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Yer Tiz Trail in neighbouring Leigh Woods was completed in late December 2011 and is a ‘moderate’ Blue grade narrow and engaging trail weaving it’s way through the woodland. The trail features berms (banked corners), rollers (bumps) and drops and climbs, requiring a mountain bike but suitable for relative novices to off-road cycling. Expect to meet other people enjoying the woods, including walkers, dog walkers and children. In places the trail splits for a short distance, giving an option of a more difficult challenge in the form of the ‘difficult’ Red grade Gert Lush Trail. Narrow and technical, it is only suitable for experienced off-road cyclists. A great ‘taster’ of a Red grade trail. The Keener Skills Loop is graded ‘moderate’ Blue along its main route and includes features such as small drops, rock gardens and rollers to progress your riding ability. Along the loop you can divert onto more difficult features once you are confident. Develop your riding by building up to riding new features once you are ready. Leigh Woods Bristol
Route notes
The new £400,000 trails at Ashton Court and Leigh Woods (bit.ly/IcEBvP) are a rare wonder: varied, well-maintained mountain bike trails on the edge of a big city. Ashton Court's blue (moderate) Nova trail loops four miles through woods around the golf course of Ashton Court Estate, giving a rewarding experience to relative novices. It has small rock steps, rollers (bumps) and berms (banked corners), and splits in places to offer red (difficult) challenges. The half-mile red Super Nova trail has step-ups, rock gardens and berm after berm. The Yer Tiz trail in neighbouring Leigh Woods is a narrow blue with berms, rollers, drops and climbs, but is suitable for novices. The short, red Gert Lush trail is narrow and technical, but a good introduction to more challenging riding. The Keener Skills Loop, off the Yer Tiz, has small drops, rock gardens and rollers to practise on.
Terrain and gradients
Ashton Court's newly redesigned trails are probably the best-constructed mountain bike trails in the UK, using a stone-based all‑weather surface designed to shed mud. They occasionally cross walkers' paths, so give a friendly warning as you approach.
How to get there/away
The nearest station is Bristol Temple Meads four miles from Leigh Woods. Or hop on an 8 or 8A a bus from the station and hire a bike at the centre (bike hire from May – phone ahead to confirm). From the bus station, First Bus numbers 357, 358 and 359 to Portishead stop along the A369 at Clifton Lodge entrance (opposite the Clifton suspension bridge). The car park at Leigh Woods has been upgraded and is accessible via a driveway off Abbots Leigh Road.
What to see
Ashton Court Estate extends over 850 acres and in the grounds you'll find its Grade I‑listed mansion, which dates back to the 15th century; a 14th-century deer park and a miniature railway. Stokeleigh Camp is the site of an iron age hill fort in Leigh Woods. Brunel's Clifton suspension bridge is a breathtaking landmark, its Egyptian-inspired towers and 214m of span straddling the stunning Avon Gorge, with the river 75m below.
Watering holes
Ashton Court has a cafe, as will its new £500,000 golf and cycling centre, which is due to open soon. Over the bridge, Clifton has many pubs, cafes and restaurants. Try a pint of local cider at The Coronation Tap just the other side of the bridge. Or for a wide range of local draught ales, The Portcullis on Wellington
Terrace is the place.
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The trail grading system used for off-road cycling uses colours to represent the technical challenge of the trail. Be aware the grading does not cover the level of fitness you will need to ride a trail. When visiting a Trail Hub the lower grade trails will be shorter and require less fitness to ride than the higher grade trails. However when looking at graded trails outside of a Trail Hub site be aware that they may be quite long to ride even if their technical difficulty is low. Is this for you? Find the right single track grade for your abilities Single Track Trails
Is this for you? Find the right non single track for you |
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