We get it. A lot of you travel a long way to visit us given how few quality bike parks there are, particularly in the South of England. When you come to visit us at 417 Bike Park, why not make a weekend or a short break of it and explore all Gloucestershire has to offer?
Our top picks of the local hotspots:
For a place to stay: Our local Premier Inn comes recommended for a few reasons. Not only is it exceptional value, it’s a stone’s throw from the 417 Bike Park in Little Witcombe and they let you take your bike to your room, ensuring it’s as safe as possible in a hotel. Secure bike storage is hard to come by and we think allowing bikes in rooms is a winning strategy. Better clean those muddy wheels first though.
If you’re looking for camping or glamping accommodation, we recommend Star Glamping, based at Star College just up at the top of Leckhampton Hill, Big Skies Cotswold Glamping at Seven Springs or Cherry Tree Glamping at Sheepscombe. The latter two offer pitches for tents as well as glamping lodges and cabins.
For a place to eat: Cheltenham and Gloucester are packed full of exceptional restaurants. For something special, try No 131, East India Café, Muse, Kibou or Purslane in Cheltenham. For something authentic and good value, try Greek on the Docks in Gloucester, Settebello in both Gloucester and Cheltenham, or The Hop Kettle Craft Brewery at Gloucester Docks with an ever-changing brilliant street food menu. If you just want to grab something at a local pub, we recommend The Royal George Birdlip, which also has rooms to stay.
For more adrenaline: Head to the Forest of Dean and try the trails there to experience some great forest riding. Our uplift service runs from the Cannop Cycle Centre so you can save your legs for the downhill fun part there too. Make time to visit magical Puzzlewood while you’re in the Forest of Dean; it’s a temperate rainforest known best as a movie backdrop featured in Star Wars, Doctor Who among others.
Visit 270 Climbing Park, just five minutes from us, to scale bouldering walls, fun walls, an 18m tall high ropes frame, one of the tallest climbing walls in Europe and so much more. It’s an epic world class facility and it’s no wonder some of the best climbers in the country make a beeline for it.
For sight-seeing: We’re on the doorstep of a lot of beautiful places and happening cities. Head to the Forest of Dean for stunning walks and vistas, head to the Cotswolds for picture perfect villages and landscapes, to Cheltenham for some beautiful Regency styling and incredible shopping (also home to the legendary Gold Cup race), or to Bristol for the most buzzing social scene in the Southwest.
We think it’s fair to say we’ve got a lot going on in and around Gloucestershire!
