Rides near you .... what's hot and what's not?

[Donger]

I've seen a bit of advice scattered around on different threads warning about road/cycle path closures and letting people know of local events/sights that they might not otherwise get to hear about. So I thought it might be useful to create a thread where you can warn each other of places/times to avoid, and advertise anything unmissable that might be going on in your neck of the woods.

I'll start the ball rolling, by recommending anyone who's thinking of visiting Gloucestershire to get themselves over to Soudley Woods in the Forest of Dean within the next week. The bluebells are at their best right now, and the woods are looking an amazing natural spectacle. Leave it more than a week though, and the ferns will outgrow the bluebells, and it's all over for another year as quickly as it started. There is a fantastic little 12-15 mile clockwise loop that you can do through the woods starting at Soudley, riding through the bluebell woods and calling in at Mallards Pike ( a lake/picnic spot where there is usually an ice cream van and a burger bar) before turning right at Speech House and again at Ruspidge. If you do it clockwise, most of the climbing up through the forest is gradual, and the last leg is wonderfully downhill.

 

[Donger]

And another one for Gloucestershire ..... the Tallship Festival starts again next weekend. Apparently the ships will move into Gloucester Docks at lunchtime on Friday 22nd May some time between 12:00 and 13:30. It is always quite a spectacular sight, and you can cycle along the West bank of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal to follow their arrival and get great photos..

 

[busman]

Can I recommend that if anyone gets the chance that they should ride the lanes of North Wales and Anglesey. The scenery and panoramic views are a sight to behold.

 

[Drago]

Salcey Forest , south of Northwankton, is nice a the moment, especially good for a couple of fast CX bike laps. The cafe near the car park is good for a nice brew afterwards. Avoid at the weekend of the weather is nice else the place is heaving.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

Ride out of Macclesfield through Sutton and Langley to Wildboarclough. Gorse on the hillsides is stunning, have a brew stop at Blaze Farm or Peak View cafe.

The bluebell woods round Henbury are also striking.

 

[bpsmith]

Brecon Beacons National Park:

Black Mountains
Bwlch
Rhigos
Brecon

Plus a raft of other rolling hills in between. Awesome any time, especially right now!

 

[Ed Phelan]

I like a ride up to beachy head, where I can lay my bike and look over the cliffs. The ride back is especially fun too, pretty much a hill all the way back to Brighton.

 

[Donger]

Quick heads up that the Snake Pass will be traffic free for 2 weeks shortly. It's a great cycling road in any case but with no traffic........

Apparently the road is subsiding a bit on the Sheffield side just after the summit. There may be he odd vehicle going Glossop - summit or Sheffield - Snake Pass pub but definitely no through traffic

Anyone who has never ridden the Snake, this is your chance!

(Found in another thread ... this is the sort of thing I was thinking of. Informative and inspiring. I might well be tempted).
Donger.