Well, only the main drive is accessable by vehicle now, so I parked up in the midle and got on the bike. The major tracks are quite good and clean, but the minor tracks that I was seeking were sticky and mud. This had been churned up by horses making the going very tough (but i don't see Ramblers trying to ban horses....
) but i plodded on.
From what I can see, it's not my kind of forest-it's too open. I prefer woodland with low level cover if you know what I mean. It is predominantly beech with some birch and some truly ancient big oaks. Maybe it would be better in the summer, and I shall return. It is an ace forest for dogwalking I would imagine, and not very busy, but it could have been the weather that puts most people off.
Afterwards I aimed the Sporty up some easy green lanes in the area and even got a wave from the Bobble Hat Brigade which amazed me. Almost got stuck in a slippery clay patch as i have road tyres on at the mo', but ripping up the surface is not what it's all about anyhow. Overall, a nice day out, if a little wet. Need to explore more, that's for definite!!
