Morning all

I am thinking of moving house to somewhere in the west midlands (this is because of office access requirements) and visited Ludlow last week - which was nice

Question is - whats the MTBing like round there and is Ludlow and the surrounding area a nice place to live.

This is as far west as I can manage and still get to my office on occassions

I note from the web that Hopton Woods has trails - is this any good

Cheers for any help - or suggestions where else to move to in the West mids

Well, it's not that far from N Wales, so that's good. There is also the Long Mynd and Stipperstones realtively nearby...

That's true - i was mapping the distance to CYB etc which is nice - but where I live now I have almost literally doorstep biking - and need to ride from the door to keep me going out really

I see now that Nat DH events have been done in the area at Hopton? and Bringwood Chase?

So that can't be bad

There used to be a lot of good riding around the Ludlow area, although I've not been there for a few years.

As well as Hopton & Bringwood the Forest of Dean isn't that far away either, as is the Wrekin.

I beleive there is also Mortimer Woods not far from Ludlow which is supposed to have some good trails.

If you're looking at the area go and speak to the guys at Pearce Engineering and Climbon Bikes, they should be able to give you some good pointers.

Mortimer woods - will need to lok that up - thanks

I will travel and speak to Pearce Bikes - who I saw have a website

Funny this came up.

I spent 6 days Camping Near Hopton last week so Got to do alot of local riding there.

Hoptons allright, doesnt compare to CyB etc on terms of single track but the DH Runs were alright.Some of the Climbs did seem pretty unridably steep,But it was wet.

Radnor Forest is good if it is possible to get there from Ludlow,Good Natural Singletrack.It has highest density of bridleways and byways apprently (Radnorshire)

Long Mynd is really good,some Superb Natural Singletrack there and good views at the top.

Also check out some ridge over by Kington-It was a nice relative gentle climb to top then was an absolute blast of a downhill,not steep, just grassy super speed trails little drops,dodging the sheep,all great fun. Not a hard ride but fun.

Hope this helps

Mortimer woods is that over at Cleobury Mortimer?

I didnt do that but saw leaflets for it.

I have the Hopton Woods Map if you want me to Post it to you,otherwise buy it from Tourist infomation at ludlow.its £1.

Ta FSL - I am keen there is access - as per my local woods - you get to know the hidden trails - so its good that there is access

I am not really looking for CYB style local trails - though that would be nice - just sonewhere to slash and bash on the bike on an everyday kinda level - so Hopton sounds fine

Thanks for the map offer - I'll get one when next in area

I presume you mean the "Mortimer Trail" to the west of Ludlow?

Mortimer trail can get muddy. It's a stunningly nice place to live but Ludlow school is crap, however Wigmore school just over the border is top hereford school.
If you haven't got kids that's no problem. www.roughrides.co.uk is 20 miles away as is the Longmynd, both brill moorland areas. Close to ludlow it's the aforementioned woods which are very good.

PS I live in kington, home of both roughrides and the roughride enduro

No kids - none wanted - thanks all the same!!

Excellent news - if I don't have ride out the door riding I'll be even fatter v soon

Thanks for the links too - having looked and seen there are "cider prizes" on the roughride

What's a good cider in these parts then?

Yeah Hopton and Bringewood as you've already said, there okay, not been in ages myself.

20miles area to get to my Wyre Forest which is a natural single track heaven, I'll give you a tour.

Used to use this hill, could drive up 2 people ride down, 1 person takes the car to the bottom, thats worth doing will show it you :)

Cloggy if your local, we'll have to meet up 1 day, you show me your forest I'll show you mine.

( shame you haven't got a 29er i could try )

Thanks Dylan - so what is the area near Wyre forest like - I'm looking to move - and Ludlow looks nice and reasonable quiet (and TBH affordable)

My local is just good old Swinley Forest in Bracknell - hardly any climbing - but lots of slash and dash singletrack

So is the wyre forest that good?

Wyre forest is great, huge area densily packed with technical single track, John Gourette loved it, he's supposed to be doing a write up of all the places he rode, so ??

Ludlow's okay, know a blonde girlie that runs a pub there ( surprise surprise ).


Why, well it's a basin, so you've got 600ft of altitude ish, all around it pretty much, it's all fairly steep ( good in high winds to ), and just endless single track all different sorts aswell very strange place, infinitely varied, rocky tracks, smooth track, stupidly technical, come over will give you a tour.

you'll love it, 22miles I think from Ludlow, ludlow is 27miles from me in kiddy.

Debbie, errr can't remember the pub name LOL arseee old age.

What will you do Job / Career wise then ?? Ludlow's just a tourist place for the OAP's really, what do you do ??

Civil servant - offices all over - Shrewsbury for example - or longer distance Solihull

Must have a look at the wyre area - we kinda want rural!!

I really enjoyed the Wyre forest. The single track is natural and fast, and yes I did write an article which Mike D had a look at this morning.

Cool - any chance of a copy?