The Midlands, although not so popular, but have quite a few amazing places where you can go mountain biking. It has trails ranging from forest trails to open moorland trails. I bring you five such places through this article where you can go mountain biking and explore the beautiful and challenging trails that these areas hold for you.

Cannock Chase

Best known for its two XC trials, Follow the Dog, and Monkey Trail, and the DH area at the Stile Cop, Cannock Chase is definitely worth a shot. The Follow Dog trail is about seven miles long and is a red graded route. The trail is made around small hills and the singletrack is pretty fast. Do ride on this trail in the afternoon for a thrilling experience.

The Monkey trail is relatively newer in the Cannock Chase and when added with the Follow Dog trail- sums up to a 14-mile-long route. This trail is steeper than the former one and has some black graded sections too which makes it a tougher route to traverse.

I would suggest exploring these trails only if you have some experience in mountain biking. But if you are a beginner, Cannock Chase has some beautiful blue graded routes as well.

 

The Long Mynd

The Long Mynd has some wild trails and a lot of riding opportunities for you. Most of these trials involve a long climb up to the fire access road onto the plateau and then a natural trail back again. The Minton Batch route is a must-visit if you go to the Long Mynd. It has been voted as one of the best singletrack descents in the country.

Sherwood Pines

Another holistic area with red graded trails to family-friendly ones, Sherwood Pines is a storehouse of mountain bike routes. The Kitchener Trail is a fast-paced singletrack that is 8-miles long. If you want a thrilling adrenaline rush experience, this is the trail for you. The Adventure Trail, on the other hand, is a blue graded trail that is best for beginners who have started their mountain biking journey. It is six miles long and has mild obstacles to keep you entertained throughout the ride. Sherwood Pines also has some dirt jumps and downhill zones for people who want their journey to get more adventurous.

The Ladybower Loop

The Ladybower loop, located near the Ladybower reservoir is a 28-mile-long route. The terrain is very challenging and you will need to be fit and have technical knowledge and abilities to cover this track. The route starts at the Derwent Visitor Centre and goes up to the Hope Valley from where it heads into the Edale Valley. There are some tough climbs and technical downhill portions throughout the trail. You should definitely do this ride if you have enough experience and knowledge of mountain biking and are also fit enough to face the challenges that this trail holds.

The Malvern Hills

The Malvern Hills have a comparatively flat landscape that holds some of the magnificent sceneries for you to witness. There are various routes with varying distances- 6K, 9K, or 19K, you name it and a route will be there. All these routes are signposted to help you navigate through the climb and not get lost.