The keen locals are always busy with their shovels (and more recently their saws and hammers) and one of the best things about Woburn is the variety. Whatever your skill level you’ll find a section to your taste and there’s always something bigger lurking to tempt you to step up a gear.

Go check out the movies in the gallery

A few North Shore style launches have appeared as well for those more into hucking it off drops, some friendly enough with plenty of wide steep run-out and others requiring serious balls and commitment. Take your pick… Skinnies and see-saws are also appearing and this appears to be a growth area for the big bike contingent.

	Tim x-up over the big double

Up top are a few smaller, quieter areas which are good for developing your skills away from critical eyes and, going by occasional sightings of lycra-ed up types on whippet bikes, an amount of good old fashioned singletrack.

You’re supposed to pay to ride at Woburn, either by annual membership or on the day for a couple of quid to the very friendly ranger, if he’s around. Generally the atmosphere remains chilled and, while there tends to be a sharp divide between those who stand around talking the talk and those who get off their asses and walk the walk, it’s not an intimidating place to ride. Parents chilling in deckchairs with the Sunday papers while junior hacks around are not unknown and crowd-pleasing attempts at the bigger drops will always go down well and offer a bit of ego massage.

Nowt. This is the countryside. There are a couple of shops down the road in the village but nothing to get excited about so it pays to bring all you’d need. Unfortunately some chumps can’t be arsed to take it away with them afterwards and the litter is the only real downer here. Enough to make you weep…

Trains run to Woburn Sands station from London Euston and Milton Keynes via Bletchley and from Bedford; see www.nationalrail.co.uk or ring 08457 484950 for more info.