Cycling in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley

Cycling in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley

The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley is a cycling haven with routes for all levels of rider. Whether you're a mountain biker chasing downhill thrills, a road cyclist looking for scenic country lanes, or a family seeking a gentle pedal through the woods, you'll find a trail that suits your style.

The area boasts a fantastic network of off-road and on-road routes with stunning forest, riverside, and hilltop views along the way. The most popular place to start is the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre at Cannop, where you’ll find cycle hire, a café, shop, skills areas and trails for every ability. The centre is award-winning and quality assured by VisitEngland, so the standard is independently checked rather than self-declared.

You can even brush up on your off-roading technique with its specially designed skills areas and pump track. This is the best spot to begin your cycling adventure and has a shop, cafe and bike hire.

Trails for All Riders

• The Colliers Trail: A family-friendly 9-mile circular route on forest roads and former railway line, with plenty of forest highlights including Cannop Ponds, Beechenhurst, Mallards Pike, and picnic stops.
• Old Bob's trail: suitable for a wide range of cycles with 2, 3 or 4 wheels, adaptive cycles and tag-a-longs - making it a great accessible trail to ride and enjoy.
• Bracelands and Symonds Yat Trails: Easier loops great for families or those wanting a shorter route, with green and blue options from Bracelands and Symonds Yat Rock.
• Peregrine Path: A beautiful riverside route connecting Monmouth and Symonds Yat East, ideal for a leisurely cycle with fantastic views and wildlife spotting.
• The Wye Valley Greenway: An off-road path between Chepstow and Tintern, perfect for a traffic-free ride through spectacular scenery and a historic tunnel.
• The Newent Loop: 28-mile on road cycling route on quiet roads and lanes through the Forest of Dean countryside.

Those are the routes most visitors start with. There's more waiting at the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre, including the blue-graded Verderers Trail, the red Freeminers and Adit trails, and the Countdown and Launchpad downhill runs. You'll find grades, distances and start points for every trail on our Forest of Dean cycle routes and bike trails page.

Go it alone or enjoy a guided bike ride through the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley with an expert-led tour. There are a range of guided rides, ideal for exploring ‘some of the best mountain bike trails this side of the Alps’.

Photo credit: Forestry England

Where to Hire

From kids' bikes and trailers to mountain bikes and e-bikes, you can hire what you need from Pedalabikeaway, Dean Forest Cycles, Wye-Bikes or the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre. If you're after an electric bike specifically, our guide to e-bike hire in the Forest of Dean has more.

With a range of hire bikes for all ages and abilities, including trailers and tagalongs for kids and dogs, Pedalabikeaway has access to the Family Cycle Trail and some of the best MTB trails.

Hire a mountain, gravel or ebike from Dean Forest Cycles in Parkend and work up an appetite on the trails before returning to the cafe for coffee, cake, ice cream and more.

Based at Bells Hotel & Country Club in Coleford, Wye-Bikes offers delivery and collection for a wide range of bikes for all ages and abilities, and included in your hire fee are helmets, tool kits and locks.

Accessible cycling

Old Bob's Trail is built for a wide range of cycles, including three and four-wheeled and adaptive machines, and Launchpad was the UK's first gravity trail designed to be ridden without pedal power. There's a Changing Places facility at the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre. Adaptive cycle hire is available from the centre weekly on a Wednesday between 10.30am to 1pm, and alternative days can be arranged with them directly. This fantastic service is organised by a charity, Goals Beyond Grass. They bring adapted bikes for you to enjoy, so get in touch before you travel to discuss your need and check availability. The Goals Beyond Grass website is the perfect place to look for more information.

Where to Stay

There’s a range of places to stay across the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. From luxury hotels to cosy cottages, log cabins to B&Bs, our area welcomes cyclists of all kinds and our accommodation providers often go the extra mile to ensure your precious cycles are super safe for your stay.

You can choose from a range of accommodation features such as secure bike storage, electric car charging points (for when you're on 4 wheels), accessibility features, dog friendly and much more. So, if you're looking for the tranquillity of a post cycle woodland walk or just relax in a hot tub or in front of a roaring fire - there's plenty to choose from.

Check out where to stay in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley here.

Do Something Different

There’s a wealth of experiences, activities and places to visit when you want a break from the saddle. You could take a ride a Steam Train through the mediaeval forest to experience the sights, sounds and smells of steam travel if you're looking to rest your legs. Stations are near real ale pubs, parks, shops, footpaths and cycle paths,

Or take in the rich history of the region including Freemining in the Forest with working coal mines, discover the Forest’s history from the Ice Age to the present day. Visit mines, caves, museums and galleries across the region.

See our Things To Do page for more activities and experiences in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.

Plan Your Cycling Adventure

Bike hire is available at multiple locations including Pedalabikeaway, Wye-Bikes and Dean Forest Cycles. You can also book lessons or guided rides if you’re looking to build confidence or discover more hidden trails.

Make the most of your ride by planning lunch stops at one of the local cafes or pubs, and explore our maps and downloadable trail guides to get started. The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley offers everything you need for an unforgettable day on two wheels.

There's more on than trail riding. There are regular timed bike runs, women's takeover days and volunteer dig days through the year - so check out our events page to see what's coming up.