Reviews for Hamsterley Forest Mountain Bike Trails

Summary:
Mental red grade action for XC riders or a fun warm up for FR and DH bikers.

Review:
This is almost like The loop's bigger, meaner brother. Definitely not a place for beginners. However, it is an ideal place for advanced trail riders looking to pick up some of the skills needed for making the most of those aggressive trails like the Ae Line trail or for getting to grips with the basics of Freeriding.
Expect rocky drops mixed with berms of all sizes, knitted together with small and medium sized tables and doubles. Mostly super smooth and flowy, it's all downhill so there's no need for climbing skills here. Push or ride back to the start depending on your bike and your fitness.
If you are the posh xc rider type you can expect a pretty cold reception from tough looking lads with big ass bikes as you make your way to the start point through the Downhill carpark. Especially if you are clipped in and wearing lycra. It's a shame because if you take the time to talk to those DH guys you'll find the vast majority of to be them helpful and friendly with a real passion for riding. Do expect to be looked up and down a bit though if your bike doesn't have monster tyres and huge suspension and you're not wearing a full-face helmet. It's just the way it is.
Can't say much bad about Section 13 other than it doesn't handle wet weather too well so gets slow and sticky. There are a couple of odd lookig rock features on the flat sections that seem to mess with the flow of it all. you may complain it's too short and is over too quickly but I actually think that's part of the appeal. Session it over and over or fit it into one of the other trails. Whatever you do you won't regret a visit to section 13.

Summary:
if you want a proper red trail make sure you do the black route as well

Review:
I was totally uninspired by this red trail, I dont often knock trails as I appreciate the effort that goes into them but hamsterley red route is quite poor. Most of the trail felt like average blue grade and followed forest road. i was pleased i made the decision to addthe black route to my ride otherwise i would havebeen realy disappointed. I'm no expert but the black route is over graded and for me was no more than red grade.

Summary:
Spot on!!!

Review:
I did this trail for the first time this morning and just kept going back for more.

Took caution on the first go, after that, tried to just back off the breaks. By the end of the day, after getting some action on the other red and black trails at Hamsterly, I was feeling pretty confident, certainly started to get round quicker than I had earlier on.

The jumps, drops and berms all look a little intimidating at first 9At least they did to me!), but once you've conkered them once, your sorted.

This is great fun and a great addition to Hamsterly forest.

Treat each ride as if it?s the last, because one day, it will be!

Summary:
really good

Review:
i rode this over and over again and loved it every, time but the first time round didnt expect the last jump to be so steep and lent to far back and it hurt.but ride it its g8.

Summary:
Area 13 is awesome

Review:
Went up there this weekend, tryed out the new "Area 13" which is now part of the red route up at Hamsterley. Straight up past the Descend Hut, and left at the car park. Lots of jumps mini drops windy bits, and a bit where its like a bobsleigh run, tracks bed into lower than ground level, Very "spookywood-esque". Work checking out when if your up that way.