Delamere Forest is ideal for cycling. Smooth sandy tracks with only a few gentle hills provide an ideal surface. Mature Scots pine, wetland and Blakemere provide the ideal setting for for an afternoon's family cycle ride.
There are plenty of trails around the forest that can be accessed from all our car parks. Alternatively your could bring hire a bike or you could bring your bike on the train. There is an hourly service running from Manchester-Chester operated by Northern Rail.
A cycling map of the forest is available to download here. guide map for the forest, available from the Information Centre at a cost of £2. There that two principle cycling routes marked out within the forest both are classified as easy routes. More advanced mountain bikers should spend sometime to navigate their way around the myriad of routes and trails within the forest or come along on Thursday evening to TRACS bike hire to take part in a free led ride of the forest. Led ride starts at 6.30pm (please check first)
Cycling Development
The Forestry Commission are keen to introduce new people to cycling in the traffic-free forest environment . As a result they have teamed up with the CTC to offer a programme of cycling activities to encourage new cyclists into the forest. There are three key areas that we will focus on these include
HealthCycle - A introductory cycling programme of gentle cycle rides around the forest.
HealthCycle is aimed at adults that are new to cycling and who are wishing to improve their cycling confidence. The programme is also suited to those that are are wishing to improve there general health and wellbeing. To ensure that all participants receive quality tuition time and support the group size will be set at a maximum of 8 people per session. Our first programme starts on Tuesday 10th January 2012 with a free introductory session to be followed up by a 4 week programme of sessions. To reserve your place please contact Louise Hare on 07717 134 499 or email louise.hare@ctc.org.uk
Seasonal Rides
Take part in a seasonal interpreted rides to learn more about the seasons, the forest and Forestry Commission activity. These rides will help you and your family learn to gain a better understanding the forest and the natural environment. Dates for these rides are
Winter Sunday 15th January 2012 10.15am – 12.15pm
Spring Sunday 4th March 2012 10.15am-12.15pm
Costs for Seasonal Rides: Adults £4, Children £3
To reserve your place please contact Louise Hare on 07717 134 499 or email louise.hare@ctc.org.uk.
Family Cycling Activities
We recognise that spending quality time with your family is important and what better way to spend that time than by taking part in family cycling activities within the beautiful setting in Delamere Forest. On the back of the success of our Let's Cycle Family Fun Day held during the October half-term we are keen to programme a set of school holiday cycling activities at Delamere. Our programme is as follows
February Half-Term Wednesday 15th February 2012
Guided Cycle Ride 10.15- 12.15 am and Maintenance Session 1.15-3.15pm
Costs per session: Adults £4, Children £3 (combined cost for morning and afternoon sessions = Adults £7 Children £5)
Easter Holiday Wednesday 4th April 2012
Easter Guided Cycle Ride 10.15am - 12.15pm Costs: Adults £4, Children £3
To reserve your place please contact Louise Hare on 07717 134 499 or email louise.hare@ctc.org.uk. For more information click on the link.
Where to Cycle At Delamere
Old Pale
Why not cycle up to the top of Old Pale and enjoy superb panoramas of the Cheshire countryside or on a clear day views as far away as the Liverpool city skyline.
After your ride, why not use bike wash at the Information Centre car park, and leave the mud behind!
Our waymarked cycle trails
- Hunger Hill Trail - start at Delamere Information Centre - blue waymarkers - 4 miles - 0.5 hour - easy
- Whitemoor Trail - start at Delamere Information Centre - white waymarkers - 7 miles - 1 hour - easy
Cycle Hire
Cycle hire is available from TRACS (UK) situated just the lef-handside of the information centre car park. TRACS (UK) offers a good range of child and adult bike to hire. The well-stocked shop has a wide range of spares and accessories and they also provide bike repair service and mountain bike training courses. They are open everydaybetween from 10am and 6pm. Group hire and cycle skills coaching is also available. For details or advance booking please contact Tracs on 07949088477.
Please be alert at all times for other uses of the forest.
