Lickey Hills, Barnt Green

...I started writing this entry towards the end of summer. Having started, I realised that I had no photographs (other than this one, immediately below) to document it. Nevertheless, as I typed, I further realised it mattered not. With flora and fauna being so similar throughout middle England, most locations, especially those of classic typology - that is a mix of open pasture, broadleaf and pine wooded hillsides and the odd pocket of common land, looks incredibly similar to each other.  For this blog, I am using photographs from other locations to reinforcing this point... ...maybe one day I'll update and introduce more authentic images.
 

Lickey Hills (country park):

Distance: 13 - 18km
Elevation: 250-350m
Time: 1 - 2 hrs
Grade: Blue/Red
Rating: 3/5

What makes a mountain bike ride a classic? Benji Haworth states, in Singletrack magazine issue 80, that one would reasonably expect big hills, big views and big terrain to be a ‘classic ride’. He offers locations such as the Quantocks, Torridon, Helvellyn; Snowdon or the Long Mynd, Jacobs Ladder or Swaledale as examples that fit this billing.

I don’t disagree with this view. Well, I do a little. You see, to me a classic ride should be more specific than simply saying ‘Snowdon’. There are many routes up and down that there mountain but I would not necessarily regard them all classic. To be so, the route should be fairly synonymous with the location. The Gap, in the Brecon Beacons, is a good example. A single, 20 mile loop that…


Regards Snowdon, one could make a case for the route up from LLanberis and down via the Rangers Path as a classic route. Again, synonymous with the location and well regarded. One on many a bucket list, as Mr Haworth claimed.

The Gap - Brecon Beacon's - The Lickey's are not like this!

Where routes like The Gap (Brecon Beacons) or Sticks Pass (Helvellyn) are the Premier League of Classic routes so too are there the lower divisions. Those rides that encompass the bread and butter of us championship players. Like any conference team, we all strive to play against the big boys once in a while but, of a Saturday (or Sunday) all too often, we have to make to with our local trails.
 

My Local ride - still bears a resemblance for parts of the Lickey's

Snowshill - ridden in a particular direction, even a local loop
can be regarded as a classic route.

More often than not its a case of following our noses; trying a bit of this and a bit of that. Knitting together some semblance of a ride out of the many stray pieces of string we know of as trail. And yet, all too often we find ourselves riding the same pieces in the same direction. Not out of habit but because that's the right way.

Over time, this knowledge is passed on to riding partners, who pass it on further and so on. Eventually, a particular route becomes a classic. 15 years ago, a (riding) friend of mine passed on some of this knowledge for a trail over Snowshill, near Broadway, Worcestershire. I have ridden it on and off every year since but have only ever tried it the other way round once. It simply doesn’t work. To me, this route is now a classic as it is a set path.

I was lucky enough to get over to the Lickey Hills a few months ago complete with local guide. I was shown around by a new colleague at work, who ensured I got to see and try many of the good bits. From my experience, I would agree with anyone claiming this spot is typical of mountain biking in the midlands. It is “quintessential local riding”1 with lots of small but juicy bits of singletrack weaving in and out of the woods on loamy dirt that’s simply too fun to ride sensibly. A classic trail, however, it is not.

In his article ‘Classic Rides’ for issue 80 of Singletrack Magazine, the author Mr Haworth makes The Lickey’s the subject. However, the article confuses the notion of a location offering ‘classic’ riding, I.e. familiar or stereotypical, classic even, for the wider area and there being a classic ride (or route). In the article, he is referring to “commuter belt” as the ‘wider area’.


In some respects, his analysis makes sense. The trail features here are stereotypical for central England commuter belt; combining broadleaf and Fir woodland with small patches of heathland, Common and old quarries sites in a geographical and ecological, metaphorical mixer creating landscapes with familiar character traits unique to the midlands.

Broadleaf - The Lickey's look similar to this

Not blessed with many proper hills, locations such as this (other examples include Cannock Chase and the Forest of Dean) often use the elevation on offer to great effect; criss-crossing the rolling hillsides in many directions with numerous climbs and descents on offer. A pick ’n’ mix of trail sweeties. There are so many combinations that it would be impossible to ever determine a ‘right way’ to ride it all. It’s a case of ride what you fancy on any given day.

