Venue: Hamsterley Forest

Photos for Red Route

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Comments and ratings for Red Route

brianelliott65 gave this trail 4 stars about 2 years ago

Boring. Too much fire road : insufficient offroad interest skiiter2 gave this trail 2 stars about 3 years ago

Stil too many fire roads, but improving all the time with the addition of new singletrack sections. greenon gave this trail 2 stars about 4 years ago

2.221.203.188 gave this trail 2 stars about 4 years ago

Did the red route end of November 2011 during heavy winds and rain. Route was in good condition with a few muddy holes on the way to the burn. First bit of single track emptied onto a tarmac strip go... read whole comment... stumpy gave this trail 4 stars about 4 years ago

Red Route

Starting and finishing with the Grove Link (a smooth, hardpacked singletrack to get you into the swing of things), this is a good introduction to red graded trails. The fireroad climb to the first purpose built part of the trail (marked 1), "Section 13", is a bit of a killer but worth it for the descent. The middle part of the route starts as a singletrack meander, but then becomes a bit of a fireroad slog. However, it gets back on track with "Transmission" (marked 2) and "Accelerator" (marked 3) as you head back towards the Grove Link.

Photos for Best of the red and Black

Videos for Best of the red and Black

Comments and ratings for Best of the red and Black

With the addition of Nitrous after Accelerator it just gets better. I never do the Black bit just after Section 13, you loose height for not much reward, just continue along the forest road until the ... read whole comment... davet gave this trail 5 stars about 3 years ago

Excellent route, showcasing the best Hamsterley has to offer. Did it today in the driving snow and it was ace. legolam gave this trail 5 stars about 4 years ago

greenon gave this trail 4 stars about 4 years ago

Best of the red and Black

My route round hamsterly using the best sections of the red and black route pretty easy to follow. Start off at the visitors center and follow the black route then when you get to the grove carpark head up the fireroad to the top of transmission then follow the red route from there up to section 13 then follow the black route down from section 13 back to the visitors center.

Photos for Doctors Gate

Videos for Doctors Gate

Comments and ratings for Doctors Gate

legolam gave this trail 3 stars about 4 years ago

Doctors Gate

This is a trail from the Hamsterley Trailblazer site, which takes in some of the off piste trails around Hamsterley.

It starts with a blast down the best bits of the red route, which are fun and flowing and challenging in equal measure. A fireroad climb then spits you out at the top of a 300ft descent - unfortunately on road (there is a private estate road or footpath that get you to the same point, but clearly neither of these are public rights of way for cyclists!). However, it's a good opportunity to go for some high speed and practise your aero tuck!

The trail then winds upwards again on 4x4 track, before becoming an entertaining descent back into Hamsterley Forest through Doctor's Gate on a very technical BOAT. Find your way back to the Grove car park by finishing the black route.