Best off-road cycle tracks for day trips in England?

[Spinstar]

Hi - we (mum and teens) are planning to start doing some cycling with hybrid/mountain bikes and want only off-road routes - just for leisure. None of us is v fit and circular routes would be ideal. Hoping to find less populated areas so we can wildlife-spot on the way.

Open to visit anywhere in England or possibly Wales. Can anyone recommend some good treks - of around 2 to 6 hours max?

Thanx

Have a look at the National trust - they often have cycle tracks in the ground of their houses.

We go to Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire for example, which is lovely to cycle around - woodland, lake etc.

Many of the Forestry commission sites have bike trails - we go to the Forest of Dean a lot, and have also been to Cannock Chase and Alice Holt.

Theres also places like Ashton Court in Bristol.

Also look at off road cycle paths where they aren't circular, but theres something at each end - Bath to Bristol, Taff Trail etc.

For the off road cycle paths, check out the Sustrans website

Hi, we recently did the Elan Valley trail near Rhayader in mid-Wales. I can't really imagine a nicer trail. We did a bit on the roads to make a loop out of it (quite a big hill, too) but you can just ride out and back from the visitors centre. There's some details here: walkswithbaby.com/elan-valley/
Enjoy!

How about North Cornwall? You have the Camel Trail, all the way from Bodmin to Padstow on the coast, and the Granite Way back over the Tamar near Okehampton - both on old railway lines. There are also purpose built cycle tracks at Lanhydrock, with varying degrees of difficulty, and good mountain biking at Cardinham.

The forest of dean is great - www.wyedeantourism.co.uk/g_cycling