Green:

I'm sorry to say we don't have an offical green route any more it was found that the one we had some years ago was to hilly to be classed as green. Wood n Wheels has been campainig for this situation to be rectified with a new more appropriate trail and hope that in time we will have a new green beginners trail in for families and beginners to enjoy the experience of the first few pedal strokes of cycling freedom.

Blue:

9 miles long (estimated time 2 hours)

This trail provides you with the ideal opportunity to explore the forest at a leisurely pace. The first stretch to Grove House is on a narrow (but not single track) purpose built cycle trail, before joining the Forest Drive to Blackling Hole. This stretch and the return through the forest to the Grove is all on forest access roads. Please exercise caution when cycling on forest roads as this is shared with other users, including timber lorries. The last two miles back to Wood n Wheels is on the tarmac section of the Forest Drive after all that way its great to have a nice easy bit on the return to unwind on.

Red:

14 miles long (estimated time 2-3 hours)

A trail for real adventurers who want to spend the day exploring the further reaches of the forest. The route follows the blue trail to the Grove before heading up to the New Section 13 just turn off the blue and over the hump backe bridge turn right just after and steel your self for the climb to the top of the hill, when you get there ride through the car park and down the section when you meet the forest access road we recomend you turn left were you will pick up the rest of the red trail that takes you to blackling hole car park and the rest of the red folow it round and pick up trasmittion trail and down back to the grove, cross the bridge again do half the clime and turn left or all of it and do section 13 only this time turn right when you get to the forest access road this leads you back on the red, this route gives you the best access into the wider forest on a mixture of forest road and single track. Superb views await at the top of the forest overlooking Eggleston Moor before returning to the Grove via transmittion the Euden Beck.

Black:

7 miles long (estimated time 1-2 hours)

This is the most strenuous and technically challenging cross-country waymarked trail in Hamsterley Forest. It sports steep technical climbs, smooth contouring single track and some superb ‘rooty’ descents. This character stays with the trail for its entire length and boasts some great natural riding that will challenge even the best cross-country bikers.

The Skills Loop:

This mountain bike trail has been designed with skill development in mind and will push your skills to a new level. The loop contains a multitude of features and riding options, some built in stone to mimic natural trails and other in timber in the north shore style. The loop is aimed at anybody confident at riding blue grade or above, but beware it contains features of all grades from blue to black. This trail is suitable for occasional/family cyclists. To get to the loop from the main car park, cycle along the Forest Drive past the wooden fort and turn left after the play area onto a rough forest road. The trailhead can be found 150m ahead on the left-hand side.

Not official but a great way of linking in the best bits to make the most interesting ride we can, New Route "Three Sisters":

18 miles long (estimated time 2-3 hours)

This New route was first used for the Dirty Big Bike Ride and takes in a mix of Black and Red grade Trail, it takes you up almost all the best climbs in the forest and takes in both of the New sections completed in the last 6 months or so,"Section 13 and Transmission". start at the Hire Centre head for the black start and folow it untill you get to the grove, where you start the red climb just over the hump back bridge turn right as you ride over it and start the long clime to the top where you will find a car park ride through it, to the start of "Section 13" follow this testing trail to the forest access road turn left and follow the red route past the turning area at the end of the road folowing this along and over the burn to Blackling Hole and its car park, from there climb up the hill and follow the red route around the edge of the forest untill you come to the forest road again you would normally turn left here but don't turn right instead heading for 5 Lane Ends when you get there turn left and head into the heart of the forest towards the mast you will see the entry to "Transmission" about half a mile down this track, join this trail and at its end turn right and head for the Grove again from there  you can ride up to section 13 again but turn right at its end and back to the shop or just ride back to the shop along the road its about 18 miles it should take about two and a half hours for most.

Its my route and I hope you enjoy it.