The blue graded Verderers Trail and the advanced skills area at Cannop Cycle Centre have both reopened following extensive maintenance work.

Cannop Cycle Centre and the trail network are managed by Forestry England who have invested in the region of £80,000 to carry out these improvements, which have included the complete rebuild of both the final descent of the Verderers Trail and the advanced skills area. The work was completed by Back on Track with additional support from the Dean Trail Volunteers.

Forestry England has supported off-road cycling for many years through its formal trail network. Cannop Cycle Centre is the hub of cycling in the Forest of Dean and provides a range of progressive trails in the Sallowvallets area.

The renowned Verderers Trail was enjoyed by around 65,000 riders in 2019 and with the growing popularity of mountain biking, this figure is predicted to rise. It is hoped that these upgrades will help future-proof the trails and ensure they can continue to be enjoyed for years to come.

Kate Thoday, Cycle Ranger for Forestry England in the Forest of Dean said: “We are really pleased to be able to re-open these trails and see riders enjoy the results of many months of hard work. We are fortunate that we have been able to carry out this maintenance despite the challenges we have all faced this year.

“These upgrades will boost our already impressive cycling offer here in the Forest of Dean. We have seen record numbers of visitors to Cannop Cycle Centre this summer and it is great to see so many people enjoying the trails and discovering what the forest has to offer.”

Care should be taken when riding the new sections for the first time. The trails have been completely re-shaped and so will be unfamiliar even to regular visitors. If you are planning on visiting the trails, please ride within your limits, wear a helmet and follow the government’s guidelines on social distancing.