upwards (book hire ahead at busy times). You can turn up and pay on the day. See Phoenix CycleWorks' website.

Pay to ride.
Start on: the five green beginner trails, from the Mini BMX track and the Tiger Cub pump track for the youngest riders to the Warm Up Trail and Fern Flow, a long green loop around the site.
Next steps: the blue Single Track and Flow Line, then the blue pump track, table tops and dual slalom, before the reds and dirt jumps.
On site: a cafe, toilets and parking, hire, and an on-site coach who can help you get started off road. Day passes are bought on the day at the park, and under-16s need an adult with them. See Chicksands' trail map.

Pay to ride.
Start on: the 1.2-mile Blue XC loop round the site, and the Bermalicious and Tea Cups blues, which Twisted Oaks grades for "beginner, intermediate and expert riders": small to medium jumps that can all be rolled, no gaps, and a B-line round any drop, with a sign at the start if there is one. The J2 jump area is a training zone.
Next steps: the blue-plus trails, Mouse Trap, Jake & Elwood and the dual slalom, which flow faster with bigger rollable jumps, then the 5-mile Red XC and the reds.
Heads up: there is no green, and Twisted Oaks says its blues need basic bike skills, so it suits riders who already ride a bike with some confidence.
On site: a bike shop with hire and repairs, toilets, parking, and a cafe at weekends. Sign the waiver online and book before you go. See Twisted Oaks' trails page.

Start on: the green Fairoak Trail, 4km on a mostly smooth surface with one gentle climb.
Next steps: Perry's Trail, a 4.3km blue with rollable rock gardens and three optional red sections, then Follow the Dog, a 10.8km red with the features you'd expect as you move up to red.
Heads up: the Monkey Trail carries on from Follow the Dog, and Forestry England says it is considerably more demanding, with bigger, steeper climbs and more technical descents, so it is not one for your first red.
On site: Birches Valley Forest Centre has parking, toilets, a cafe, and a bike shop with hire. The trails are built by the volunteers of Chase Trails.

Pay to ride.
Start on: the Rosie Route, a 700m green family trail, 2.5m wide with gentle ups and downs, built for "all wheel sizes and disability adapted bike and trikes". Its small table jumps and log balance beams can all be ridden round.
Next steps: Cooper's dual slalom, a blue where every feature can be rolled, then the progression jumps, a series of tables that get gradually bigger.
On site: a clubhouse cafe, toilets and a car park, open at weekends and in school holidays. There is no bike hire. It is run by the cycling charity Open Trail, with day passes online. See Burlish Bike Park's website.

Start on: the 6.4km green Maid Marion route on forest road, or Pedal and Play, a beginner area of around 2km whose wider trails suit adapted and trike-style cycles.
Next steps: the skills loop, the 11.2km Robin Hood blue, and the Outlaw red, flatter than most reds but almost all singletrack, plus an orange bike park.
On site: a visitor centre, a cafe, toilets, and hire and a shop from Sherwood Pines Cycles.

Start on: Pedal and Play, a 2km skills park in three zones for riders new to mountain biking, wide and flat and built to suit adapted cycles, then the Wood Farm Trail, a 4.4km green of winding singletrack made as a family introduction to off-road riding.
Next steps: the 8.9km Shell Brook blue around the whole site, with jumps, bumps and berms.
On site: hire and servicing from Grounds Cafe and Cycle Hire, the cafe itself, toilets and paid parking. See Forestry England's Hicks Lodge page.

Free to ride.
Start on: the learn-to-ride and skills area, with a hard-surfaced zone and mini off-road trails, then the 1km green, built with features that let beginners learn and develop.
Next steps: the 2km blue, then the 1km red, the jump zone and the Campion Hills 4X track.
On site: the Cycle Hub, run by Mercia Cycles, with hire from hardtails to electric full suspension bikes (helmets included), repairs, refreshments and toilets. Parking is free. See Warwick District Council's cycle trails page.

