The best traffic-free bike rides around The Outwoods

While The Outwoods itself is primarily for walking, the surrounding area offers several excellent routes suitable for gravel biking with minimal traffic. This guide features three such routes, providing diverse options for exploring the region's natural beauty.

You'll encounter a varied mix of surfaces, typical for gravel biking in the Charnwood Forest area. Routes often combine quiet country lanes with unpaved sections, including paths through ancient woodlands and byways. The region is known for its undulating land and Precambrian rocky outcrops, offering a dynamic riding experience.

Yes, there are options for those new to gravel biking. For instance, the Nice Trail loop from Groby is rated as easy, covering just over 12 km with manageable elevation, making it a great starting point for a traffic-free gravel adventure.

Absolutely. Many of the routes in the area are designed as loops, allowing you to start and finish at the same point. Examples include the Beaumanor Hall – Beacon Hill Summit loop from Loughborough University and the Swithland Reservoir – Swithland Reservoir loop from Loughborough, both offering scenic circular rides.

The region is rich in natural and historical landmarks. You can expect to pass through ancient woodlands, witness Precambrian rocky outcrops, and enjoy views of significant natural areas like Beacon Hill Country Park and Swithland Reservoir. The Beaumanor Hall – Beacon Hill Summit loop, for example, takes you past Beaumanor Hall and offers stunning vistas from Beacon Hill.

While specific routes may not have cafes directly on the trail, The Outwoods itself has amenities like Olivia's Coffee and Bakery. The wider Charnwood Forest area, which these routes traverse, has various villages and towns where you can find cafes and pubs for a well-deserved break.

Spring is particularly picturesque, with vibrant bluebells carpeting the woodlands. However, the varied terrain and mixed surfaces make the area suitable for gravel biking year-round. Be mindful of conditions in less-than-ideal weather, as some unpaved sections can become muddy.

The ease of some routes, like the Nice Trail loop from Groby, makes them suitable for families with older children or those comfortable with moderate distances. Always check the route difficulty and length to ensure it matches your family's capabilities.

The Outwoods offers a 24-hour car park, making it a convenient base for starting your gravel biking adventure. Many of the routes also have starting points near towns or villages with public parking options.

The komoot community rates the routes in this area highly, with an average score of 4.0 stars. Riders often praise the quiet, traffic-free nature of the trails and the beautiful, diverse landscapes of the Charnwood Forest.

The routes around The Outwoods feature undulating terrain. For example, the Beaumanor Hall – Beacon Hill Summit loop has an elevation gain of approximately 288 meters over 17.7 km, offering a good workout without overly strenuous climbs.