Hopton Wood

Visitor information

Start your cycling adventure at Hopton Wood!

Hopton Woods is the home of mountain biking in Shropshire. Come and test yourself out on the warm-up loop before heading into the wood on our harder trails.

All the trails at Hopton are largely unsurfaced, so the way they ride changes according to the weather and the season. Please ride within your ability (and that of your bike) and with appropriate safety gear. 

At a glance 

  • 3 cycling trails
  • Walking 
  • Picnic area 

Things to do

Mountain biking at Hopton Wood

Hopton Wood has a range of trails for you to enjoy.

 

Warm-up loop (Grade: Blue/Moderate)

Warm up for your ride on a short loop of berms, flat corners and mellow climbs.

Distance: 1.1km (0.7 miles)

 

Qualifier (Grade: Difficult/Red) 

Extend your warm up with a taste of some of the technical features you’ll find on the Pearce XC.

Distance: 0.7 km (0.4 miles) 

 

Pearce XC (Grade: Difficult/Red) 

Classic singletrack riding with a mix of switchback climbs, flowy descents and technical downhills. This long circular route takes you across the forest, with views of the Shropshire countryside. Sections of this trail are  shared use, so keep an eye  out for walkers, dogs and horses.

Distance: 12.6 km (7.9 miles) 

 

Hopton Downhills (Grade: Severe/Black) 

Downhill 1: Rooty corners into a flat out section, littered with stumps then steep, technical terrain. The route splits in two and rejoins further down. Downhill 2: A flowy descent into a section of tabletops and doubles, some  steep corners and root drops.  The route splits with two endings. 

Downhill 3: A route with lots of rough corners with rock drops and doubles, leading into a flat out descent. 

Distance: Between 1 km - 1.4 km (0.6 - 0.85 miles)

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Picnics at Hopton Wood

Enjoy a tasty treat in the forest at Hopton Wood. Just bring along good food and company!

There are two picnic tables in the Hopton Wood car park.

To prevent forest fires and reduce waste, please do not bring any barbecues into our forests.

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Walking at Hopton Wood

Walking in the woodland is the perfect way to get some fresh air and explore some of the area's most beautiful landscapes. There is a good forest road network and public rights of way for you to enjoy the woodland on foot. An OS map is advisable to find your way around.

For your safety please don't walk on the bike trails.

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Maps

Compass on a map

Cycling trails map

Use our trails map to help plan your visit.
Download map here

Nearby forests

Bury Ditches summit plaque

Bury Ditches

Dating from about 500BC, Bury Ditches is home to one of the best-preserved hill forts in the country! Located near the town of Clun in the Shropshire Hills Area of Natural Beauty, Bury Ditches isn't short of stunning views, ancient history and blood-pumping walks. 

The climb up to the hill fort is steep but the views are worth it!

Visitors looking for a level walk can follow the forest road from the car park, past the barrier to a bench and a view.

 

 

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Kinsley Wood view over Knighton

Kinsley Wood

The trees you see here (mostly Larch and Douglas Fir) were planted in the 1950s when the need for home-grown timber was high after WWII. You can now enjoy the woodland by following the forest road on a circular stroll or having a picnic at the benches overlooking Knighton. Picnic tables can be found at the viewpoint. 

The wood is full of folklore and stories, so pick up a leaflet at the Offa's Dyke Visitor Centre on West Street in Knighton for more information.

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Man walking through grassy woods

Mortimer Forest

Come and escape in Mortimer Forest! Straddling the Shropshire and Herefordshire border this thousand hectare forest is a perfect place for some breathing space.

Although originally made up of ancient royal chases and deer parks, the forest we see today was largely planted by the Forestry Commission in the 1920s. It was named after the Mortimer Family, Norman Lords who held power over the region for some 300 years.

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Large tree growing in a field on a hill with blue sky

Wapley Hill Wood

Come and walk and enjoy the beech trees, discover the hillfort and have a tasty picnic at Wapley Hill Wood. 

You are welcome to walk anywhere in this woodland but we ask horse riders and cyclists to keep to the surfaced tracks to prevent the smaller paths becoming impassable for those on foot.

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