Any Decent Trails Near Manchester Options

[Manda]

hi, i'm considering moving to manchester but there seems to be a lack of trails actually close to the centre of town. my bloke does dh/hard core xc and will complain if there's nothing easily accessible as we dont drive!
someone has mentioned the tras pennine trail near chorlton, does anyone know if this is any good? we live in bristol right now and leigh woods is on the doorstep, so he's hesitant to leave!
any help greatly appreciated,
cheers,
manda

[1gearnoidea]

hi im a ranger on the trans pennine trail...and can confirm..its very very flat, the odd climb but , afterall it is the old railway line thats been used...trains dont do hills...saying that your only 30 mins from the fabulous peaks( my local playground)...and there u have every kind of trail immaginable

[joiner]

And the train service would take you right to the heart of the peaks too ...............


Glynn

[lawmanmx]

Horwich is just a short train ride from Manc and 10 mins from the station is Rivington

and 15 mins towards wigan and yer into Haigh hall country park .... loads of trails in there to amuse you and Mr harcore

[claire]

Does anyone have any more info on Rivington... got up there this Sunday but felt like I was missing something...?
Had a nice little potter about but saw two blokes with full face on while we were heading back to the car.. they def didn't need that for where we were riding so I'm thinking there's better stuff than we found

[Nigel]

Send a PM to 'littlegirlbunny', she has ridden up there and will be more than happy to advise I expect.

I am in Manchester and the peaks are only 40mins drive and full of natural goodness...erm rides...erm mountains

We are always out and about virtually every weekend so keep your eyes out, there's always a spare roof rack/boot.

[littlegirlbunny]

Does anyone have any more info on Rivington... got up there this Sunday but felt like I was missing something...?
Had a nice little potter about but saw two blokes with full face on while we were heading back to the car.. they def didn't need that for where we were riding so I'm thinking there's better stuff than we found

You wern't on a black and pink specialized full sus were you?

I ride up at Rivington regularly - it isn't amazingly technical, but there are some pretty fun bits and a rather nice piece of single track towards the south-east. There certainly isn't enough to fill a day, but you can get a good hour or two (or more if you ride some bits twice/in reverse) It is a real case of using it as a playground and finding bits to ride, rather than expecting them to turn up. Definately the best riding is up towards the Pike (the big square castle type thing on the hill) rather than round the rather dull trails by the lake.

Where did you go on Sunday?

Agree with Nigel here - keep your eye on the rides section coz there is usually something going on near manc in the weekend

[lawmanmx]

do you manage to get up to the top of winter hill then Bunny??? ... there's some better tracks up and around there Missus ya know


try Haigh hall at wigan if you get the chance too .... there's loads to go at in there

[claire]

You wern't on a black and pink specialized full sus were you?

No... that would be nice! Grey rockhopper...

Where did you go on Sunday?

Round the rather boring bits by the lake and a bit further up... through some fields and over some stiles where I don't think you're meant to take bikes...
Will give it a go again then up by the castle thing..! Thanks!!

[littlegirlbunny]

do you manage to get up to the top of winter hill then Bunny??? ... there's some better tracks up and around there Missus ya know
try Haigh hall at wigan if you get the chance too .... there's loads to go at in there

I always thought it was only footpaths to Winter Hill (thats the one with the aerials on isn't it??), so you are either braver than me and riding not-completely-legit trails or you know something I don't (but would love to know more please )

Will definately look into Haigh Hall though

No... that would be nice! Grey rockhopper...
Round the rather boring bits by the lake and a bit further up... through some fields and over some stiles where I don't think you're meant to take bikes...
Will give it a go again then up by the castle thing..! Thanks!!

Yeah, have a ride up to the Pike - there is some fun riding that way. If you fancy meeting up for a ride at any point let me know and i'll give you a brief tour!

[crazy-legs]

[quote name='littlegirlbunny' date='Oct 11 2007, 01:09 PM' post='81577']
I always thought it was only footpaths to Winter Hill (thats the one with the aerials on isn't it??), so you are either braver than me and riding not-completely-legit trails or you know something I don't (but would love to know more please )

There are a couple of legal bits up Winter Hill, the rest of it might be slightly cheeky but I've never met anyone who seemed to mind. Try the gardens for lots of step fun, there's plenty of enjoyable riding round there.

Access from Manchester out to the Peaks is very easy either by car or train, there's all sorts of great riding out round there. It's also quite quick out to North Wales or to the Lakes by car.

[Chef Shoes]

you can kind of ride up to the aerials from rivvie but you have to follow a route towards horwich then turn up towards it, but since the road leading up to it is an access road i guess its not much use for a mtb.. not been that far across yet but i might venture tomorrow.

went up last weekend and it was great, all except the lack of wind and high humidity.. it was killin me!

even by the tower there was no breeze.


handy living so close i guess

adlington train station is a lot closer to rivvie than horwich parkway (near bolton stadium),

but chorley is a main stop on that line and its about 20mins ride from rivington barn (on a good day)

[spam]

Saddleworths the place to go in manchester theres the buckstones quarry near oldham and if you go in the local bike shop the cyclery they give you loades of places to ride for free

[pickwick]

none of you have mentioned healey nab 10 mins from rivi barn and technical enough for any downhiller http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sour...mp;t=h&z=19

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFfkKb-2jkY&feature=fvst

haigh hall good but can be dodgy at times gets busy on nice days up there a lot, early morning weekend or after work would be best. just keep an eye out for rocks branches etc on paths even fishing line
http://www.wigantoday.net/news/bike_wire_c...victim_1_201396

[DaGuv]

Truely awesome descent off the back of Winterhill - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeamDfgQVUQ&hd=1

MMMmmm memories... Must get myself back up there soon!!!

[Badllama]

Hi all I'm based in Swinton would love to know more about the rides around Rivington as it's pretty local and saves on burning fuel going up the the lakes etc..

Just got into biking been "borrowing" my brothers bike for ages and decided to finally get myself one as it also saves on fuel too and from work

[kieferdeanB]

im in the same perdicument i live in bury greater manchester and will only be able to travel by bke and i dont wanna be knackered before even getting to the trail all be it i am a novice so simple yet fun trail recomendations wpuld be greatly appreciated

[se7en983]

For those of you in and around Manchester the Clayton Vale MTB trails are open for business !! (well most of them are anyway)
I think they officially open on the may bank holiday but many are using them now me included;)

they're pretty good and there's plenty of trails to choose from ranging in difficulty even a skills track over the road.

I think the trail network covers about 6-7 miles in total.

here's some links with photos etc...

http://claytonvaletrails.org/

http://www.nationalcyclingcentre.com/p/mtb-trails-2