Forest of Dean Downhill: Uplift Days, the Tracks and the Push-Up

The downhill tracks at the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre are where I'd send anyone who already rides downhill or enduro and wants a day of laps. There are 14 short, fast tracks spread across the hillside at Cannop. You get back to the top one of three ways: FlyUp's uplift minibus, the push-up track, or an e-bike up that same push-up track. Here's how each one works, which tracks I'd ride, and what to bring.

How does the Forest of Dean uplift work?

The uplift is run by FlyUp, not Forestry England. FlyUp's minibus takes you and your bike from the Cycle Centre to the top of the trails. Forestry England says booking is essential and asks you to contact FlyUp direct for all uplift enquiries. FoDMTB says FlyUp is the only official uplift at Cannop.

FlyUp's website gives the uplift hours as roughly 10am to 4pm, with a lunch break, and says it may finish slightly earlier in the winter months because of the light. FoDMTB says it usually runs Friday to Monday. Days and hours change, so check FlyUp before you plan a trip around them (checked September 2026).

The uplift itself is relatively quick.

How much is the uplift, and how do you book it?

Prices change, so I'm not going to quote one here. FlyUp keeps its current prices and running days inside its booking system. Book there and you'll see exactly what it costs on the day you want. FoDMTB says it's worth booking ahead, especially at weekends.

Parking is on top of the uplift. At the Cycle Centre it's £6 for up to 2 hours, £8 for up to 4 hours and £10 all day, or £3.50 if you arrive after 5pm between March and October (Forestry England, checked September 2026). With the uplift running from about 10am to 4pm, you'll want the all-day ticket. The car park can fill on a sunny weekend, and if it's full, Forestry England asks you to park at Beechenhurst or Cannop Ponds instead.

Which Forest of Dean downhill tracks should you ride?

Forestry England grades the 14 tracks from blue to double black. These are the ones to know:

Track	Grade	What it's like
Countdown or Launchpad	Blue	Where to start if you're stepping up from the Verderers trail. FoDMTB's advice: don't jump straight to a black.
Twisted Sister	Red	My pick if you fancy something easier than the blacks.
Ski Run	Double black	The classic. For me, it and GBU are the best on the hill.
GBU	Double black	Up there with Ski Run.

Ski Run, GBU and Twisted Sister all run pretty fast, they're well maintained, and they're great for intermediate or advanced riders. If you're coming from the blue trail centre loops rather than from downhill, read my beginners' guide first and build up through the blues.

Forestry England sometimes closes trails for maintenance, so check which are open before you go. I can't promise any one track will be running on your day.

How does it compare with BikePark Wales?

Honestly, the Cycle Centre downhill tracks are graded fairly easy by bike-park standards. If you're an experienced downhill rider who rides BikePark Wales, Morzine or the other big spots, you'll find them pretty easy. They're still really fun.

What the Forest has is laps. The tracks are short and fast with about 110 m of drop, and getting back up is quick on the uplift or an e-bike. Come for a day of runs rather than for the biggest lines of your life.

Uplift, push-up or e-bike: getting back to the top

The push-up track. Forestry England says you reach the trails by following the push-up track to the top of the hill, or by the uplift. FoDMTB says the push-up takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and plenty of riders happily push or pedal up all day. Never push up the downhill tracks themselves. It isn't safe for you or for anyone riding down.

The uplift. Book it, sit down, ride. It's the one to pick if you want to save your legs for the descents.

The e-bike self-shuttle. More and more riders do this. FoDMTB says plenty of people ride e-bikes on the downhill runs and pedal back up rather than pushing or paying for the uplift, and if you're pedalling up, you use the push-up track, same as everyone else. It's genuinely quick. I've timed it: in turbo on a modern e-bike, it's about 45 seconds to the first stage and about another minute to the top.

If you want someone to session the tracks with, Plus1, the free app I built, shows who's out riding right now (roughly, never a pin) and rides nearby you can tap to join. It's new, so it works best when riders bring their mates.

Kit and the rules on the hill

Forestry England highly recommends full-face helmets and body armour on the downhill trails. With grades running up to double black, take that advice seriously.

Stick to the official tracks and the push-up track. Across the Forest, Forestry England asks riders to use stone-surfaced forest roads, formal waymarked trails and bridleways, and says creating your own trails or features is illegal.

Who builds the Forest of Dean downhill trails?

FoDMTB says the Dean Trail Volunteers developed and maintain many of the downhill trails. If you ride here a lot, a dig is a good way to give something back.

Digs are pre-booked only. Dean Trail Volunteers says it can't accept anyone who just rocks up on the day. You must be 18 or older to take part on your own. Younger volunteers need a supervising adult and there's a minimum age, so check the details on their page before you book. My guide to Forest of Dean group rides covers digs and other ways to meet riders.

Beyond the downhill tracks

Once you've done the tracks, there's more nearby. Elephant Man is one of the black tracks, and locals call that corner of the hill Enduro Hill. Off it there are six or seven natural, unwaymarked spots the locals ride. I won't give you directions: we don't have direct pins for obvious reasons. You'll have to find them.

Watch the weather if you head out into the natural stuff. The Cycle Centre always runs pretty well in the wet, because its stone and man-made trails give grip. Out in the woods it depends on the ground. Mallards Pike always runs well in the wet, as it's loam cut down to the stone, though heavy rain ruts it up pretty badly. Avoid Staunton in the wet: it's clay-based, it turns to ice, and it's lethal.

For the rest of the Forest, see the best trails in the Forest of Dean and the full Forest of Dean guide.