family riding with small children on new Old Bob trail in Forest of Dean

New Green MTB Trail Opens!

10/21/2024 by

Photo credit: Forestry England.

Meet Old Bob – the new Green MTB trail in the Forest of Dean. The perfect bridge from the Family Cycle Trail to the Blue Verderers Trail and beyond:

The Story

Our motto at Pedalabikeaway has always been ‘Cycling for everyone’ – so we are delighted to finally have the missing piece in the jigsaw, the new Green MTB trail, “Old Bob”.

The original “Old Bob” was the pumping engine at Cannop Colliery, ensuring the mine shafts didn’t get flooded as far back as 1880, and the new Green Trail name is a nod to our Cycle Centre’s industrial heritage.

Since 2011, we have had the blue Verderers trail, green Family cycle trail (now called the “Colliers Trail”), red Freeminers route and several downhill lines.

Old Bobs is the final piece in the puzzle!

We feel it now makes the Forest of Dean the most complete trail centre in the UK!

What to expect?

It is a 2km flowy green trail, with 3 skills areas that you can session and lap. Expect a small climb, lots of berms and flow and a whole heap of fun!

Starting a sort distance from the Cycle Centre along the link trail, Old Bob starts with a gentle gradient climb. After a few hundred metres you’ll find the first of 3 skills areas, this one with a range of different corners to help you build up your confidence…

A little more climbing gets you to the ‘top’ of the trail, where you’ll find the 2nd skills area to practice on! After honing your skills once more, you can start your journey down the hill, and here the real fun begins…

The whole trail is suitable to lap time and time again, building up your confidence and skills, and tiring out little legs as you go.

All of this is no more than a hop, skip and a jump back to the Pedalabikeaway Café, and a much needed hot chocolate and refuel!

Check out all the info on the trail on the Forestry England Website here

Plan your next visit

With half term just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to enjoy the Forest of Dean’s autumnal glory and check out the new trail!

Need to hire a bike? Not a problem. Just head over to our website to book here

See you out on Old Bob soon!

Photo credit: Forestry England

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