Off-road cycling fun
On this page, you will find ideas for places where you can take the family for some off-road cycling fun.
Liss Riverside Walk
Liss
Where to ride: Liss Riverside Walk follows the line of an old military railway from the car park at Longmoor to Liss station. This route is suitable for small children and is short, flat and off-road. It will take you less than twenty minutes of cycling each way. Cross Forest Road out of the car park and join the trail opposite.
Other features: The path ends with a little park with river access and picnic tables.
Getting there: Free car park beside Longmoor Ranges on Forest Road - this car park is owned by the MOD and they reserve the right to close it at little or no notice. If the car park is closed, park in Liss at the train station and do the trail the other way around (Postcode: GU33 7RA - W3W: ///bulbs.smirks.tangling)
Greenham Common
Newbury
Where to ride: Greenham Common is located on a disused RAF airfield. The compacted gravel paths around the old runway are entirely flat and mostly straight making them perfect for cycling. You can cycle a loop of around 6km.
Other features: Go up the original control tower, which is cared for by knowledgeable local volunteers. There is also a cafe and other interesting remnants of the aviation and military past can be found around the site.
Getting there: Greenham Control Tower car park off Burys Bank Road, free (Postcode: RG19 8BZ - W3W: ///force.energy.smiles)
Blackbushe Airport
Yateley
Where to ride: Blackbushe is a little airport in North Hampshire. The busy runway is obviously off limits to cyclists, but hidden behind the modern day airport, you can discover disused wartime runways that make brilliant places for kids to practice their cycling safely. To find the them, take the gate at the end of the car park by the control tower and turn immediately left. Keep going until a cross path and then turn left and ride until you meet the old tarmac.
Other features: Pathfinder cafe directly overlooks the functioning runway and it is a great place to get refreshments and watch the planes take off and land.
Getting there: Blackbushe Airport car park, free, closed overnight 18:00-06:00 (Postcode: GU17 9LQ - W3W: ///diverged.upholds.successor)
Bucklers Forest
Crowthorne
Where to ride: Bucklers Forest is a public open space on the land of the former Transport Research Laboratory. What is left behind of the testing sites make fun places for kids to ride bikes and these include ‘The Banked Curve’ with its velodrome style banking and ‘The Small Roads Test Site’ with some of the original road markings and signs still visible.
Other features: There is a brilliant kid’s play area next to The Stables Coffee Co. cafe.
Getting there: Buckler’s Forest car park off Woodcote Green, free, height barrier (Postcode: RG45 6HZ - W3W: ///spray.drama.delay)