Mountain Biking on Exmoor

Mountain Biking on Exmoor is growing in popularity and it's not hard to understand why. Exmoor provides some of the best trails in the South West, whether its stunning downhill descents, tricky single-track or just the wide open spaces that you like, there is something for everyone. Off-road cycle tracks provide some exciting prospects for mountain biking on Exmoor. A map is available from National park centres, giving graded trails for mountain bikers, with easy green trails for the less serious cyclist, up to severe black trails for expert mountain bikers who will relish technical challenges. Providing some of the best trails in the South West, it is easy to understand Exmoor's growing popularity for the sport. Whether it is downhill descents, single track or wide-open spaces you want, it has them all. The choice is yours. There is a new map of the area available, showing graded trails for mountain biking.

For Cycling and Mountain Biking Exmoor provides some of the best trails in the South West, whether its stunning down descents or tricky single-track there is something for everyone. A map has just been produced for off-road cyclists, giving graded trails for mount bikers, with easy green trails for the less serious cyclist, up to severe black trails for expert mountain bikers who will relish technical challenges.

Exmoor has many country lanes, bridleways and tracks cyclists can use, but you have to be fairly fit to cope with the hills! The Tarka Trail (especially where it follows a disused railway line between Barnstaple and Torrington) is particularly good for easy cycling and walking. Bikes can be hired from www.biketrail.co.uk Exmoor has many country lanes, bridleways and tracks cyclists can use, but you have to be fairly fit to cope with the hills! The Tarka Trail (especially where it follows a disused railway line between Barnstaple and Torrington)is particularly good for easy cycling and walking. Bikes can be hired from www.biketrail.co.uk

Exmoor has both interesting routes through some spectacular countryside, some of which are extreme routes. Several of these are described in specific leaflets produced by the National Park. These contain maps of the main routes and alternatives together with descriptions of the terrain and countryside. Although cycling is encouraged by the ENPA in preference to motoring, the growing sport of mountain-biking poses otential problems. Speed and over use of bridleways where cycling is permitted adds to erosion caused by horses, while a conflict of interest can arise between insensitive bikers and the riders of horses that are easily frightened.

Mountain biking on Exmoor

Feedback from public consultation has led Exmoor National Park Authority to produce a graded cycle map of all the off-tarmac cycling routes on Exmoor. This map uses the Cyclist's Touring Club nationally recognised grading system, with routes ranging from green (easy) to black (very challenging). This style of grading has been used successfully at skiing resorts for many years, ensuring that novice skiers don't set off down a very steep and challenging piste and ensuring a good day out is had by skiers of all standards. The same principle has now been successfully applied for Mountain Biking in a few areas of Britain and we hope that this map improves the enjoyment of all mountain bikers coming to Exmoor. The graded routes can be viewed at www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk or can be purchased as a waterproof, rip-proof paper copy to carry with you from one of the National Park Centres.

Contributed by: Tim Holden