Visitor information
Opening hours
How to find us
Parking & prices
Facilities & access
Contact details

Opening hours

Open every day except Christmas Day.  The site opens at 8am every day and the closing times are as follows:

November to February - 5:00pm

March - 6:30pm

April - 8:00pm

May to August - 9:00pm

September - 7:30pm

October - 6:30pm

The Forest of Dean Cycle Centre is often quieter on weekdays (outside of school holidays),  or later in the afternoon/evening.

We are open every Thursday until 9pm for late night Thursdays with Pedalabikeaway.

How to find us

How to find us
B4234, Cannop Valley
Sat Nav Postcode: GL16 7EH
By Car

Take the B4226 Coleford-Cinderford road and at the crossroads with the B4234 turn north and follow the signs to the Cycle Centre.  

By Public Transport

From Coleford - number 30 bus (then 14 minute walk)

From Lydney - number 23 bus, change at Coleford to number 30 bus

From Cinderford - number 30 bus

OS Grid Ref
SO 607126

51.8094715, -2.5693405

Parking and prices

Pay for your parking with cash, debit/credit card or use the RingGo app. We recommend downloading the app to your phone before you visit.

You can also use RingGo by pre-booking online or calling 0203 046 0063 with location code 31013 (for cars) or 31014 (minibus or motorhome).

There is a small convenience charge for using this service.  See RingGo online for full terms and conditions and VAT receipts.

Forest of Dean members park for free. Buy your Membership now for £42 and simply display your pass in your vehicle without queuing for a ticket. Parking charges and memberships help us to look after the Forest of Dean for everyone.

 

Parking Charges

The money you pay for parking helps us to look after the forests. Read how
Cars/Vans/Motorbikes
Up to 2 hours £4.00
Up to 4 hours £6.00
All day £8.00
Minibuses/Motorhomes (not suitable for coaches)
Up to 2 hours £8.00
Up to 4 hours £10.00
All day £12.00

Additional information

Regular visitors can save money by becoming a Member - Find out more about our membership offer
Number of accessible parking spaces: 5
Card payments accepted
Disabled parking available
Pay by phone available

Facilities and access

When visiting Forest of Dean Cycle Centre please make sure you only ride on our waymarked cycle trails or on hard-stone forest roads. Please come fully prepared and be self-sufficient for your visit:

  • Make sure your bike is in full working order
  • Make sure you have a backpack which contains: First aid kit, water, snacks, spare inner tube, pump, small repair kit, map, fully charged mobile phone.
  • First Aid will not be available on site. Make sure you ride within your limits and WEAR YOUR HELMET.
  • Know your location at all times and have a mobile phone to raise help. If you do have an accident make your way back to your vehicle if you are able to. Only call 999 if it is essential.
  • Please respect other visitors - the forest is a popular place and you will probably come across walkers, runners or horse riders during your visit. Please be polite and be kind to each other.

Opening times for the cafe, bike hire and shop vary throughout the year, these are operated by Pedalabikeaway.

 

For more information on planning your visit, take a look at our accessibility guide:

Accessible toilet
Assistant dogs welcome
Baby changing facilities
Bike wash
Cafe
Cycle hire
Dogs allowed
Picnic area
Ranger's Office
Shop
Shower
Toilets

Contact details

Start your mountain bike adventure here

Forest of Dean Cycle Centre (formerly known as Cannop Cycle Centre) has something for cyclists of all ages and abilities. Try the Family Cycle Trail or test yourself on the singletrack trails and demanding downhill runs. We also have several skills areas for different abilities, plus a pump track - to help you hone your skills.

Bikes can be hired (or repaired) at Pedalabikeaway (booking advised). You can also enjoy the cafe and shop after your ride.  

Fly Up Downhill operate a bookable uplift service for the downhill runs.  