Free to ride.
Start on: the skills area's short green and blue sections, then the Multi User Trail, a green loop for families and beginners.
Next steps: the blues on the East side, Uncle Fester, PDQ and Double Bogey, then Blue Nunn and Raise the Tone on the West side, the A45 red and the 1460 dual track. Jett Black and Cherry Bomb are the blacks.
On site: toilets and a cafe next door at Delapré Golf Centre, a tool station by the skills area, and paid parking that helps fund the park. Open sunrise to sunset. See Northampton Bike Park's website.

Start on: the 18km green Family Cycle Trail on old railway lines, or Old Bob's, a 2km accessible green with skills areas you can session or ride around. There is also a kids' skills area and a pump track.
Next steps: the flowing Verderers blue and Launchpad, a blue downhill run suitable for adaptive bikes, then the Freeminer red and more than ten downhill runs up to double black.
On site: Pedalabikeaway run the cafe, shop and hire, with toilets and showers, and Goals Beyond Grass offer accessible bike hire. See Forestry England's Cycle Centre page.

Start on: Blue Raccoon, a fast, flowing blue with rollable pumps, jumps and berms, and the indoor pump track. New riders can book a beginners' session or a Trail Discovery Pass, which pairs a guided session on the blues with an uplift day pass.
Next steps: Cheese Roller and Cotswold Gold, blues with bigger berms and progressive jumps that can be rolled, then the reds, the dual slalom and the dirt jump field.
On site: uplift, hire, coaching, the Stables Cafe, toilets and a bike shop. It is closed on Tuesdays, so check opening and book on Flyup 417's website. Bike park grades run harder than trail centre grades.

Start on: the 2.5km green Discovery Trail on a fully surfaced track, and the skills area and pump track, with easy, medium and hard lines.
Next steps: the Spicers and Kiddens blues, then the Ridge Ride red and the short Freers Loop black (no hire bikes on the black).
On site: parking, a cafe, toilets, a visitor centre and bike hire. Trails close from time to time for forestry work, so check Forestry England's Haldon page first.

Free to ride.
Start on: the skills area by the car park, whose rollers, banked corners and small drops match the features on the trails, then the 2.5km green Lodge Trail, wide and well surfaced. The Discovery Trail, around 6km, is a gentler circuit on level forest tracks and a flat tarmac drive along the River Fowey. There is a balance bike track for the youngest riders.
Next steps: Bazley's Trail, a 3km blue with gentle gradients, small rollers and a shortcut back to the green, then the Walter's, Hart and Timber blues, each a step harder than the last, and the Saw Pit dual slalom red. After that, the Bodmin Beast blue at Cardinham Woods, a few miles away: 9.8km of singletrack with rollable features and two optional red sections. Some riders find it closer to a red than a blue, so it is a real step up.
On site: cycle hire, the Park Cafe and toilets at the hub, with pay and display parking, free for National Trust members. Walkers and dogs are not allowed on the cycle trails. See the National Trust's Lanhydrock page for the trail map.

Start on: the easy trails on wide gravel forest tracks, a central 2-mile circuit with three extra loops for up to 7 miles, or the 1 to 2-mile Corsican, Crane, Somerley and Watchmoor loops.
Next steps: the 4.4-mile blue singletrack, which riders say rides more like a green at many centres, then Watchmoor Bike Park, free to ride and graded green to red, with berms, drops and jumps.
On site: cycle hire (adult and child bikes, child seats, trailers and tag-alongs), a visitor centre, a cafe and toilets. Watchmoor has no toilets, so use the visitor centre's. See Moors Valley's cycling page.

Start on: Ellerburn, the gentlest trail at Dalby, or the longer green Adderstone Cycle Trail.
Next steps: the orange skills area and pump track at Dixon's Hollow, then the Jubilee blue, 11km of mostly singletrack with flowing berms and small root and rock obstacles, then the red network and the black World Cup trail.
Heads up: Forestry England says the Jubilee blue ends on a very steep and challenging descent with zigzags and berms, so take it slowly or walk sections the first time.
On site: a visitor centre, a cafe, toilets, and a shop, hire and coaching courses at the Dalby Forest Cycle Hub. The forest drive is tolled for cars but free on a bike.

