Headed by industry veterans, Bike Park Chilterns will take over the redevelopment and management of Aston Hill following the ash dieback work.
Rebuilding Aston Hill. The Return of the South’s Most Iconic Bike Park This legacy bike park, just 40 minutes outside London, is being rebuilt from the ground up and it’s the riding community making it happen.
Read the full press release below.
Aston Hill has been a go-to destination for mountain bikers for over 25 years. In 2020, the site was forced to close due to extensive ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus), which left large areas of woodland unsafe.
Following the removal of affected trees, Forestry England launched a competitive tender process to identify a new operator who could rebuild and manage the site for the next decade. Bike Park Chilterns was awarded the contract and is now leading the redevelopment and long-term stewardship of Aston Hill.
Aston Hill has been a go-to destination for mountain bikers for over 25 years. In 2020, the site was forced to close due to extensive ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus), which left large areas of woodland unsafe.
Following the removal of affected trees, Forestry England launched a competitive tender process to identify a new operator who could rebuild and manage the site for the next decade. Bike Park Chilterns was awarded the contract and is now leading the redevelopment and long-term stewardship of Aston Hill.
About Bike Park Chilterns CIC
Bike Park Chilterns CIC was founded in 2019 with a clear ambition; to create sustainable, inclusive mountain biking opportunities across the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. From the beginning, Aston Hill was seen as the jewel in the crown of that vision.
As a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, our mission is to design, build, and manage high-quality mountain biking experiences for riders of all ages and abilities. We believe strongly in responsible trail development that balances progression, conservation, and community access.
Looking ahead, our long-term goal is to establish a network of, sustainable riding sites across the region, from grassroots trails to gravity-focused hubs, embedding trail stewardship, environmental responsibility, and regional tourism into everything we do.
Aston Hill – Our Flagship Project
The redevelopment of Aston Hill marks a pivotal step in delivering our vision for the Chilterns. We’re proud to have been selected by Forestry England as the preferred operator and are excited to lead the return of one of the South of England’s most iconic mountain biking venues.
It’s been just over four years since Aston Hill closed. Now, we’re bringing it back, not as a replica, but as a modern, professionally built and managed facility designed to meet the needs of today’s riders and tomorrow’s community.
We’re committed to working in partnership with the mountain bike community, Forestry England, local authorities, and our supporters to ensure Aston Hill once again becomes a nationally recognised destination and a lasting home for the sport of downhill mountain biking.
Targeting Opening
Our plan is to reopen Aston Hill in October 2025 with two re-imagined trails, but there’s a lot of work to do to bring the Bike Park back to life. Looking further ahead, we aim to build 10 exciting downhill and enduro trails that will make Aston Hill a must-ride destination.
To make this vision a reality, Bike Park Chilterns has launched a fundraising and membership site here. Whether you’re local, elsewhere in the UK, or joining us from around the world, your support matters. Small donations of just £10, £20, or £30 go a long way in helping us restore and develop the trails. Plus, donations over £25 receive a strictly limited launch supporters t-shirt, ready to collect on your first visit.
Every contribution brings us closer to reopening and welcoming you to experience Aston Hill’s next chapter. Join the community, back the project, and help us build a legacy that riders everywhere can be proud of.
Bike Park Chilterns Director Ian Warby commented: “It’s been a long time coming but this is a fantastic opportunity to bring back an iconic mountain bike mountain bike destination and return to a project I started in 1998. We’ve got some amazing plans in the pipeline and Aston Hill Bike Park will be the jewel in the crown of mountain biking in the Chilterns. We can’t wait.”
Bike Park Chilterns Director Mark Harris commented: “It’s a dream come true, we’ve been working so hard behind the scenes to get to this point and we can’t wait to get mountain bikers back on Aston Hill. It’s an exciting time for mountain biking in the Chilterns and I can’t wait to get started.”
Bike Park Chilterns Director John Holbrook commented: “To finally be at the stage where we can tell everyone what we have planned is so exciting. We know we’ve got a lot of work to do and we can’t wait to get going. This is just the start of a ground breaking project to develop mountain biking across the Chilterns. Exciting times.”
Simon Fowler, Forestry England, commented: “We are delighted to begin work with Bike Park Chilterns on this exciting new chapter for Aston Hill. The site has been missed by the riding community during its closure, and we recognise the strong appetite locally and nationally to see it reopened. Following our complex forestry operations, significant work is now needed to rebuild and enhance the trails to the outstanding standard the park was known for. We have every confidence that Bike Park Chilterns will not only restore Aston Hill’s reputation but transform it into a world-class facility and an enduring asset for the local community and mountain biking enthusiasts alike.”
