Don’t let cold, short days and muddy trails put you off – Max has three rides that stand up to inclement weather and offer winter-wonderland views
Our first ride is in the beautiful Shropshire Hills. After climbing to the ridge, enjoy a fast plummet back down, before heading along the foot of the hillside and ascending again. Then, it’s back down on the fun Carding Mill descent, a trail usually too busy to really open the taps on, but if you’re lucky, perhaps not at this time of year. At the bottom is a welcome cafe, before steep singletrack leads you around the far edge of the hills and back to the top for a scenic cruise along the ridgeline. Enjoy the views from Pole Bank before the final, long, flowing descent off Minton Batch – arguably the best of the lot.
Second up is the stunning Lake District. Leaving civilisation behind, our route heads over Goldrill Beck and along the hip of the hill (there’s an easier lower track) into a rocky descent down to the water’s edge. Following the banks of Ullswater, a surprisingly technical trail delivers you to the remote hamlet of Sandwick. Climb to Boredale Hause, from where you can enjoy a fun descent to Patterdale. Then, either finish there or loop back around to climb back up to this spot, then continue to Bannerdale. Over the ridge, a long descent into the next valley awaits you, then it’s time to tackle the Ullswater singletrack again, but in the opposite direction. At the end, enjoy a pint in the lovely White Lion Inn.
Our final route lies deep in the Cairngorms, in Scotland, south of the lovely town of Ballater. To reach the start point, follow a dead-end road up Glen Muick, following the river, until it eventually ends at the Spittal of Glenmuick. Once on the bike, skirting the southern shores of the loch, you’ll hopefully be treated to a stunning reflection of the hills in the smooth, calm water. A good rocky trail then slowly rises to take you up the southern slopes, gradually warming your legs and extending the magical view further. The descent down the Corrie Chash to the loch’s edge is a fantastic flowing slither of singletrack, with a few rocks and water bars to keep you on your toes. Our route then continues around the loch and across the beaches at the furthest western point, before heading back along the northern shores. Glas-allt-Shiel (King Charles’s Lodge) offers a sheltered place to stop for a rest and snack. Up the (very steep) hillside out the back lies a 50m waterfall, the Falls of Glass Allt. It’s a push up, but if you like techn