Start on: the skills area and pump track, then the 2.5km all-weather family loop, wide enough to ride side by side, which leads onto the Cliff Trail, a mostly level 5.6km green along the escarpment edge.
Next steps: Fort Short, a 9.7km blue and the natural step up from the Cliff Trail, then the Fort Long and Drovers blues and the 29km Paradise red.
On site: hire from Sutton Bank Bikes, including hardtails, children's bikes, e-bikes and trailers, and a cafe and toilets at the National Park Centre.

Start on: the flat 5km green loop around the two main lakes, on wide surfaced park paths that suit any bike, including adapted cycles.
Next steps: the Drift Woods blue, about 4km of wide tracks, bridleways and twisty woodland singletrack, then the 6.5km red. The ground is clay and gets muddy after rain, when the hard-surfaced Avoid the Gloop route is the better ride.
On site: the park's Cycle Centre hires mountain bikes, trailers and adapted bikes, and there is a cafe. The trails are built by the Rother Valley Riders volunteers. See the park's mountain bike page.

Free to ride.
Start on: the pump track and the green trails of the graded loop, which has features built in to help newer riders progress.
Next steps: the blue, red and black trails on the same loop, the BMX skills track and the jump line, under 5km of trail in all. About 10 miles away, Oakwell Hall in Birstall has a 1.2km blue of back-to-back berms that suits all ages.
On site: a cafe, toilets, a bike shop, hire and coaching, run by the not-for-profit Cycle Pathway CIC, whose cafe and shop keep the riding free. Parking is paid at the bike park, or free at Middleton Park's main entrance. See Leeds Urban Bike Park's website.

Free to ride.
Start on: the green, a flowing, heavily bermed descent with smooth surfaces and small features that can be ridden on any bike, and the balance bike track for the youngest riders.
Next steps: the blue, with berms and small jumps that can all be rolled, then the two reds, the jump line and the dual slalom. There are no blacks.
On site: a single push-up path serves every trail, and there is designated parking (please don't use the nearby residential streets). The park is community-built and runs on donations. See Richmond Bike Park's website.

Start on: the green Borderline trail, 11km of flat former railway line from Kielder Castle, and the blue section of the Castle Wood skills loop.
Next steps: the 19km Osprey blue along Kielder Burn, then the skills loop's red and black sections and the Lonesome Pine red.
Heads up: some riders find the Osprey long and hard for a blue, with climbing that feels more like a red in places, so allow plenty of time.
On site: a visitor centre, a cafe, toilets and a bike shop at Kielder Castle. See Visit Kielder.

Start on: the Skills Loop by the Visitor Centre, which has rollable options, then the 8.4km short loop of the Squirrel Chaser blue, a mix of forest road, riverside path and singletrack that is signed for adaptive bikes. Ants in Yer Pants is 14.6km of forest road.
Next steps: the 13.3km Squirrel Chaser figure-of-eight, then The Big 'Un and Transcend reds, The Edge black and Descend Bike Park.
On site: a visitor centre, a cafe, toilets and pay and display parking. There is no bike hire on site, so bring your own. The trails are built and looked after by the Hamsterley Trailblazers volunteers with Forestry England.

Free to ride, all year.
Start on: the Bike Park Skills Zone, with a pump track and features graded by dots, then the Easy Rider, a light blue trail along the River Medlock designed for a range of accessible bikes. The Limitless bike library lends adapted cycles, including trikes.
Next steps: the Sidewinder blue, then the Urban Red Rockit and the short Scorpions Tail black. The trails use the same dots, so you can practise a feature before you meet it.
On site: parking, a cafe, toilets, hire and a bike wash at the National Cycling Centre, which also books coaching.

Free to ride.
Start on: the learn-to-ride zone, the big asphalt pump track, the family trail and the short green skills track.
Next steps: the blue and red skills tracks, then the green, blue and red woodland tracks, with rollers, jumps, drops and berms among the trees.
On site: parking, accessible toilets at the athletics ground next door and the Courtyard Cafe in the park. The Nacro community cycling hub runs sessions and a club, and Wheels for All runs adapted-bike sessions.