Whilst out on the trails, if you come across any maintenance issues please report them to: fodtrails@forestryengland.uk

Rider on cycling trail in the Forest of Dean

Current trail status

To make sure you have the best ride on our trails, we have a continuous schedule of trail maintenance and development. This means we sometimes have to close some of our trails. Before your visit, check which are open and which are closed.

Food and drink

Family sitting outside cafe

Pedalabikeaway Café

Serving freshly-prepared hot and cold food with locally sourced produce, pop in for a coffee and slice of home-made cake, delicious soup, or our famous loaded FOD burger.

Things to do

With a green graded Family Cycle Trail, blue and red graded cross-country trails and a number of more advanced downhill trails, the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre has something for everyone.

Brush up on your off-roading technique with our specially designed skills areas and pump track. Grab your helmet and head into the forest today!

Here are our top tips for a great day out on the trails:

make sure your bike is in full working order. bring a backpack with you for all your essentials: First aid kit, water, snacks, spare inner tube, pump, repair kit, map, fully charged mobile phone. always ride within your limits and WEAR YOUR HELMET. first Aid will not always be available on site. Know your location at all times and have a mobile phone to raise help. If you do have an accident make your way back to your vehicle if you are able to. Only call 999 if it is essential. please respect others using the forest - be aware of walkers and horse riders you may come across during your ride.

Whilst out on the trails, if you come across any maintenance issues please report them to: fodtrails@forestryengland.uk

British Cycling and Forestry England have teamed up to offer free, women-only group cycle rides for all abilities in the nation’s forests. Every group ride is led by a qualified Breeze into the Forest Champion who will organise everything and make sure everyone stays safe. Come along to ride, chat and of course enjoy some tea and cake from the onsite café afterwards.

Join your Breeze into the Forest Champion, on a cycle ride through the forest, taking in stunning scenery and wildlife. 

Bike hire is available from Pedalabikeaway at the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre with pre-booking. Please make them aware you will be riding with Breeze and the name of your Breeze Champion. Check their website for opening times and prices.

Look out for more rides by searching for the Forest of Dean on the Let's Ride website.

*All riders under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. If you are registering a person aged under 16 who is not your child, you must have the consent of the parent or guardian of the child in question.

Looking to hone your mountain bike skills? We have a number of experienced coaches who can you help you reach the next level of riding.

The Forest of Dean Cycle Centre is the perfect place to develop your riding technique, with trails and skills areas for all abilities. Whether you are an experienced rider, or if you've just bought your first bike, our approved providers can help you improve your skills, allowing you to ride with more confidence. 

They offer a variety of ways to learn, including 1-1 sessions, group courses, kids classes and women-only rides. They can help with everything from jumps, drops, berms, tech and flow.

Click on each coach to find out more about what they offer:

Dean Forest Cycles

Katy Curd Coaching

Pro Ride - Mountain Bike Coaching

Nearby forests

Cafe at Beechenhurst in the Forest of Dean

Beechenhurst lies in the heart of the Forest of Dean, one of Britain's oldest and largest woodlands.

It is the ideal place for families to start their forest adventure, with a family activity trail, Sculpture Trail, play area and Go Ape Tree Top Adventure. You can even bring your bikes and access the wider forest on our Family Cycle Trail. 

duck generic

The site was originally home to the Severn and Wye Railway, which was constructed to allow exploitation of the mineral resources of the Forest of Dean.

Lakeside view at Mallards Pike

There is something for everyone at this beautiful lakeside setting.

Adrenaline seekers can challenge themselves at Go Ape Tree Top Challenge. For those with energy left to burn there is Forest Segway or a range of running trails from 2km to 10km routes.

View from Symonds Yat Rock in spring

Discover the ancient hill fort, spot birds of prey and enjoy a snack from the log cabin cafe.

There are waymarked trails linking to the River Wye and over the famous Biblins Bridge, or a choice of circular walks into the forest itself. There is also a cycling trail linking Forest Holidays and Camping in the Forest site at Bracelands to Symonds Yat Rock.

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