Looking for the best XC trails in the UK this summer? Saddle up with the Sonder Dial or Falco and hit our top picks for speed, flow and all-day fun.
There’s nothing quite like a summer day spent hammering dusty singletrack in the UK. From forest loops to rocky ridgelines, the country’s packed with XC trails just waiting for your tyres to bite in. This isn’t about sessioning jump lines—this is about putting in the miles, earning your views, and stopping only when the flapjack runs dry.
Here’s our condensed guide to some of the UK’s best XC mountain biking destinations this summer. They are the perfect match for a Sonder Dial or Sonder Falco mtb hardtail.
Find out why these are our trail centre rides of choice plus a kit list that’ll keep you rolling from sunrise to sunset.
Our top UK XC MTB Trail Centres
Glentress, Scottish Borders
Located just outside Peebles in the Tweed Valley, Glentress MTB trails are the beating heart of Scottish XC riding. The red route is legendary, flowy berms, punchy climbs, and epic forest scenery. Want more grit? Tackle the black for rock drops and boardwalk. Tweed not obligatory but you would look very dapper.
Where to hire a bike: Alpkit Edinburgh – only about an hour away. Perfect for hiring your Sonder, topping up on spares or treating yourself to a new lid.
Forest of Dean
Tucked up in the heart of Gloucestershire’s ancient woodlands, the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre at Cannop is a proper playground for XC riders. With a mix of green, blue and red cross-country loops plus pump tracks and skills zones, it’s one of the most inclusive trail centres in the UK.
Forest of Dean XC trails:
- Verderers Trail (blue/red) – Flowing, bermed and technical in places. Blue grade with red alternatives and a standout finish with a steep descent known as the Dragon’s Tail.
- Freeminers Trail (red) – A solid 7-mile challenge packed with switchback climbs, rooty drops, hairpin turns and punchy singletrack. Technical and worthy of an experienced rider.
- Old Bob’s (green) – A 1.2 mile green trail ideal for beginners, adaptive cycles and tag-a-longs.
Where to hire a bike: Alpkit Bristol – about an hour away, and worth the detour to pick up a hire bike or trail-ready kit. Plenty of coffee options nearby.
Coed y Brenin, Snowdonia
Wales’ original trail centre still delivers the goods. Expect roots, rock gardens and long flowing descents. The ‘Dragons Back’ and ‘Tarw Du’ loops are XC royalty—especially if you like your climbs cruel and your views unforgettable.
Where to hire a bike: Alpkit Betws-y-Coed – right in the national park and a top spot for post-ride snacks too.
Sherwood Pines, Nottinghamshire
The nearest trail centre to where we build your Sonder bikes. Sherwood Pines Forest Park offers over 45 km of woodland singletrack that’s fast, fun, and surprisingly varied — perfect for XC riders hunting for miles and smiles. Just like the Forest of Dean it offers incredibly accessible routes:
- Family Trail (Green, ~4.8 km) — beginner‑friendly forest roads and easy singletrack loops, ideal for a warm‑up or a family ride.
- Adventure Trail (Blue, ~6 miles) — narrow, twisty woodland flow with moderate climbs and graded-up sections for progressive riders.
- Kitchener Trail (Red, ~13 km) — fast, undulating singletrack with swinging berms, rolling bumps, short climbs and drop‑offs. Updated recently to include rocky features and sharper turns, the red trail invites speed and line choice in equal measure.
There’s also a skills loop, pump track and dirt‑jump zone onsite for sharpening handling, as well as plenty of off‑piste singletrack if you’re feeling exploratory. The trails are maintained by Forestry England and run well even after rain — making it a reliable choice through summer and autumn.
Where to hire a bike: Alpkit Hathersage – clocking in around 1 hour 45 minutes drive. A solid call if you’re coming from the Peaks. Perfect for hiring a Sonder Dial or Falco.
Whinlatter
Whinlatter doesn’t mess about. Perched above Keswick, it’s England’s only true mountain forest — and it feels like it. Long climbs, skyline views, and tight red singletrack that makes you work for every descent. This is not your average trail centre spin. It’s a proper ride.
The headline act is the Altura Trail — split into North and South loops totalling just shy of 19 km of leg-burning, grin-inducing singletrack. You’ll get berms, rollers, rooty corners, rock drops and wide open views across the Lakes… if your legs let you look up.