Free to ride.
Start on: there is no green here, so warm up on the park's surfaced cycle routes or National Cycle Route 6, then try Waterdale, a 3km blue of purpose-built singletrack through flowing woodland that suits beginners and novices.
Next steps: the Black Dog Trail, a 3.5km red figure of eight from the car park with sweeping berms, jumps, tabletops and tricky climbs and descents. Its biggest features can be ridden around.
On site: a car park on Park Lane, and no cafe or public toilets in the park. The trails are looked after by volunteers and Bury Council.

Start on: the 3.5km short option of the Quercus blue, flowing singletrack with gentle berms and wide, gradual climbs, or the 10km Gorse Cycle Trail on surfaced forest road. Whinlatter is a mountain forest, so expect to start every ride with a climb.
Next steps: the full 7.5km Quercus, then the 19km Altura red, which splits into North and South loops. Riders suggest the South loop for your first red, as it is the easier of the two.
On site: a visitor centre, a cafe, toilets and pay and display parking, with hire and servicing from Cyclewise (book hire ahead). Check Forestry England's Whinlatter page for diversions first.

Start on: the skills loop at the hub, three linked mini loops that get harder as you go, then Bottoms Beck, a 9.5km blue with a mellow green section along an old railway line beside the beck.
Next steps: The 8, an 18km figure-of-eight graded red overall, which mixes forest road with red and blue singletrack and has optional black features, and the Hope Line Down, an orange descent of berms, tabletops and drops. Some riders find The 8 tougher than reds at other centres.
On site: the Hungry Pine Cafe at the hub on some days of the week, picnic areas and parking. There is no bike hire, so bring your own. See Forestry England's Gisburn page.

Start on: the 1km green loop around the edge of the park, then the blue lines on Warm Up Hill, which roll into the pump track.
Next steps: the progressive tabletops, which you can roll until you are ready to jump them, the blue flow trail and the red berms and jumps line, then the dirt jump field.
On site: a paid day ticket, booked online in advance. The park opens on set days and closes over the winter, so check Pimbo's booking site before you travel. Bike park grades run harder than trail centre grades.

Start on: Rookie, a 5.8km green from the Visitor Centre, or the flat Rheilffordd green on an old railway trackbed.
Next steps: the Blue Scar blue, then Penhydd, the red riders use to build confidence, before the more technical Y Wal. Save White's Level, Blade and Skyline, the W2 black and the orange bike park for later.
On site: a cafe and bike shop at the Visitor Centre, and a cafe-bar, shop, hire and campsite at Glyncorrwg. Check Afan Forest Park for forestry closures first.

Start on: the Badgers Run and Kermit greens. The Beginner Uplift Experience includes a hardtail, protective kit and an introduction in the classroom.
Next steps: a long list of blues, then reds, blacks and pro lines, by uplift or a 5km ride-up. An Adaptive Bike Pass maps the trails approved for adaptive bikes.
On site: a cafe, hire, a shop, showers and coaching. It is a paid venue, so book a pass on the BikePark Wales website. Bike park grades run harder than trail centre grades.

Pay to ride.
Start on: Piece of Cake, a green for beginner riders that suits families and trailers, and the two pump tracks.
Next steps: the four blues, then the blue-plus trails, with more jumps and drops, before the reds.
On site: a visitor centre with a cafe and bike shop, and coaching for all ages, from two-year-olds upwards. Open Friday to Sunday, weather permitting. Register and book a day pass online before you go; riders need to be six or over for a trail pass. See Mountain View's website.

Free to ride.
Start on: the two short greens by the reservoir, Grebe Glen and the mini flow trail Duck, Duck, Goose, where the features suit anyone who can ride a bike. There is also a pump track and skills area (book a session ahead), and gravel routes of 5 to 11km around the lake.
Next steps: three short blues, Woodstock Weave, Dam Good View and Bluebell Woods, with rollable jumps and a north shore bridge, then five reds and two blacks.
On site: hire from the Bike Hub for adults and children, including e-bikes, tag-alongs and trailers, the Lakeview Cafe, toilets and pay and display parking. See Llys-y-Fran's trails page.

