Boasting lots of trails
The Cranham area south of Cheltenham offers a number of different mountain bike trails. From flowing single track through to gnarly downhill trails. This ride takes in the trails around Birdlip, Cranham and Buckholt wood, Race track, the Wall, Teachers and more.
The area is sensitive so ride with care, the land owner gives permission only to ride marked trails. this applies especially to the trails south of Buckholt road to Cranham.
Popes wood
Popes wood has a number of trails all starting from the same point all drop down to the fire road.
Collarbone
350m long 50m of descent
Elite Stump run
470m long 50m of descent
Full stump
480m long 60m of descent
Janet
330m long 25m of descent
Sweaty Debs Mainline
300m long 35m of descent
Take That
100m long 20m of descent
The Parcel Shelf
320m long 40m of descent
Buckholt wood
Buckholt woods stretches from Birdlip to Cranham, with the trails split into three sections, Birdlip end, Cranham and Upton wood.
Birdlip End
2 Drops to Brown POW
280m long 40m of descent
21 Stiches
640m long 65m of descent
Brokeback Mountain
470m long 90m of descent
Racetrack
Upton Woods
Upton woods has three trails dropping down from the top, the wall drops down to Buckholt road, whereas Sabotage and Boyzone drop down to the A46 at the same point.
Boyzone
200m long 65m of descent
1470m long 50m of descent
Sabotage (Bum Run)
300m long 50m of descent
The Wall
600m long 55m of descent
Cranham
The Cranham area is south of Buckholt road and has two lines, Mainline which traverses the woods to link the Birdlip and Upton woods ends of Cranham. Teachers is one of the longest trails in the area. The trail starts with a series of steep single track switchbacks, the final is along the river at the valley floor, which in the summer is pretty.
Mainline
1260m long 20m of descent
Teachers
920m long 75m of descent
Walkers
Walkers is a small woodland south of Painswick beacon that contains a couple of single tracks running through the woods.
Walkers 2
410m long 30m of descent
Walkers 3
570m long 30m of descent
Cranham Mountain Bike Route
| Distance | 16km |
| Time | 1.5-2.5hrs |
| Climbing | 380m |
| Starting location | Shab hill |
| Pubs, cafes | Royal George |
| Parking | Shab hill view point |
| Route | View route on Strava Download GPX |
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