Forest of Dean - The Lickey's look a bit like this

That said, there were a few sections that I was exposed to on my visit that I would definitely want to include next time. Hang on a minute, maybe I’m on to something here…I don’t know, maybe I’m being facetious. Either way, Lickey’s was a great place to ride. Not on a par with The Gap, if I’m being honest, but scratching the itch nonetheless.

The Lickey’s have been designated a Country Park and, at over 524 acres, has plenty to offer. There is a National Trust car park near the top of the hill complete with visitors centre offering light snacks. One could, however, just as easily park in the nearby town of Barnt Green, as we did, and start there. It has a greater array of shops for post ride snacks whilst offering great access to the Lickey’s.

From Barnt Green, located to the southern end of the Lickey’s, we headed north to Cofton Hackett where we entered the country park, passing between the forestry commission gates, before immediately heading up over Bilberry Hill following some well disguised singletrack. So well disguised, we got lost. Following some brief fumbling about, we were soon on our way and, via a quick descent, we headed over towards Monument Lane.

The Lickey's look quite a bit like this

The Lickey's also look quite a bit like this.

From here, there are several downhill segments that could keep many a gravity warrior entertained for a short while. We had a few goes before carrying on; making our way down rose hill road, turning right to ascend up to the visitor centre car park before trying out a further two descents through Pinfield Wood - finishing up back at the Cofton Hackett gates we passed earlier.

The route we sampled was short but sweet, finishing off with some bridleway bashing past Hopwood reservoir. I had an enjoyable time and am already planning to return for a second bite. The Lickey’s delivered some classic, stereotypically middle English riding; my usual dinner but with different sauce.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1782564065 - here's a link to the route.

A hill through four seasons - Autumn

Bredon Hill - Autumn:

Meteorological and Gregorian Autumn rarely start at the same time. Nor does any seasonal transition for that matter. Anyway, the first few rows on the calendar, that denote the start of Autumn, can often overlap with summer’s last few days. September can often be one of the more pleasant months of the year. With it, bringing settled weather more often than not and slightly more bearable temperatures to that of June through August.


My local trails tend to bear this equilibrium in perfect riding conditions. Although generally still warm (not hot), the slightly cooler temperatures of September combined with a small amount of precipitation is enough to soften the edges of the concrete solid clay soils of the Cotswolds to form our take on Hero Dirt. This was particularly poignant after the summer we’ve just had, where the trails actually became so dry they passed concrete hard to become sand. With a sprinkling of rain, the trails are better for it; taking the edge of the dust bowl and bringing it all back together.  It’s a bit like short pastry. Not sticky. Not hard. Just perfect. As such, they provide remarkable levels of grip; grin inducing.

On Bredon Hill, this is no more pleasing than when traversing some of the more earthy sections, particularly the trails on the northern side, for example the two main descents down in to Elmley Castle - known locally as Doctor’s Wood and Two Bridges - and also the top section of the main Bredon side descent - Bredon Hill DH - all of which become proper rail-able.

Whilst it may be great riding down them during the summer - and it is simply a pleasure to get from top to bottom without being caked in cow shit for a few months - September is where they get really good.

Unfortunately, it does not last. Before long, that equilibrium is thrown out of balance as the scales tip back and the consistency of the trails become more like a bread dough. What was summer becomes, officially, Autumn. As well as the earthy trails becoming soft as s**t, there are a number of grassy sections off the top of the hill, which become sloppy after the Indian Summer has passed its best.

Down in to Ashton-Under-Hill is a particular route of note. Its topography is, well, straight down but the top starts off very green and, in the more moist conditions of mid-Autumn, it becomes something more akin to slick rock. A dab on the brakes can have you sliding the rest of way down on your arse.  Clearly, then, the trick is to leave off the brakes; the problem is it shoots you in to a technical, rocky chute and modulation of speed on entry to this is a particularly necessary requisite. The dilemma is cute slide on my arse or risk a flat. The jeopardy of the latter is generally more rewarding - assuming you don’t flat, of course.



Despite the long streak of crap up my back (a typical marker of a damp ride), I actually quite like the season. As much as I love summer, by mid September I am actually starting to look forward to riding in the mud and leaf litter. I get a strange, masochistic enjoyment from being out in the mild, even cold and damp conditions of autumn. By October, I’m actually ready to get out there and get filthy.

