Looking for UK uplift venues that arep great for downhill mountain biking? Here’s a list of our favourites.
There are plenty of uplifts to be had in the UK these days – with hundreds of excellent downhill and enduro mountain bike trails. We’ve pulled together a list of our favourites to help you get some inspiration for your next big day out.
You can book on almost all of these immediately and get on an uplift for a day of descending:
BikePark Wales, South Wales.
Arguably the best bike park in the UK, BikePark Wales sits just off the M4 in South Wales and offers a mind-boggling array of options for any bike. New trails are being added regularly and the ones that exist are looked after by a dedicated trail team. Better book fast as this is a popular spot.
Don’t miss: The new Root Manoeuvres trail. It’s loose, muddy, rooty and natural.
Get yourself booked in here.
Danny Hart’s Descend Bike Park, West Aukland.
Photo by Szymon Nieborak.Former World Champ Danny Hart took ownership of what was Descend Hamsterley and is now firing on all cylinders. A staple of the downhill scene in the North East, Hamsterley’s downhill tracks are legendary for their ferocity and for the speed you can be back banging out another run.
Don’t miss: Descent-World’s Hotlaps challenge, where you can pit yourself against the best. Full details here.
Book online here.
Pedalabikeaway, Forest of Dean, Wye Valley.
Photo by Dave Price.Pedalabikeaway and the Flyup uplift service at the Forest of Dean is a staple for almost all of our team. We use it to test bikes, shoot interviews, host meetings and just get out for a proper good ride.
There’s a great many great tracks, an awesome cafe with even better staff, even better bacon sarnies and did we say the trails have an amazing variety? There’s also a fully stocked bike shop, workshop, bike hire and suspension technician.
Don’t miss: a sneaky lap of the Mini Downhill and Mini Enduro off-piste trails. Ask a local for some advice. Also, don’t miss a trip to the cafe for some really decent food.
Everything you need to book an uplift is here on the Flyupdownhill website.
Gawton Gravity Hub, Devon.
If you live in the left leg of Britain and ride downhill, the Gawton is going to be high on your list of places to ride. Formerly sporting the Dirt 1:04 track, Gawton is still the heart of downhill in the south west.
Don’t miss: An overnight stop in Tavistock for some nightlife and a trip to nearby Tavi Woodlands for some push-up downhill runs.
Get yourself booked onto an uplift here.
Moelfre, Mid Wales.
Moelfre is where it became apparent that farmers could really benefit from getting behind the mountain bike scene. Farmer Jack built an empire at Moelfre and it’s fast, open hillside with whopping jumps to finish is a unique experience you don’t get anywhere else in the UK.
Don’t miss: A quick lap of the 4X track down at the bottom of the hill.
Head to MTBUplift’s Facebook page for more.
Revolution Bike Park, North Wales.
Revolution Bike Park is hot on the heels of BikePark Wales for best UK bike park with the new 50to01 Line opening earlier in the year and the BDS heading there last year.
If massive jumps and flat out downhill tracks are what you’re after, head to Revs.
Don’t miss: A run down the new Freeride Trail if you love flowy berms and meaty jumps. Then, a quick stop in to the bike shop at Revo Bikes.
Book online here.
Innerleithen, Scottish Borders.
Adrenaline Uplift recently took over tender for the uplift at the infamous Innerleithen Project Downhill site in the Tweed Valley after aeons of Tally’s Uplift Scotland running the show. The new vans are being tested as we speak, but expect website and bookings to go live shortly.
Don’t miss:Â A trip over to Glentress for a lap of the classic trail centre and skills park. It makes for a great weekend away.
Adrenaline Uplift have just launched their new website.
Craigvinean Forest, Central Scotland.
Adam at Progression Bikes runs the official uplift at Dunkeld, a track renowned for being one of the steepest and roughest in the UK. The tracks, mostly sculpted by the infamous Peter Pollock sorts the men from the boys.
