Reviews for Red Trail - Hamsterley Forest

Summary:
All the trails you need.

Review:
Basically 2 red loops, Poltys, K line, Transmission, Accelerator and Nitrous, plus Section 13, Special K and Brain Freeze. I've not done them as per the red route on the Forestry Commission map, but if you park at the Grove you are right in the middle of the 2 loops. There is a 2 mile fire road up to the top of Poltys but then you have the 5 trails one after the other. It's worth doing K line, then going straight back up the fire road to do it again!!
The other 3 trails are reached by going up the "horrible hill to 13". It is a hard slog, but not too long and you do get to see the Descend bike park on the way up. Once at the top the 3 trails are not far apart, and if you finish Brain Freeze and turn right on the Grove link keep your eye out for a couple of more jumps. I am now mid 50's, ride a decent hard rail and can still have a blast on these great 8 runs, well done Trailblazers!!

Summary:
Flowy and growing

Review:
Red route has grown again, K-Line has been added to the area before Transmission / Nitrous / Accelerator flow. There's a fair amount of going up on fire roads but as a fairly new rider, the flowing red is a great way to get confident with some speed and try to get some air.
Transmission has bedded in and it starting to lose a bit of its shape, watch out for loose rocks.
This is our local and we keep coming back for this and the black.

Summary:
Worth a visit

Review:
Worth a visit if you are in the area but not worth driving past Dalby for. 22km of mainly Forrest tracks. The single track is at a premium but really good when you come across it. The transition section is a great down hill part full of berms, and drop offs. The climbs are tough. I did it on a wet day so everything seems harder, I would say that the climbs are harder than Dalby due to the uneven surface and degree of incline. I will be back on a dryer day to sample it again. Please get better (any) signage for the loop as I could not find it easily. Hamsto trail blazers keep up the good work.

Summary:
Red route isn't interesting for the first part

Review:
Went today and was disappointed at how boring the first part of the section was. I though there was never going to be any down phill single track. But after an hour of riding they finally turned up. Apart from the beginning its definatley worth a ride. Black route is much better in my opinion

Summary:
Major changes completed in 2012. Now really worth a look.

Review:
The first part of the trail follows a fun for all the family section shared by some of the milder trails. Beware this part of the forest can get very busy with families, dogs and other riders. Trying to force your way through at speed is not going to make you popular. You can avoid that busy section by using the black trail but you'll need some local knowledge for that.
The red route still has some long forest road climbs but the Hammsterley Trail Blazers have added some cracking descents. You'll now be treated to two main descents that are smooth, swoopy and full of jumps and drops. The first begins at a radio mast a good way round the trail. The second sets out from the Descend Hammsterley car park by the four cross start ramp. (you are not permitted to park near or ride the DH trails unless you register and pay at the DH cabin.) This is Section 13 and is best avoided unless the ground is dry. It's hard work getting up there and a bit of a disapointment if the trail surface is not nice and dry. The return to your start point now shares some sections of the black trail that beginners may find too tricky to attempt.
It's worth noting this trail is like a figure of eight. You will do the same climb twice, climbing to the half way point on the way out before turning right at the cabin. On the way back you climb right up to the top or take a left at the cabin to skip S13.
You can get round this trail fairly easily if you have some decent fitness even if you don't have the skills to match. For those bikers looking for the most difficult and exciting riding the forest has to offer, take the black route and switch to the red by climbing to the radio mast from the valley bottom.