Haldon Forest Mountain Bike Trails

Mountain biking trails at Haldon Forest Park

Haldon Forest Park features a variety of cycling trails suitable for all skill levels, including a pump track, bicycle skills area, orienteering courses, and additional amenities waiting to be explored.

Regardless of whether a rider recently acquired their initial bicycle or enjoys navigating challenging terrain, Haldon Forest Park provides an excellent opportunity for cycling in a natural setting. Situated just outside Exeter, the trails afford picturesque views of the city skyline and surrounding rural landscape.

Kiddens trail

Grade: Blue (6.4 km)

This singletrack trail features more challenging terrain with steeper changes in elevation gradient. This trail serves as a good progression from the Spicers Trail, presenting a more difficult course with more dramatic variations in elevation gradient.

Spicers trail

Grade: Blue (3.7 km)

The trail provides an opportunity to build confidence as riders experience a variety of surfaces, including some narrow sections and gentle slopes. This route is intended for cyclists who have mastered fundamental skills and are prepared for a more advanced experience beyond the Discovery Trail.

Ridge ride trail

Grade: Red (9.6 km)

This route traverses the ridge and highlights some of the most scenic areas of the forest. This is an advanced, rapid, and fluid trail featuring tight turns and lively descents that require quick reflexes.

This route is suitable only for experienced cyclists with appropriate bikes and protective equipment.

Accessible via the Ridge Ride Trail, this optional challenging loop presents a higher level of difficulty than prior portions of the Ridge Ride Trail.

The terrain includes roots, rocks, banked turns, declines, and a stepped descent. Appropriate skills and equipment are necessary given these conditions.

Skills area & pump track

Grade: Orange Bike Park

This will give you a taste of some of the features you will find on some of our trails with easy, medium, and hard options allowing you to develop your confidence and skill. Suitable for novice to advanced riders. The bumps and bends on the pump track will give you a feel for off-road cycling and how to handle the terrain.

Where is Haldon Forest located?

Traveling by car on the A38, turn off at the exit for Exeter Racecourse (there are no slip roads for this turning). Follow the signs for Haldon Forest Park. The nearest postcode for sat nav is EX6 7XR but look out for the roadside banners directing you to the car park.

Bike Hire

Forest Cycle Hire is the only approved cycle hire centre based at Haldon Forest Park with over a hundred adult and child mountain bikes for hire as well as the ever-popular tag-a-longs, child seats, and now electric bikes too!

Opening hours

The forest is open 7.00am - 9.00pm every day except Christmas Day. The Info Pod is staffed daily 10.00am - 4.00pm.