Went to Haldon with the Nomates yesterday

MBUK had slated the trails 12m ago so I was sure they would have tried harder since - WRONG. The family trails are well maintained but the red trail was a joke. The signage was appalling - signs missing or wrong - even no clue as to the start point. The first 500m is very promising with some good improvements to the trail to make it flow better, but after that - rubbish. There has been no trail maintenance and alot is badly rain eroded. They have taken out a wooden section that used to be great and replaced it with rock garden.

 Did I mention the signage was crap.

The Freeride area has some new bits, but considering how long it's been there, not that much and in a VERY small area. But worse still.. I couldn't find the signs to the Black area - helter skelter, skinnies, see-saw, north shore, so I went round on the fire track, only to find it has been completely demolished, deconstructed, trashed, no more - WTF.

I am guessing that there have been some injuries and that the forestry commission got spooked - but they are still advertising the red and black runs. It looks like there was money and enthusiasm to set the thing up but that the funds have now dried up. If they only want families to come and ride then they should market it accordingly - don't imply that it is a good place for any slightly challenging riding.

It started out with great promise, and even now there are flashes of brilliance in the red trail - but what a terrible waste of potential. It needs more funding.

If you want a 1/2 ride with the kids then look in- but if you want a decent ride, don't bother, don't go, tell everyone you know not to bother.

There was a visitors book and suggestion box, but the ranger wasn't there and it was locked - so I couldn't even complain.

Thanks for listening and goodnight.

don't bother, don't go, tell everyone you know not to bother.

No you fucking idiot, you bother, you go and you tell everyone you know to grab a spade and help out with the building on sundays...Most of haldon was built by 6-people for twats like you to slag the place off. 

Mother nature decided to let half of the red trail slip down the hill during some of the worst storms in Devon. about 40 trees went down in the area and it's taken a long time to fix...with no funding and the work undertaken by volunteers...it's not a money making place like Afan...this place is built by locals who care about the place.

When I travel for an hour and a half for a ride I don't like wasting my time. I am not about to do a 3 hr round trip to do some digging either. I am grateful to all that have done digging off their own backs - my problem is that the place is being promoted by Forestry or whoever as having a black and red run - if they are not putting any money to it then they should not be promoting it as such.

It's part of the problem though if you don't get riders you don't get funding...Right now yes there is no point in travelling to the place from such a distance...hopefully in time there will be scope for it to become a destination.

As it stands it's good for ride after work and you need to do several laps and mix them up...i know yes the signage is shite but there are countless little trails not marked at all (things you only really find when you ride with a local).

The website does really try and get people to help with the project, buy a t-shirt or help with the digging. 

The forestry commision is seemingly distancing itself from the entire black and red thing...for ages they'd fenced it ALL off. 

Lets face it the family run brings in the pennies...the MTBers park on the verges for free ride and don't go in the visitors centre pay for parking, buy drinks and browse the shops. 

I was down there in April this year, I attempted the red route after speaking with one of the guys in the VC.

The signs were all over the place, missing, pointing in the wrong direction etc, almost like someone had done it on purpose.....shame really..........

The riding that I did, I did enjoy it and the red route IMO has potential etc, but I guess a lot of it is about resources and finances.....

I managed to make an afternoon of it, with great weather ! Could have done with a local guide perhaps.....may be next time.....

Just what is needed a little local info, cheers BHB.

May be next time I am down there  I will give it another try......we even did the Go Ape thing, which was fun with the GF screaming and crying at one point ! LOL