Want something tamer? The Quercus Trail is a blue-grade rollercoaster with punchy climbs, sweeping turns, and perfect flow to find your rhythm. Ideal for warming up or keeping things mellow — though it still bites back if you get lazy.
And then there’s everything in between — forest roads, techy cut-throughs, and sneaky off-piste lines that locals don’t talk about too loudly.
Where to hire a bike: Alpkit Keswick – is just down the hill — perfect for grabbing a Sonder Dial or Falco on hire, restocking your flapjack supply, or grabbing kit you forgot in the boot. The team know these trails inside out, so ask them what’s riding fast right now.
What makes a hardtail ideal for these trail centres
The Sonder Dial is a XC hardtail that eats trail centres for breakfast. It’s got the legs for big climbs, the control for techy descents, and the comfort for long hauls. 29er wheels make light work of rocks and roots, and its geometry strikes the sweet spot between playful and precise.
The Sonder Falco is a race rocket. Lightweight aluminium frame, aggressive geometry, and fast-rolling wheels mean you’ll be first to the top of any climb. On flowing blue or red XC trails, it flies, especially on smoother hardpack.
Sonder Dial vs Sonder Falco - Spoilt for choice?
Choosing between the Sonder Dial and the Sonder Falco? It all comes down to how and where you ride.
The Dial is a speed-first XC machine. It’s the kind of bike that feels like it’s begging you to race your own shadow. With 100mm of front travel, fast-rolling 29er wheels and a featherweight aluminium frame, it’s built for big days out and flat-out climbs. Think Dirty Reiver, fast trail loops, and challenging yourself over distance. If you’re coming from gravel or road and want more control without giving up speed, the Dial is your weapon.
On the other hand, the Falco is a bit more chilled… but still loves to charge. With 120mm of travel, stable trail geometry, and loads of tyre clearance, the Falco is designed for UK trail centres, red loops, and proper singletrack. It’s the bike you’ll grow with, playful when you want it, planted when you need it.
Where the Dial wants to get you to the top first, the Falco wants to make sure you enjoy coming down. It’s built for confidence: more forgiving geometry, more fork travel, and more capability on rooty, rocky, unpredictable terrain. Perfect if you’re newer to MTB or just want a ride that won’t throw you off when you get out of shape.
The Dial is precise and racy — for riders who like their trails fast and their gear minimal. The Falco is trail-tough and steady — for riders who value confidence, control, and progression.
So which one’s for you?
Choose the Dial if you’re XC-curious, love the idea of a lightweight rocketship, or want to crush long rides at pace.
Pick the Falco if you’re more trail-minded, prefer stability on descents, and want a bike that feels at home everywhere from Dalby to Coed y Brenin.
None the wiser? Why not hire one from a Alpkit store and feel the diference yourself. You can try before you buy with our Sonder demo bike fleet.
XC Trail Centre Kit List
Here’s what we’re packing for a full day of trail centre laps, café stops, and mid-ride reboots.
- Floe MTB Shorts – Durable, comfortable and built for trail abuse. Enough pockets for Scooby snacks and spares.
- Rhythm Short Sleeve Jersey – Wicking, fast-drying and cut for all day riding. No flappy sleeves to get snagged on branches here.
- Floe MTB Gloves – Light but grippy. Keeps you in control when the trails get sketchy.
- Stage Cycling Socks – Stay cool and comfy, even when your legs are screaming on the final climb.
- Skytrail 14L Hydration Pack – Big enough for tools, snacks and layers. Hydration bladder compatible.
- Bota Hydration Bladder – Lightweight, durable and fits perfectly in the Skytrail pack. Stay hydrated without breaking your rhythm.
- Cairn 600 Food Flask – Hot soup? Cold pasta? Post-ride rice pud? Sorted.
- Refresher 500 Bottle – Keeps water cold or coffee warm for the long haul.
- Smith Helmets – Lightweight, ventilated, and built for trail protection. Choose your style and fit.
- Bask Chair – Because nothing says 'done right' like a chill in the car park after you are knackered.
As the sun sinks down..
You will know you have had a great day. Five brilliant XC trail centres. Two dialled-in hardtails. And a kit list that won’t let you down. There’s still time to turn your summer into something epic—so grab your helmet and hit the trails.