Free to ride.
Start on: the Derwen Trail, a 9.7km green through oak woodland with steady climbs and fun descents, built for families and riders new to the trails.
Next steps: the 3.9km Derwen blue extension, with a steeper climb and a longer, faster descent, then the 20km Gorlech red from Abergorlech car park.
On site: free parking and toilets at Byrgwm car park, with no cafe or hire. Forestry work closes and diverts trails here, so check Natural Resources Wales' Byrgwm page first.

Start on: the skills park and Floverload, a wide, smooth green with gentle rollers and berms and easy-to-avoid features. Pro Ride coaching runs beginner intros and confidence days, and the Hafod Groms club is for ages 4 to 17.
Next steps: the blues, Peek-a-Blue and Space Melon, with roots, rock steps, jumps and berms you can roll at a controlled speed, then four reds and two blacks.
On site: uplift to the top of every trail, booked ahead on Hafod's website (there is no push-up track), and home-cooked food at the Grub Hub. Bike park grades run harder than trail centre grades.

Start on: the skills park, Parc Sgiliau, and the Arian Trail, 7.9km of forest road out to Blaenmelindwr lake with no singletrack.
Next steps: the Melindwr blue, a 1.85km first loop with a forest road climb and a flowing, bermed descent, then its second loop, the Pendam red and the Summit red.
On site: a refreshment unit, toilets, a bike wash and pay and display parking. There is no hire. Red kites are fed over the lake most afternoons. See Natural Resources Wales' Nant yr Arian page.

Start on: the green beginner trail, which Coed y Cain calls "a great introduction to the bike park": mostly gentle and downhill, with one signposted steep section. It suits any off-road capable bike, including balance bikes with brakes.
Next steps: the blue, flowing and undulating with berms, rollers and some steeper, faster and looser sections, then the red.
Heads up: the trails sit behind Llanfyllin School and are closed in school hours, opening from 4pm on weekdays and from 9am at weekends and in school holidays. If the pedestrian gate is locked, the trails are closed.
On site: limited parking by the school's sixth form, and no facilities at the trails. Register to ride on the website before your first visit; under-18s need a parent or guardian to register them, and under-12s need an adult on site. It is a community project run by Llanfyllin Community Initiative. See Coed y Cain's website.

Start on: Yr Afon, a green family trail mostly on forest road, and the kids' training zone in the Foundry skills area.
Next steps: MinorTaur, a blue with four loops of increasing technicality that is suitable for adaptive bikes, then three reds, three blacks and six waymarked gravel routes.
On site: Beics Brenin runs the bike shop and hire, with parking and toilets. See Natural Resources Wales for trail updates.

Start on: the 5km green, mostly hard-packed, climbing gently to the reservoir.
Next steps: the 12km blue, then the 18km red, its black runs and the Natural Selection lines. The skills zone and pump track have been closed for a rebuild, so check Oneplanet Adventure for their status.
On site: a visitor centre with a cafe, a bike shop with hire, toilets and showers.

Start on: two green routes, the Apple Peel taster loop, and the skills area built for young and new riders. The multi-user path from the car park suits adaptive bikes.
Next steps: the skills loop, the 16km blue, the popular 18km red, the black and the Masterplan trails. Glentress is part of the 7stanes, with more trail centres nearby.
On site: a cafe, toilets, showers, uplift, and a shop with hire from Alpine Bikes. Check Forestry and Land Scotland for forestry closures first.

Start on: the skills area near the trailhead, then Bargaly Wood, a 6km green on forest and farm tracks and quiet roads through the glen, suited to first-timers and children.
Next steps: Larg Hill, a 10km blue of winding singletrack with a few small rock drops, then The Twister red and the Black Craigs black, with its McMoab granite slabs.
On site: hire from The Break Pad, including kids' bikes, trailers and tagalongs (book ahead), a cafe, toilets, showers and pay and display parking. Check Forestry and Land Scotland's Kirroughtree page for diversions first.

