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MTB
10 UK pumptracks you have to ride
Ready to get your pump on? Master the fine art of pumptrack on these great tracks in the UK.
The pumptrack. A glorious loop of rollers, berms, table tops and transfers made from smooth asphalt or perfectly moulded dirt. The resurgence of pumptrack across the UK in recent years has inspired local councils and independent trail builders to come up with some exciting creations, whether that's in rural marshlands or busy city centres.
Pumptrack is so popular because riders of all ages and abilities can get into it and use the sport to hone skills that can be transferred to other cycling disciplines.
Let's get to it then, shall we? These are 10 pumptracks we think you should try across the UK.
Scotland
Edinburgh Skelft Pumptrack
- Location: Bowmont Pl, Edinburgh EH8 9RY
- Opening hours: Everyday, Daylight hours only
- Price: Free
The Skelft Pumptrack is located smack-bang in the city centre of Edinburgh, and was built by global pumptrack experts Velosolutions, who Red Bull has partnered up with to bring you the Red Bull Pumptrack World Championships. 120 tones of asphalt have been transformed in a 900-metre-long track packed with berms and rollers to keep your body pumping. Claudio Caluori, who you may know from his hilarious Downhill World Cup course previews, took the Scott-Velosolutions Downhill team to ride the track, along with the UK's Olly Wilkins. Here’s what he had to say:
There are loads of lines and they all roll mega fast, it’s getting your head around the fact that you’re not going to fly out the top of the berm or off the side of the track. It’s perfectly grippy with loads of flow
Inverness Pumptrack
- Location: Bught Park, Inverness
- Opening hours: Everyday with floodlights available until 10pm
- Price: Free
Inverness’ star pumptrack was also designed and built by Velosolutions, with this one located in the Highlands. You can play on 300m of grippy tarmac, although shorter than the Edinburgh track, it’s just as packed with rollers and berms. It’s also so smooth that skateboards are allowed.
England
Leeds Urban Bikepark
- Location: Middleton Park Bike Hub, Ring Road, Beeston Park,, Middleton, Leeds LS10 3TN
- Opening hours: 9am-6pm daily
- Price: Free
This gem in the North is built on the site of an old golf club and opened at the tail end of 2017. The urban bikepark features a pump track, BMX skills area with electric start gate and dirt jumps. They also have a cafe and bike shop onsite to refuel and recharge after a long session on two wheels. With a bunch of 5-star reviews online, it’s definitely worth a trip.
Bolehills Pumptrack - Sheffield
- Location: Bolehills Recreation Ground, Bole Hill Road, Walkley, Sheffield, S6 5DE
- Opening: All day everyday
- Price: Free
Bolehills track is based in the aptly named Outdoor City, Sheffield and is one of the biggest tracks we have in the UK. Bolehills is loaded with rich history, as it was built in the early 80s and revamped in 2015 by the dedicated team, the Sheffield Dirt Society. Bolehills is a track that keeps on giving, suitable for people of all ages and abilities. It features a smaller pumptrack in the middle of the large loop which is aimed at people just starting out. The main loop leaves plenty of room to progress and is really popular with more experienced riders.
Derby Alvaston Pumptrack
- Location: Alvaston Park, Meadow Lane, Alvaston, Derby DE24 8QQ
- Opening hours: 24 hours daily, check for gate times on the website
- Price: Free with group coaching sessions from £5
The best thing about the Derby track is the variety of coaching sessions on offer from British Cycling certified coaches. It’s cheap too, around £5 for the beginner classes. If it’s your first time you can book in for a free novice session. The team at Derby Alvastons host regular races so it’s a great place to get a taster of top level BMX racing. And, of course, you can ride mountain bikes at the track as well.
Stubbylee Pumptrack – Bacup
- Location: Park Rd, Bacup OL13 0BU
- Opening hours: All day, everyday
- Price: Free
Stubbylee pumptrack reopened at the beginning of March 2018 after being resurfaced by Dirtwork as part of a regeneration effort by the local Lancashire Environment fund to improve facilities in Stubbylee Park. Take advantage of the fresh smooth track, and with rollers for days you’ll be a master of the pumptrack in no time. The track will also be holding workshops for local kids and families.
Brunel Way Pump Track - Bristol
- Location: Brunel Way, Bristol BS3 2LE
- Opening hours: All day, everyday
- Price: Free
Pumptracks aren’t all about size, some are about the amount of fun you can have on them and, most importantly, location. BrunelWay pump track is based in the centre of Bristol, making it the perfect place to either chill with friends on the weekend, or a lunchtime/ post-work spin. It recently received a facelift in 2016, and is now fully tarmacked thanks to trail designers Architrail. The upgrade also brought bigger berms and a much gripper surface, so the popularity of this pumptrack won’t be calming down anytime soon.
417 Project
- Location: Flyup 417 Project, Witcombe, Gloucester GL3 4UF
- Opening hours: 9am-5.30pm Saturday- Wednesday, 9am-9pm Thurs-Fri
- Price: £10 or £7 after 4pm
Despite being a country plagued by seemingly long winters and plenty of rain, there aren’t many options for indoor pump tracks (that aren’t wooden made mini-features in a skatepark). Thankfully, the 417 project, based just off the A417 in Gloucester, have come to the rescue with the Velosolutions made indoor pump track. You can also have a go on the indoor dirt jumps for when the weather isn’t playing ball.
Wales
Nant Y Arian – Aberystwyth
- Location: Bwlch Nant Y Arian, Ponterwyd, Aberystwyth SY23 3AD
- Opening hours: 10am-5pm everyday
- Price: Free, but parking is £3 for the full day
Situated just outside of Aberystwyth is the relatively new Nant Y Arian pumptrack. It was officially opened in March 2017 by MTB rider and local, Rachel Atherton, and it was built by trail masters Trail Craft. It’s the perfect place to hone your skills on two wheels and it has nurtured the close riding community already existing in Mid Wales. It’s accessible and fun for riders of all ages and abilities, thanks to the variety of loops with different skill levels of rollers and table tops. It’s perfect for either a quick blast before you head out on the local trails, or a chilled Sunday with good friends.
Marsh Tracks – Rhyl
- Location: Glan Y Morfa Industrial Estate, Marsh Rd, Rhyl LL18 2AD
- Opening hours: All day, every day
- Price: MTB Pumptrack is free, BMX track is £2 for members and £4 for non-members
Built above the marshlands on the coastal town of Rhyl, the 1km Marsh MTB pumptrack is unlike any other track in the UK, and it neighbours a national standard BMX track with a Bensink start gate. The BMX track offers coaching and events, along with the track being lit up in the evening with a set of flood lights, the Marsh tracks are more technical, so you can really hone your pumptrack skills. The MTB trail is open all day and is free to use, although donations are welcome to keep the project thriving. Let's not forget to mention the incredible location, perfect to up your Instagram game, so make sure you bring a friend to record your laps.
Also make sure you check your nearest MTB centres or bigger bike parks such as Bike Park Wales, Comrie Croft and the Forest of Dean, as many have pumptracks onsite.