Don’t miss:Â A chance at getting the whole track nailed. It’s one of the UK’s toughest downhill tracks, get fast and smooth here and you’ll be flying anywhere.
Give Adam a shout to book yourself in here.
Nevis Range, West Scotland.
While currently covered in snow and closed for bikes, Nevis Range is one of only two chairlift-accessed downhill tracks in the UK. What’s more, Nevis Range sports the World Cup track that has become legend. Try your hand at what the top boys race on, and feel your bike and body fall to pieces on the UK’s only World-level track.
Don’t miss: The Fort William World Cup. Join tens of thousands of race fans as they head to Fort William to see the World’s best racers.
Head to the Nevis Range site for more. The lift reopens for bikes in May.
Glencoe Mountain Resort, West Scotland.
The other chairlift-accessed downhill track is at Glencoe Mountain Resort. A different beast altogether awaits on Meall a’Buiridh, keep your eyes on the steep, unforgiving Black Run rather than enjoying the panoramic views over Rannoch Moor. A faster, easier Red is also available.
Don’t miss: The MacAvalanche – a mass start race from Glencoe’s high slopes right the way down to the cafe.
Again, covered in snow, but reopening in the summer for bikes. Full details here.
Black Mountains Cycle Centre, South Wales.
A short hop over the border from England or a blast up from South Wales to the hills north west of Abergavenny lies Black Mountains Cycle Centre. A hidden gem of a bike park offering something for everyone, including some awfully big jumps for those who can, or want to try.
Don’t miss: Full Moto – BMCC’s line of BIG jumps for anyone that wants to step up to the big leagues!
Full details here.
Antur Stiniog, North Wales.
Nestled above the slate capital of Wales, Antur Stiniog is another unique experience owing to the terrain. Rock is kind in this part of Wales, but the trails are tailored to suit everyone’s needs. Take on the Black and the run that saw the British Downhill Series come through town.
Don’t miss:Â The scary rock drop on the Y Du trail – it’s intimidating to look at but you’ll earn your beer once you’ve got it nailed!
Get yourself booked on here.
One Giant Leap, North Wales.
Another Welsh gem offering technical, steep and sometimes scary downhill trails for anyone who cares for it. Llangollen in burned into the memory of many a downhill racer from a few years ago, with that section in the woods. There are more mellow offerings, but bring you A-game to this part of North Wales.
Don’t miss: The new Ride Portugal trail for big jumps and steep, scary woods.
Uplifts run with One Giant Leap.
Pearce Cycles, Hopton Castle and Bringewood Forest.
Arguably the best uplift in the UK, and probably having held it for the longest goes to Pearce Cycles, whether it’s a race or an uplift day, the Pearce team have uplifts dialled.Â
Hopton and Bringewood are Shropshire classics. Hopton is famous for its roots, Bringewood for its high speed and ingenious use of plantation rows to make amazing trails.
Don’t miss: Any of it. All Pearce uplifts are awesome.
Get yourself booked onto the slickest uplift out there with Pearce Cycles.
Cwmcarn, South Wales.
Last in our list but my no means least. Cwndown have been running uplifts at Cwmcarn for what seems like forever. What’s more, they’ve just revamped the infamous downhill track so it should be running better than ever. Cracking uplift, good facilities and an awesome cafe.
Don’t miss:Â The newly refurbished bottom section. There’s some big new jumps that have had a complete make over to make them more fun, safer and much nicer than they’ve been in a long old while.
Another popular one, so get yourself booked online early.
Woody’s Bike Park, Cornwall
The newest of the bunch is a family owned bike park right down in Cornwall. Legend has it that owner Ian built it as somewhere for him and his mates to ride… but it evolved into a proper, fully blown bike park so he decided to share the love and run it as a proper business.
There’s tonnes of jumps, drops and berms and lots of riding for all abilities. If you love really big jumps, this is one of the places in the UK for you.
Don’t miss: Woody’s is planning on setting up camping pods soon, with more info on their website. You’ll soon be able to spend a whole weekend down at the Bike Park.
Get yourself booked on here.
