A great introduction to mountain biking for first time visitors, new riders and children and there is a nice cafe at the start, The Coffee Cottage and bike wash facilities.
There is a bike skills area and each trail goes through the forest at the foot of South Barrule and are fully sign posted and feature hand built single-track sections.
Viking Trail, Graded Blue. A loop trail of two halves beginning on wide forest track that climb to the top of the forest. Riders are rewarded with a long gentle descent on a signle track featuring flowing berms, boardwalks, small drops, rock gardens and off line jump features, taking you back to the start.
Kipper Trail, Graded Blue. Weaving its way around the gentle lower slope of the forest this short route is just right for family riding and novice riders. It includes a 300m section of narrow single track through the forest trees with little climbing.
1km Blue Kipper Trail is ideal for young children and beginners to the sport providing a small loop without any real climbing which winds its way round the foot of the plantation.
5km Red Viking Trail is a more advanced route for fitter riders and features boardwalk and some short but steep climbs. The first half of the route is covered mainly on fast, wide fire track before suddenly climbing up to the top of the forest. The extra effort is rewarded by a longer descent that takes you back to your starting point via a longer single-track course that includes a number of purpose-build features including board walks and rock gardens.
NOTE: South Barrule can be linked via Corlea to the Cringle plantation, to provide much more riding, thus creating the main area for MTB'ing on the island.
WHERE: South Barrule car park on the A36 roadm, off the A3 which runs north-south through the centre of the island.
Route type: XC MTB Trails