Destination: Sherwood Pines, near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire

Without any hills to speak of, the trail builders at Sherwood Pines have done a great job creating interesting and fun trails. It’s not somewhere to go if you’re adverse to pedaling but, if you’re willing to ride hard, a few laps of the Kitchener are a great workout. Plenty for kids to do on-site make it an ideal choice for an all-round family-friendly cycling destination.

How to get there

From Mansfield, pick up the A6030 heading north east, following signs for Clipstone and Ollerton. Follow the road out of town and through Clipstone and Old Clipstone. Shortly after passing under the railway bridge, turn right into the well signposted Sherwood Pines.

Sat Nav: NG21 9JL

Facilities

On-site bike shop, toilet block, cafe and a multitude of adventure playgrounds.

Trails

The 5km green Family Cycle Route and the 10km Blue Adventure Cycle Route are both genuinely family-friendly trails on broad, well surfaced forest tracks. There are some steeper sections on the blue but my six-year-old godson rode it comfortably.

The 13km red Kitchener trail is a really fun XC blast but you have to pedal hard to get the most out of it. It’s 95 per cent singletrack and, for less experienced riders who don’t appreciated steep ups or downs, is perfect. There’s a little skills area at the trailhead and a Bike Park with a couple of ‘downhill’ runs and a dirt jump area.

Nearest bike shop

Sherwood Pines Cycles www.sherwoodpinescycles.co.uk

Other info

Parking is £1 for one hour or £4 for the day. There’s a plethora of secret singletrack in the forest that’s well worth leaving the way-marked trails for. Join the Sherwood Pines Cycling Club for one of their rides to be guided to the best bits.

Useful links

www.forestry.gov.uk/sherwoodpines
www.sherwoodpinescyclingclub.co.uk

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