Review Date
March 16, 2013

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Leighton Rees ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
The trail was very flat had around 4 berms and not one boardwalk, was quite looking forward to some technical sections and down hill, but seemed lacking in them too!, after travelling 70 miles to get there I was very disappointed in the whole Kitchener trail, if you want to train and live local its a great course for keeping fit, but making a move to visiting Degla or my local 3 miles away Cannock Chase would be like doing a black graded route in comparison. The Bike park Orange grade is great, lots of hills and jumps to try and practice on.

Recommended Route:
For fitness training do the Kitchener, for learning how to tak steel hills the Orange section.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Not visited any, but the Forestry staff were very helpful.

Review Date
October 30, 2012

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: Pozza ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Red Route: Completely flat, some half decent sections here and there, good as a training circuit as you have to pedal non-stop from start to finish.
Downhill route: Not worthy of the name, the only decent part was a substantional north shore drop which has been taken down?!
Jumps: Not too shabby, but seen better.

Cycle store. Mechanics seem ok, owners/shop staff... useless, arrogant & plain stupid. Example, I asked for some DOT brake fluid in the shop, they supplied me with mineral oil had I not realised it would have destroyed my brakes. If they had a shop that wasn't bang in the centre of a trail they would go bankrupt.

Review Date
April 15, 2011

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Andy Ingram ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I stayed at Centre Parcs and Sherwood Forest trails are 1.5 miles away. The weather has been dry for several weeks and all trails were very dry (apart from the major water leak on Thurs 14th which caused serious flooding around one particular small area)

Adventure Trail:
I did the adventure trail with my wife - she hates cycling off road but admitted to having fun, and i thought it about right - some singletrack, some smallish climbs, roots and loose stones. Very well waymarked - didn't get lost once - i think the NT have been busy putting in signage.

Kitcheners Trail
Went back the following eveining to do the Kitcheners Trail - again very well waymarked once you've found the start ! Lots and lots of singletrack, not too many downhills and some bombholes/rootholes. Lots of maintenance apparent with roadstone having been put down in places. I prefer XC trails and to do all 13km/8m at a fast pace would be a great workout whatever your fitness. I stopped at the top of the downhill tracks and had a quick look - large start ramp, into wooden bridge, followed by wallride... all looked promising.
I finished around 6pm and all shops/cafes shut, but i genuinely wanted to congratulate somebody on the trail signage - well done NT or whoever. Major waymarks even included grid references/place names in case of emergency.

Recommended Route:
Kitcheners Trail - On dry trails a great evening blast that'll get your legs working !! A couple of guys i met on the trail recommended the shortcut down the downhill track but preferring my wheels on the ground i chickened out !

I wouldn't consider this as a trail centre destination but good fun if you're in the area or staying at Centre Parcs. Given the ocation, there's not vast climbing/descending, but most of the time you are having to cencentrate and they've made the most of what they have.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
All Peak trails about 1 hour away.

Review Date
January 21, 2011

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: Clive on the cliff ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Probably very fun for a family ride with the nippers, but this is the worst trail centre I've ridden at. No maps in the shop for a start. Prickly reception from the staff. The cafe is good and the fields around are good for picnics.

The first half hour we spent going round in circles due to very poor signage. When I eventually found it, I was disappointed. The flow in my opinion is non-existent. A couple of pedal strokes and a corner or boggy braking dip. Many tree stumps in the middle of the dark trail waiting to slam into you rims. Wide boggy sections overdue some TLC. My local deep tractor rutted bridle-way has much more appeal.

For a family fun-fest, this could be a nice day out. For an experienced rider looking for the usual trail centre experience, don't be too expectant and you might have a nice ride out.

Recommended Route:
Not here.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Up the road to the Peaks. A route over Jacob's Ladder. But consider the time of week/year and bridle-way users.

Review Date
September 7, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Reviewed by: alf jones ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
wow. new bike shop here. much bigger than last. great bikes and bits.

Recommended Route:
talking to lads in shop. new trails on the way.should be good