Cycling in Swinley Forest

Once my cards and pressies are opened, and breakfast in bed is polished off, I like to spend at least part of Mother's Day doing something active with my kids and hubby. As the weather is usually getting slightly less awful by this time of year (but only just!) I like to get outdoors and try something a bit out of our comfort zone. Last year it was a spot of horse riding, and this year I decided on some two-wheeled whole family fun in Swinley Forest, Swinley is part of the Windsor Estate between Bracknell and Bagshot, and not too far from me at all. Since we couldn't get all our bikes on our car, and our six-year-old isn't really that keen on cycling long distances on her hand-me-down bike, my other half was able to use the opportunity to work on his run training - and thereby act as backup for slower riders, anyone that falls by the wayside and on-the-spot bike mechanic (well he is signed up for the Henley Highwayman and the Wargrave Sprint Tri, so we're doing him a favour)!

Swinley Forest is owned and managed by The Crown Estate, and offers 1000 hectares of mainly Scots Pine woodland - which you can explore on foot, by bike or even on horseback! It's perennially popular for mountain biking, leisure cycling, running and running events, walking the dog and den building with the kids. It's always busy - but large enough for it not to feel full. There's also a playground, a 'Discovery Centre', a bike hub (for hire, guided tours, clothing etc), a Go Ape 'tree top adventure', pay-and-display parking and - perhaps most importantly if you are cold and tired because mummy made you cycle 7k - a cafe.  

You can actually follow three set cycle trails in line with the International Mountain Bike Association industry standards. These green, blue and red cycle routes all begin from The Look Out Discovery Centre and provide a range of challenges for families cycling for fun to highly skilled riders (and even those into jumps!). We just 'freelanced' however (which means I just set off randomly choosing paths that looked good, and everyone else had to indulge me). We had a good hour zooming up and down a variety of trails, from lovely smooth straight paths to muddy and bumpy tracks, with varying degrees of incline. By the end of our ride/run we were all bright-eyed and busy tailed - although the kids were ready to stop and my toes had got pretty cold too! But of course we finished in the cafe, where the girls happily refuelled with some hot chocolate and muffins, and the grown ups recovered with hot drinks!

How did you spend your Mother's Day? Would you be tempted to brave the March elements for some outdoor fun - or do you enjoy cosy-ing up at home for a well-deserved rest? Let me know in the comment box below!

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