Start on: The Glen, a 6km green family loop around Palnagashel Glen on forest track and gentle singletrack.
Next steps: The Green Torr, a 9km blue of purpose-built singletrack with few large rocks or roots: a steady climb, then a long descent back to the visitor centre. After that, its sister centre Kirroughtree.
On site: a cafe, toilets (open with the cafe) and pay and display parking. There is no hire here, so book a bike from The Break Pad at Kirroughtree. See Forestry and Land Scotland's Glentrool page.

Free to ride.
Start on: the windfarm's wide, well-surfaced access roads from the visitor centre car park, then the pump track and the short skills loop at Brown Hill.
Next steps: about 4km of blue singletrack at Brown Hill in two linked loops, flowing with berms and rollers. Rock gardens, drop-offs and a log ride are optional red lines you can ride around until you're ready.
On site: free parking at the visitor centre and a picnic shelter at the trailhead. The trails are looked after by East Renfrewshire Council's ranger service. Some access roads close for windfarm work, so check the council's Whitelee page before you travel.

Free to ride.
Start on: the beginners' pump park and the skills loop, then the main pump track, all floodlit for winter evenings.
Next steps: the blue trail in the woods across the South Calder Water, then the short red, the jump line and the trials area.
On site: a car park with disabled spaces, and the wider country park with Strathclyde Loch. Local clubs run beginner mountain bike sessions here. See North Lanarkshire Council's Bellshill Gateway page.

Start on: the Canada Trail, a 4.1km green through Canada Wood with gentle ups and downs and no steep hills.
Next steps: the 3.4km Craigieburn blue, with a few gentle hills and some twisting drops, then the Kilbean and Auchengean reds. Across town, Falkirk Council's Callendar Park Cycling Hub adds a beginners' training area and a blue flow line with gentle rollers and a wall ride.
On site: a cafe, and hire and a bike shop at Greenrig Cycles at the trailhead (book hire ahead). See Callendar Estate's cycling page.

Start on: the 6km green loop around the loch, for beginners, kids and any kind of bike, and the skills loop's berms, rollers and small rock features.
Next steps: the 5km blue, which takes in the Benarty Brae pump track, then White Wood Bikepark, with a swoopy blue downhill run, a 4X track and the red Rockzilla line.
On site: the Lochside Cafe, toilets, a visitor centre and a bike wash. Adaptive bikes can be hired all year (book ahead), and the 1km adaptive flowtrail was Scotland's first. See Lochore Meadows' cycling page.

Free to ride.
Start on: there is no green here, but the Slow Worm is an all-abilities trail in the front field, suitable for adaptive bikes, next to the skills park and pump track.
Next steps: the 4km blue, also suitable for adaptive bikes, then the reds and the black. The shop suggests natural routes around the Strathearn Valley.
On site: Comrie Croft Bikes for the shop, hire, coaching and guiding, with a seasonal cafe, an eco-lodge and camping.

Start on: the green loop, and the pump track in front of the cafe.
Next steps: three blues (Original Blue, Bazza's Berms and the Underthinker), then the 22km red to the summit of Carn Daimh, the orange freeride line, a black and a pro jump line.
On site: Bike Glenlivet has a cafe, hire, a bike wash and toilets, and the car park fees fund the trails.

Pay to ride, in season.
Start on: the green trails, which Cairngorm Mountain says are designed for beginners and younger children. Two short conveyors carry you to the top of the lower zone, so there is no climbing.
Next steps: the lower blues, then the upper blues and reds, reached by the climb trail or, with an Uplift Pass, the funicular and a short pedal from the middle station.
On site: hire from striders upwards, with helmets included, plus a cafe, toilets and a mountain shop at the Base Station. It is recommended from age four, and under-16s need an adult on site. The bike park is seasonal, so check dates before you travel. See Cairngorm Mountain's bike park page.

