HAMSTERLEY FOREST, COUNTY DURHAM

Situated out in the wilds of northern England, Hamsterley Forest feels like the last bastion of mountain biking before you breach Hadrian’s Wall. ‘Hammers’, as it’s known to those who ride there regularly, draws a crowd from far and wide – it’s- the only major trail centre in a 60-mile radius and the only uplift-accessed downhill spot between Wales and Scotland. Pull up in the car park and you’ll hear a range of accents, from Fred Dibnah to Geordie Shore. You’ll also see a whole array of bikes here, from featherweight hardtails off for a cross-country lap, to burly DH rigs smashing out bike park runs.