Electric, hybrid, mountain or road bikes - there's something for everyone!
There are lots of trails, roads, and pathways spread in and around our three parks, with wonderful, flat family routes and stunning valley roads to steep punishing climbs for the hard-core road cyclists. Alister Cawthorne from the Discover Parks Guest Experience Team has some great route ideas
Gravel, and forestry tracks you can cycle:
Many forests require cyclists to stick to the forest’s fire/gravel tracks (unless stated otherwise such as designated mountain biking trails), as is the case at nearby woodland, like Wapley Hill Fort and Shobdon Hill Wood.
This is to ensure all users and visitors of the forestry areas - such as walkers, cyclists and horse riders - are safe and feel welcomed, guaranteeing all enjoy their experience with the beautiful woodland around us.
Tips on how to plan routes that avoid main/busy roads:
1. Avoid A-roads for extended periods. E.g. A44 running through Pembridge. As these are busy roads with higher speeds limits for cars, although the A-roads are what you may think to drive on, they wont make for the most pleasant bike ride, especially when with children. Luckily, where our parks are located the number of A-roads is much smaller than most other places in Britain.
2. B-roads can be okay, but some can be busier – so it’s okay to use them as roads to get you to the quieter roads, but I wouldn’t suggest planning a whole cycle ride on B-roads, as the chance for chatting and relishing family time will be minimalized. However, for the road cyclists among you, B-roads can be suitable for the swifter bike rides.
3. Country lanes are the best roads to cycle on especially for families and beginners; they’re quiet, pretty and have slower moving traffic to decrease the stress and increase the feeling of safety when trying to relish the enjoyment of a bike ride. Though, of course, you don’t want to go for the overgrown, muddy, rarely used ones (you can avoid this by taking a quick look at street view on google, maps to assess the suitability of the road to the bike you will be using -for example a mountain bike will be able to cycle over all roads you’ll find). There are many roads in Herefordshire and Powys are suitable for the type of cycling most families will be wanting to take part in.
4. KOMOOT – this app is a free and is brilliant for planning exciting, safe and beautiful cycle routes, also allowing you to see routes others have shared and think are worth trying. You can set your difficulty level, how many hills, and the duration of your ride - all enabling you to create your perfect adventure! Link to Kommot
Places to hire bikes:
Famous places to go (& local gems)
Elan Valley - the roads are beautiful and rolling, perfect for your dream elan valley epic!
The Elan trail is perfect for family adventures, winding next to the reservoirs, it includes child friendly paths, with stunning lake views included.
For those brave enough, there are some big climbs:
The two outstanding ones are The Gospel Pass (Hay-on-Wye) and The Burway (Church Stretton), both of which are long and steep – with great views at the top, where you can see for miles and miles around.
They are, however, two contrasting views, both as beautiful as the other. The views at the top of Hay Bluff being the sight of miles of rolling hills, where as the views atop the Burway are those of the other big Carding Mill Valley peaks.
Deep in the Welsh hills, near Rockbridge, you can get some brutally steep hills; if you want high gradients for breakfast, the Welsh hills in and around Presteigne are the ones to go to, with rewarding views at the top!
Family rides
For the family cruises there are back lanes near and about both Pearl Lake, Arrow Bank and within near proximity of Rockbridge.
With Broome Lane next to Arrow Bank, it makes a brilliant there and back route for family cycles.
At Pearl Lake you can cycle down to the airfield, or if you want to go slightly further, up to the Shobdon Arches and Church, where you’ll find some history awaiting you. Or even venture up towards Shobdon Hill Wood.
With a short ride to Presteigne from Rockbridge, you can then explore the backroads towards Stapleton and Kinsham.