Autumn isn’t really about riding fast, or slow for that matter. Or worrying about whether one will come home looking like a mud pie. It’s more about the experience. The colour explosion of the early days of Autumn is something genuinely beautiful - and the mud pack will help with the complexion. The Red, Orange, Yellow and Brown tones become ever more vibrant over the early weeks as the trees react angrily to the weakening strength in the suns light and warmth. Whilst it still has some warmth, it provides a pleasant reminder of the summer past and a gentle introduction/preparation of that, which is yet to come.

This is a very short but intense period in the year and provides some great riding conditions but we are, obviously, heading inexorably towards another winter and, before long, the wet stuff will set in and that’s it for the year. It is interesting hearing the metaphor “its all downhill from here” used to described the turn towards winter. Unlike Spring, where, like the namesake, the seasons appears to ‘spring’ out from behind the cloak of winter over the course of a single day, winter is more like a black hole, slowly pulling you in to its depths with a purposeful power much like gravity. The gradual deterioration from summer to winter is seamless; to the point where you almost forget what summer felt like. Those warm, pleasant days of late September (even early October on some occasions; even November going back one year, I can recall) give way to the chill and onset of winter.

For the most part, the north side trails mentioned earlier - down in to Elmley Castle and some of the wooded sections at the top of the hill become treacherous and boggy to the point that they become un-rideable - or not worth riding at anyroot. From mid October/early November, these trails are simply not not worth the hassle. Plus, in a philanthropic sort of gesture, to maintain their integrity, it is worth avoiding so as not to damage them.

Late Autumn can be pleasant, with early morning frosts giving way to midday pleasantness. Clear blue days are still an enjoyable experience but the whole freezing and thawing thing manages to produce some kind of cake mix that is virtually un-rideable, particularly in the Cotswolds. Claggy, heavy, clay rich soils; they stick to your tyres and don’t let go. Within ten yards, I can be carrying more weight in mud than my bike actually weighs (and its no lean machine). Route choice becomes an ever increasingly painful affair with badly judged decisions having quite severe consequences on enjoyment and energy. There are times when I would advise simply avoiding the hill all together.

I know i mentioned looking forward to it but… Bredon Hill; there are times in the year, i’ll be honest, when it is simply not worth it. Unfortunately, these conditions are not confined to Bredon Hill either, the Cotswolds is synonymous for being very sticky when wet.  As such, it can become quite a chore riding locally at this time of year and the next few months. The time has come to search further afield. Time to get off down the trail centres as these are, at least, fairly reliable. Cwm Carn, I hear you calling!

A Hill through four seasons: Summer

Bredon Hill -

Some trails change very little throughout the year. Yes, the colour of the leaves may change (or not) effecting how we experience the landscape but the trail itself is can remain fairly consistent. The Twrch trail at Cwm Carn is a good example of this. The rocky terrain makes it consistent in both wet and dry conditions and the banks of, evergreen, pine forests mean the seasons have limited impact on the colour palette.

My local trails, by contrast, change with every season. With it they bring fresh challenges and enjoyments (or horror stories). It keeps things interesting and prevents monotony. The Hill? My local, Bredon Hill; located in the southwest of Worcestershire, near to the Gloucestershire border with Teweksbury to the west and Evesham to the east.  Geographically, it is part of the Cotswolds and does lie within the Cotswold AONB but it sits in isolation from the main Cotswold escarpment, accommodating only a small area in the Vale of Evesham. It is quite a punchy hill, with a spot height of 299m. As such, the climbs are steep (in places) and the descents are sweet (in places).



Bredon Hill is a well serviced hill, with a decent network of Bridleways providing plenty of route configurations. It also means there’s often something to ride in all seasons. It does not cover a particularly wide area and yet it contains a wide array of trail types from wide rocky outcrops on the southern side and more earthy trails on its northern escarpment. In between, the trails tend to be grassy and open. There’s not a whole lot of woodland but, where the trails do head under canopy, they tend to be root infested.

So, everything one needs to hone bike handling skills and something rideable all year, come snow, rain, wind or shine.

During Summer, all trails are open. Quite often one has to wait until May or even June until some of the north side trails are genuinely plausible as routes. With several streams crossing the Bridleways, sections where the topography levels off tend to get quite boggy. In fact, it all gets quite boggy so, I just keep away. Plus, gates tend to be closed during spring anyway to keep in the herds of Sheep and Cattle.

