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.