Synopsis: A long day in the saddle riding the blue, red and green cycle trails in Haldon Forest Park. A lot of fun, and no spills, so I live to tell the tale. Not difficult to get to on a bicycle from Exeter.
(selection of photos from Flickr photo set – use link above to view album)Note: I’ve interpolated GPS routes from my tracklog for today and these I’ve made available from the second set of links above entitled ‘Haldon Forest Park Cycle Trails - Routes’. Three routes are available from these links: Green Discovery Trail, Blue Challenge Trail (Long Loop) and Red Ridge Ride Trail. Sadly the GPX 1.1 Schema doesn’t support route colours, so the route overlays will all appear in the same colour. If the GPS Routes Download (.gpx) is loaded to a Garmin application/device, the various colours should display correctly. Refer to the cycle trails leaflet (link below) for further details of each route.
This was a really enjoyable day’s cycling on the trails of Haldon Forest Park. I suppose it brought out the child in me. One of the objectives of today was to get a feel for just how demanding the various cycle trails are before I take others out on them. I also intended to record GPS tracklogs of each trail for subsequent use, although in reality these are not needed for navigation purposes, since all the trails are extremely well signposted. I had stumbled on the trails whilst walking recently in this area, when out on my Walk: Haldon, including Doddiscombsleigh & Ashton.
l must however put the book straight, I’m not a full-blooded mountain biker. Did you think I would be at my age? Extreme mountain biking is something to behold, and for a cyclist like me, it takes my breath away. It was my intention today to attempt three of the forest cycle trails, and that I achieved. I cycled the Blue Challenge Trail initially, which set the pace, requiring a certain amount of control but nothing too daunting. Then I cycled the Red Ridge Ride Trail, and just as described, this was a notch up on the expertise scale, being more testing in places and requiring just a little more nerve. Finally, somewhat fatigued, I rounded off with the Green Discovery Trail, a short easy family trail that is nonetheless most enjoyable. I wore a helmet the whole day, as I always do when cycling, and gloves, but no other protective gear.
Approaching Kennford
As Haldon Forest Park is not that far from me I chose to cycle there from home. This was a distance of 9.6 miles taking me 1 hr 51 minutes, and a stiff climb, to reach the centre. I can understand this would not be everyone’s choice, but it wasn’t so bad, as much of the way is along designated cycle routes and quite safe, although I felt a little buzzed by all the traffic whizzing by on the roads adjacent to me.
Haldon Forest Park Centre - café - that's my trustee steed, the bike (GT Pantera) with pannier
I arrived at Haldon Forest Park at 12:15 ready to tackle the first of my trails, the Blue Challenge Trail. This cycle/walk centre has become very popular and now boasts a café, toilets, information points and a large car park (parking charges apply). I was keen to get started with the first of my trails so I made for the clearly marked trails start gate.
Blue Challenge Trail (Long Loop)
The ‘Moderate’ Blue Challenge Trail was a lot of fun. Stretches of the route are broad and easy, but other stretches narrow and have sharp curves which require good bicycle control. It’s possible to fly along much of the route, which I did, and this is quite exhilarating. It’s also possible to ease the pace back a little and enjoy the many stunning views. There’s a point on this Blue trail on passing close to the forest trails centre when a choice of short loop or long loop is presented. I chose the long loop. This extension added 1.8 miles to the Blue route and took me 18 minutes to complete.
After completing the Blue Challenge Trail I took a break at the forest trails centre to have some lunch and rest awhile before attempting the next of my trails. Even on this non-holiday mid-week day there were numerous people about, everyone from really serious mountain bikers, people out walking their dogs, and over-the-hill would-be mountain bikers like me.
Red Ridge Ride Trail
After lunch I felt ready and up for the ‘Difficult’ Red Ridge Ride Trail, although not quite knowing what I was taking on. I was prepared to get out of my saddle and push should that become necessary. It wasn’t long before I left the comfort of a broad level track and headed down a narrow trail which fell away sharply to one side. It wasn’t a place one would want to skid off the track. One or two places needed real concentration to climb short steep boulder-strewn ramps in the track some of which I did struggle with, but never did I have to leave my seat and push.
