Cycling & bike hire at Thorpe Forest, Norfolk

Make sure you pre-book your cycle hire so that you can pick up your cycle on your first morning and head off straight from your cabin. Most of the trails close by are ideal for cycling. These vary from a gentle 1.4km, for a tootle round with very young children, up to 25km, for an enjoyable afternoon, perhaps with a picnic or a pub lunch to break it up.

Enjoyable woodland trails

In Thetford Forest

In nearby Thetford Forest, there are plenty of great trails. The Green Shepherd Trail is perfect for families and even for teaching your children to cycle. A safe, off-road trail with plenty of room to learn, it’s 8km of mostly good surfaces.

National Cycle Routes

Countryside and coast

The National Cycle Network (sustrans) Route 13 runs through Thetford, close to our cabins at Thorpe Forest. Here you can cycle 60km on-road through Watton and East Dereham to Gateley, where it meets National Route 1 to Fakenham. Or, if you are prepared to load your cycles up, it is worth the drive to the Norfolk coast, where routes 1 and 30 take you the entire length from Kings Lynn to Great Yarmouth. This designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is the perfect place to blow away the cobwebs and enjoy an exhilarating cycle ride.

Downhill trails and mountain biking

Thrilling trails in Thetford Forest

The 18km Red Beater Trail combines gentle, open routes with fast-flowing single-track sections. It is a reasonably challenging ride through beech woods and pine plantations, well suited to experienced mountain bikers. The red Lime Burner Trail is for thrill-seekers with crests and dips, bomb holes and single-track. Near the end 'The Beast' takes you on a roller coaster of a ride. Hardest of all, the Black 'Mountain Bike Pits', at various locations throughout the forest are a technical challenge for the most confident of mountain bikers.

Longer cycle routes

Explore the Norfolk countryside

Peddars Way is part of the National Trail, following the route of a Roman road from Knettishall Heath in Suffolk to Holme-next-the-Sea on the north Norfolk coast. It’s a most enjoyable 74km cycle through the unique Breckland landscape. There are 4 stretches that are not suitable for cyclists but these all have signposted diversions -to make your journey that little bit longer! If you would prefer a circular route, pick this one up at Thetford and cycle the 88km along country lanes and through the forest. Stop for lunch at one of the pretty villages en route.