Europe's biggest man-made forest, the 62,000 hectare (155,000 acre) Kielder Forest in Northumberland, has long been thought of as something of an untapped resource for mountain biking. But thanks to the combined efforts of the Forestry Commission and local group the Kielder Trail Reavers, that potential is starting to be realised.
The Reavers have already completed some sections of purpose-built trail in the forest, and now the Forestry Commission, Trailway and The North Face are promoting a Kielder race to draw attention to the new developments.
The 30km course will set out from Kielder Castle with a forest road stretch to warm up. Then there'll be a technical downhill section before a long, steep climb to the summit of the 2,000ft Deadwater Fell - Kielder's highest point. The upside of being at the highest point is, of course, that it's generally downhill all the way back to the Castle. There'll be the usual array of categories and £1,000 worth of prizes on offer.
The race takes place on Sunday 5 August. You'll need to enter in advance - the entry fee is £15. For entry forms, contact Paul Pickett at 23 Castle Drive, Kielder, Northumberland, NE48 1EQ. Or call 01434 250325 or use that there email technology.
Saintly
