The Roots Route
Another spicy little number at our old favourite Rothbury which offers some really technical and rocky down-hill plus a 'pick-your-own-route' slide through the forest.
Climbing up the fire road from the picnic spot (or from Rothbury Village if you've got the legs for it), carry on past the view point and up to the tree line. Once you reach the trees stay on the road but keep to the right and ride past the 'junction' and up to where the road stops. Instead of turning right as the marker post indicates, continue straight on and ride up the rocky trail still keeping the tree line on your left.
This section is quite tricky. The track is rutted thanks to the amount of water that pours down there when it's wet, the ground is peat which has been like a bog every-time I have ridden it, and the rocks are everywhere and big enough to bring you to a complete stop unless you ride over them with enough speed. Keep your arse on the seat, get your head down and peddle away and you should get over even the worst bits!
As the trail reaches the summit (and the fence) you need to head to your right and this is the start of the descent.
You'll be rewarded with some great vantage points here and on a clear day if you climb onto those big rocks, you can see the Cheviots and even the sea.
Again it's more bog and bloody great rocks but it's rideable (although the odd detour over the heather is sometimes a much easier option) and I only recall one small drop-off. When you reach the tree line you'll see two enormous rocks in front of you - one of which appears to be precariously balancing on top of the other - at this point head to your left down the very narrow single track. To your right is a fairly long drop into the forest and I can tell you from personal experience that if you're going to put a foot down, make it your left one or you'll probably find yourself taking a dive down the hill-side.
Once you've managed to negotiate the single track you'll come to a set of man-made timber stairs. They are pretty bloody steep but if you've got the balls and enough travel (I had neither) you could probably ride them - (if you manage it - send us a picture!) at the bottom head to your left and follow the clearing through the trees where you will start to descend to your right and traverse the hill side.
This is where it gets fun!
The forest floor is literally covered with leaves, so much so that there is no visible track. There are loads and loads of roots waiting to catch you out and the branches are at the perfect level to 'clothes-line' you if you don't have your wits about you. Whack on the back brake and you can pretty much slide your way down the hill-side, and although I'm not quite sure how it happens, you'll find yourself converging onto one point almost regardless of the route you pick.
Leaving the forest behind you, turn right and head up the twisting fire road, bare left at the T-junction and ride up to the mast.
You’ve got a choice here - turn left and head down the fire road and back to the car park OR, for a bit more fun, turn right and head back towards the Craggs.
Just as the road starts to gain altitude in earnest, keep your eyes out for a marker post on your left and then turn off and head down the trail towards the chute. It's rocky as hell and pretty steep in places but it's rideable if you pick the right route - that said, I've seen picking the wrong route result in a dislocated thumb and several close 'tree hugging' shaves mainly from Mahoney The Phoney!
At the bottom, cross the little timber bridge and then at the fork in the trail, bare left onto the 'Green Route' for a cheeky stretch of nice sweeping single track through the forest. As you exit the forest you'll find yourself about 100yds from the picnic spot.