With the arrival of summer, however, the livestock tend to be moved to other pasture and the gates are opened. They remain so for much of the summer and in to Autumn. Top to bottom runs become practicable and the hill far more fun to ride down as a result. The North side is quite open, offering plenty of visibility and, as such, an opportunity to avoid (or engage in, if you’re so inclined) conflict with other trail users (I.e. time to slow down).
 
One place the livestock do get moved to is the common area up at the hill, surrounding the  tower otherwise known as Parson's Folly and the adjacent Bambury Stone. One of the advantages of such a potent hill is that the top tends to be narrow and, thus, views panoramic. I’ve wasted many an afternoon sat up here against the base of the tower watching the planes go by and mint sauce munch on the grass; looking out towards the Malvern Hill’s about 10 miles due west with the Brecon Beacons and Black mountains in greyscale beyond. It is a great view and one I never tire of. It brings to mind the many versions of the 'This Is Why' sketch in MBUK’s long running comic strip, Mint Sauce.

After a quick break, I often take the fantastic descent down in to Westmancote. Being on the Bredon (southwest) side, other than the wooded section near the top (which does deteriorate in to winter), this descent rides well all year and offers really fast, rocky and, in places, technical riding. From here, there follows a really pleasant section of trail to climb back up. 

The stony trail, cut deep in to the bedrock, passes through a wildflower meadow that really comes alive in spring and flowers all through the summer.

Thick with Poppy (red), Scabious (purple), Foxgloves and Cow Parsley lining the steep sides of the track, all set against the beautiful mellow ochre colour of the dry stone walls glowing golden in the intense sunlight, this section of trail comes alive both visually and literally. The vibrant colours of the flowers the cinematic film reel set to a soundtrack of nature remixed with the mechanical buzz of my rear hub freewheel. With bees working tirelessly collecting their payloads and the swallows finally arriving from their African adventures, the noise can be intense, whilst altogether calming and serene. It’s hard not to take a break here too quite frankly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baked Hard:

After the year we have had, resting became rather more poignant. Thankfully, there are plenty of places that provide the perfect place for a li'l ol' rest.

Sun and heat is a rare treat for Britain and, like bees at a honey pot, I was out buzzing around on my local trails much like everyone else as soon as the sun came out. Shades on, legs out.

However, 8 straight weeks of it (or however long it was) came as quite a surprise. It was not expected and actually quite wearisome in itself.

That basic instinct within all mountain bikers to get out there while its sunny and warm became a strange catch 22 as the summer wore on. The need to rest became increasingly necessary but, well, you know, it’s sunny. I’ve gotta go ride my bike in case its raining tomorrow; I’ll rest then. But it didn’t rain, for about 10 weeks.

Fields near my house started spontaneously combusting they were so dry. The trees started dropping their leaves through lack of water and our parks, fields and pastures resembled the Maasai Mara in dry season.

My local trails went through a strange evolution of initially drying out hard as concrete before blowing out to the point it felt like riding through a sand pit. Bredon Hill started to look like a big yellow dusty globe.

It sounds perverse to say this but, thankfully, there came some rain. Not much, we were spared the kind of rain that would have seen Noah running for his wood shop but it did help to pull the trails back in to check and put some green back on the trees.


The summer we've had wasn't exceptional to The Vale of Evesham;

A propensity to grey weather tends to enshrine the entire British Isles. I'm sure you've all seen it at some point or another; like yesterday, for example. Bredon Hill is only really fully open for business between the hours of Mid May to Mid September.

With strength in the sun, the ground conditions remain mitigated from the 'odd' sprinkling of rain. The south side remains fairly accessible all year round, being more rocky an all, but the north is generally more soft round the edges. More muddy and, once that strength wains, it can become a slog. Two Bridges descent and the climb from Elmley Castle both become quite laborious from Late September through to May, typically.

Riding in the summer is great, while it lasts. You can ride with profligacy, safe in the knowledge that the trails will still be open tomorrow. But, as we reach later in to season that feeling that it might be the last becomes all encompassing. I can often end up riding the same few routes repeatedly, concerned that it might be the last of the year.