Start on: Drummy Woods, the trail club's small site for beginners up to intermediate riders: the Puddock pump track and the Spikey Hedgehog, an 890m blue flow trail with smooth rollers. The climb is short, so it is easy to ride again and again.
Next steps: the Red Squirrel and the Slinky Fox jump run at Drummy Woods, then the bigger network at Pittenderich, a mile away, with about 17km of blue, red and black trails. Its reds can all be rolled, so they make a good first step up.
On site: a small car park with picnic benches and a bike tool station at the pump track. Free public toilets are at The Commercial in Tarland's square. See Tarland Trails' website.

Start on: the Wolf Cub, a 3.5km green with a shallow climb and a singletrack return, made for children and riders just starting out, or the wide, surfaced 2km Gorstean trail. The skills area is opposite the cafe.
Next steps: Blaeberry Flapjack and The Pict, short blues with mellow jumps and swooping corners built to give you confidence, then the rest of the rocky blue and the reds. Every feature in the orange bike park can be rolled.
On site: a cafe, toilets, coin-operated showers, a bike shop with hire (book online) and pay and display parking. See Forestry and Land Scotland's Laggan Wolftrax page.

Start on: there is no green here, but the lower forest is open all year. Start on Voodoo, which Nevis Range calls the perfect step up for novice riders, and One Dot, an entry-level jump line where every jump can be rolled, before the tighter, faster Blue Adder.
Next steps: the gondola to the long Nevis Blue Doon on uplift days, then the reds, blacks and 4X. The World Cup downhill track is here too, for experts.
On site: a cafe, hire, toilets and showers at the base station. Check the Mountain Report on the Nevis Range website for gondola days.

Start on: the 2.4-mile green loop around Castlewellan Lake, with one slight incline, and the pump track by the trailhead.
Next steps: the 2.8-mile blue above the lake, then the 9.3-mile red and two short black descents.
On site: paid parking, toilets, a bike wash, hire and guided rides from Bike Mourne, and a seasonal cafe. Check MountainBikeNI for closures first.

Start on: the flat, wide Shore Trail, 2km along Strangford Lough, then the Castle Trail (3km) and Farm Trail (4km), both green, with some steeper and narrower sections.
Next steps: the 13km blue Boundary Trail around the estate, flowing singletrack mixed with wider paths, narrow and technical in places, with gates and fields of livestock.
On site: bike hire from the estate reception, the Stableyard Tea Room, toilets, a bike wash and camping. National Trust admission applies, free for members. See the National Trust's Castle Ward page.

Free to ride.
Start on: the skills park by the trailhead, which starts with a boardwalk over shallow water, the pump track, and the 2.4km green, a gentle forest road loop for families and new riders.
Next steps: the 5.8km blue, flowing singletrack with berms and rock features, then the red, which climbs Beleevnamore Mountain to rock slab drops.
On site: toilets, changing rooms, free parking and a free bike wash. There is no hire at the trailhead: Sperrin Bike Hire is a mile and a half away (book ahead), and Bike Mourne delivers. Sections close for forestry work, so check MountainBikeNI's Davagh page first.

Start on: the pump track and skills loop beside the main car park, then the 6.6km green family loop, mostly forest road with two short singletrack sections, shared with walkers and horse riders.
Next steps: the 10km blue, flowing hardpack singletrack with small drops and berms, then the 14.8km red.
On site: paid parking, a coffee and food kiosk, a play park and a campsite. Ask the Forest Office about bike hire before you travel, and check the council's Gosford page for closures.

Start on: the 3.4km green, a wide, shared-use trail along the River Lagan to Shaw's Bridge with gentle inclines.
Next steps: the blue, tight, winding singletrack that MountainBikeNI calls suitable for beginners, then its three short red loops with North Shore, log rides, rock gardens and drops.
On site: free parking (with set hours) and toilets at the Mary Peters Track. Bike Mourne delivers hire bikes. Sections close for tree work, so check MountainBikeNI's Barnett Demesne page first.