New mountain bike trail opens in Swindon

Riding a trail (BikeRadar)

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A new off road trail has been opened in Croft Woods, Swindon as a result of the work of volunteers at the Nationwide Building Society, money from the National Lottery and with the help from the Borough Council.

The Croft Community Cycle Trail loop is currently 1km long, but there are already plans to extend the course a further 5km into the woods. With small bermed corners and wooden boardwalk sections, it looks an ideal spot for beginner riders. There’s also a dirt jump track in the same woods for those who like to get airborne on two wheels.

Steve Smith, an employee at Nationwide and keen mountain biker has been involved with the design of the trail. He said: “I was shown the proposed site, which at the time resembled a field of stinging nettles. But I could see it had great potential and offered to help create the trail.

“We’re thrilled with the results. Mountain bikers previously had to travel around 40 miles to places like Bristol, but now we’ve got a great facility on our doorstep.”

There are further plans to extend the trail, so it would extend a further 5km through the woods and include features for the more experienced mountain biker.

Councillor Brian Mattock, Cabinet Member for Local Environment and Sustainability, said: “This is a fantastic new facility for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy. It is also an excellent example of achieving really positive results through partnership working. I hope all mountain bikers - beginners and experts - will take advantage of this trail, which is completely free to use.”

Here's the location of Croft Wood, plotted on Bikely.

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