Red Ridge Ride Trail
At the point where the Black Ridge Ride Extreme branched off from my route I paused to take a photo. A biker came hurtling down the track I’d just carefully negotiated at a very steady pace. I looked at the entry to the extreme route and could see it definitely wasn’t for me. The biker who’d approached called to me, “Passing on your left.” He then picked up speed and shot down this 45° descent bouncing from boulder to boulder. Absolutely crazy! But an amazing example of the skill of true mountain biking. From here I simply climbed the broad track and followed the relatively easy-going track back to the forest trails centre.
Green Discovery Trail
It was time for a brief respite on a bench near the forest trail centre. Provisions of nuts, raisins and a bit of chocolate soon saw me recharged and ready for more. I had chosen to complete my forest trails experience by finishing with the Green Discovery Trail, a short ‘Easy’ trail, that I felt would round off my trail riding nicely, and so it did.
St Andrew's Lane
Once having completed the Green trail I cycled on to pick up the road that would take me back in the direction of the A38 where I passed under the road bridge. Cycling on, past the travellers encampment, over the A380, I then picked up a track that took me down to the euphemistically named St Andrew’s Lane. I say euphemistically, for to call this a lane is stretching a point. It’s a narrow, tightly enclosed, bumpy route off of Haldon. Having said that, the ‘lane’ served its purpose in that it got me to Kenn with nothing more injurious than a few nettle stings to my arms.
Kenn - Ley Arms
Mulling over options by the Ley Arms in Kenn I decided it would be nice to avoid traffic and so I opted to pick up the Exe Estuary Trail for my return route home. I knew this would take me a little out of my way, as I would need to join this near Kenton, but it was such a pleasant evening I didn’t mind that at all. The route would be mostly level and conducive to fast(ish) riding.
I’d say that all of the trails I cycled today are suitable for anyone with basic mountain biking skills and a keen sense of adventure. I’d happily take my grown-up daughters out on them, and I’m sure they’d have a lot of fun. I think, just like me, they’d struggle a little on the Red Ridge Ride Trail, just as I did in places, but would rise to the challenge all the same, and come away with a sense of achievement. The Blue Challenge Trail I’m confident they’d manage without difficulty. On both of these trails it is necessary to maintain concentration as loss of focus could result in a spill that might result in minor injury. The Green Discovery Trail is easy family cycling suitable for children of all ages. A little more stamina is required on the Red Ridge Trail for the more strenuous sections and the occasional ascent, but nothing was either too physically demanding or intimidating.
A really, really enjoyable day cycling. Long and rather tiring, but that’s the way to make the most of the long days of summer. To anyone wondering if this would be for them, I say, ‘Get out there and do it.’
Available online are Haldon Forest Park maps and leaflets. The Cycling Trails leaflet gives further details of the three trails that I followed on my visit, and also, should that Evel spirit come over you, shows the course of the Black Ridge Ride Extreme, a loop that extends the Red Ridge Ride Trail that I cycled today.
Please note that the times shown against each of the three cycle trails is not indicative of typical time required to complete these circuits. I took time out to take photographs and record notes against my GPS device as I went and therefore my times are rather skewed. And also be aware that although I’ve provided GPS routes for the three cycle trails I cycled today, variations occur over time and that signed directions on each trail should always be given precedence over these GPS routes of mine. My cycling today was based on a tracklog obtained from JustGoRide.
Cycle Statistics – Haldon Forest Park Trails:
Blue Challenge Trail (Long Loop): 7.8 miles / 1hr 48min (12:19 – 14:07)
Red Ridge Ride Trail: 5.3 miles / 1hr 50min (14:40 – 16:30)
Green Discovery Trail: 1.8 miles / 28min (16:48 – 17:16)
Cycle Statistics – total cycle journey, including off-road trails as listed above:
Total Distance: 41.9 miles
Moving Time: 6hrs 21min
Stopped Time: 2hrs 17min
Total Ascent: 887 metres
Maximum Elevation: 261 metres
Buses: (none)
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