Quick Glance

The Chilterns and the area either side of the Ridgeway west of London are criss-crossed with byways and bridleways.

The routes allow you to escape onto fine woodland tracks and out into big open chalk country, with panoramic views over the Vale of the White Horse and the Thames Valley.

This guide has 24 routes from 18 to 38km long, many of which can be linked to make much longer rides.

Each route is described with easy-to-follow directions and details of distance, grade of difficulty, refreshment stops and accompanied by maps. The bonus sections has Top Tens for climbs, descents and suggestions for 'Mega Rides' with further information about finding places to eat, drink and stay.

Happy riding!

Advantages of the Book

Browse your guidebook in the bath, in bed or crashed out on the sofa, great for trip planning and dreaming! It's compact size (about a third smaller than the height of a folded Ordnance Survey Explorer map, plus a bit narrower in width) so can also be taken out on the ride.

Advantages of the CD

You can still browse the routes using your computer but not quite as flexible as a book! However the CD is great for just printing out the route you require for taking with you on a ride - so you just have a couple of sheets of paper (map plus route text directions).

Best option:

It comes down to personal preference as to which you choose. Many mountain bikers decide on both and to help them we have our low price.

Related Maps & Guides

North & South Downs Mountain Biking

Surrey Hills
Mountain Bike Maps

Cycling in Sussex
Off Roads and Quiet Lanes

Includes the route maps and route descriptions, from the book, in print-ready files - great for just printing out each route when you need it.

Adobe® Acrobat PDF Format. Mac & PC Compatible

Will be despatched same or next business day depending on time of order

RIDGEWAY MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTES

Fast tracks up, down and over the spine of the Ridgeway take you back and forth in time as you pass hill forts, take in the White Horse at Uffington and collapse at a pub exhausted but satisfied!

Ogbourne St George & Ridgeway Lite
An easy introduction to the tracks around the area, linking a section of the railway path that runs from Marlborough to Chiseldon to other good quality stone based tracks.
Grade: Easy   Distance: 24km

Marlborough, Smeathe's Ridge & Barbury Castle
The bike route boasts a fine long open climb up Smeathe's Ridge and two cracking descents: one wide and grassy, and the other rootier and narrower.
Grade: Easy   Distance: 28km

Southwest of Aldbourne
Climb out of Aldbourne then a fast descent to Hilldrop Farm followed by a fine bit of woodland singletrack. Climb again before a grassy track leads downhill to join a short stretch of road back to Aldbourne.
Grade: Moderate   Distance: 22km

Aldbourne & Littlecote
A loverly mountain bike circuit around Aldbourne, Baydon, Chilton Foliat and Ramsbury.
Grade: Moderate   Distance: 28km

Lambourn, Wayland's Smithy & Fox Hill
This is the first of whole series of rides that can be used to the adjacent ride to create a much longer day out. This has a good mixture of tracks with a belter of a descent about half way round and ends with a blast on a good stone based track back to Lambourn.
Grade: Easy   Distance: 30km

Lambourn to Uffington Castle
Most of the height from Lambourne is gained on a quiet lane so that the final uphill section on rough grass is kept to a minimum. Then along the ridgeway on a fine undulating track. The descent from Uffingham Castle is designed to eke out the most from a 120m of downhill, letting gravity help you down the slower grassy tracks. Finish with a good woodland blast.
Grade: Easy   Distance: 23km

East of Lambourn
This ride finishes with a rollercoaster of off road trails which have a bit of everything and should leave you with a grin on your face.
Grade: Easy   Distance: 18km

West Ilsey & the Ridgeway south of Wantage
A section along the Ridgeway and a fine mix of quiet lanes and woodland tracks to make a circular route.
Grade: Moderate   Distance: 33km

East Ilsey & Scutchamer Knob
This short mountain bike route from East llsey gives you a taste of Ridgeway country, small villages, big fields, open views and broad tracks of grass, chalk and flint.
Grade: Easy   Distance: 19km

East of Streatley on the Ridgeway to East Ilsey
Climb from the off on a broad chalk and flint track. Reach East Illsey and then you soon have a choice of a singletrack section, or one on broader tracks with fewer nettles and brambles! Either way you go past the laugh-a-minute Banterwick Farm, descend to cross the infant River Peng, then climb to the highest point on the ride to set you up nicely for a snake-bite descent to the finish.
Grade: Easy   Distance: 28km

HAMPSHIRE DOWNS MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTES

The scenery is stunning and the riding tough, proof once more you don't have to be in the mountains to be mountain biking.

Hurstbourne Tarrant & Inkpen Hill
Along gentle lane climb gives you plenty of time to warm up for the callenge, up through woodland to the mast on Coombe Hill. Good views. Now enjoy a fine descent from Inkpen Hill down to the dry valley towards Linkeholt. Good wide stone-based tracks are followed back to Ibthorpe to rejoin the outward route.
Grade: Moderate   Distance: 27km

CHILTERNS MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTES

Sail through sweeping woodland, negotiate tricky singletrack and blast along fast chalk tracks in the idyllic Chiltern Hills.

Watlington, Crowell Hill & the Wormsley Estate
A long warm up then a very tough climb onto the escarpment. Easy woodland singletrack then a long easy descent through Wormsley Estate are your rewards - appetisers for the final fireworks from Christmas Common back down to Watlington.
Grade: Moderate   Distance: 27km