The Viking Trail - Tunstall Forest
SuffolkRoss.uk
A fully signed 16Km/10 mile route through the beautiful Tunstall Forest on this Red Graded MTB Trail.
The area is generally fairly quiet, but with other cyclists and dog walkers dotted around you may come across other visitors here and there.
There are no real 'features' on this trail, with the exception of a couple of natural bomb holes adjacent to the trails. Whilst there are a handful or purpose built and maintained berms etc along the trail, much of it has a very natural feel and is all the more enjoyable for that. The pits themselves have steep entrances and exits, so do carry the potential for crashes (as well as a lot of fun) so it's worth taking these on only if you're with others, just in case.
Whilst the trails are generally fairly quiet, you may find other riders, runners and walkers in the forest so take care.
Links
Forestry England Viking Trail Information
Safety information
There are no facilities along the trail, so be sure to take enough with you to keep fed and watered, especially during the warmer weather. It's also certainly worth ensuring that you've got your mobile phone with you as the trail is relatively isolated. Phone signal is patchy in places, but should be good enough to make a call for the majority of the ride.Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
- From the car park, head past the Viking Trail signs and head straight for about 550 metres where you'll need to follow the trail to turn left.
- Continue on for approximately 800 metres and turn right onto the singletrack that heads into the trees.
- After around 500 metres, the trail will cross over a fire track and then arrive at Oblivion, the first of the bomb holes along the route.
- After stopping for a play in Oblivion (if you're feeling adventurous), head back onto the singletrack as it continues to wind through the forest for the next kilometre or so before it comes to an open area and a fire road.
- Turn left onto the fire road and follow it for around 200 metres and then take the right back into the trees on another section of singletrack.
- Continue to follow the signposted singletrack through the forest for the next 2Km before arriving at another fire road.
- Turn right onto it and follow for around 200 metres and then left into the woods again along more singletrack.
- After about 500 metres, we'll arrive at the Snake Pit, the second of the Viking Trail pits. Take a moment here to have a bit of fun if you're so inclined and then prepare for another long stretch of singletrack.
- From the Snake Pit, head back onto the trail and follow the narrow singletrack through the woods for the next 3.5 Km.
- At this point, you should come to a fire road with sign posts indicating a shortcut back to the car park. If time's short, head that way and simply head straight along the fire road which will lead you almost all the way back to where we came in.
- Alternatively, head straight on and follow the wider and less twisty trail section for the next 600 metres, before it takes a right back into the trees with it's trademark winding singletrack.
- Again, simple follow the signposts for around the next 3.5 Km and you'll come to the last of the pits along the trail. This one currently appears to have no official name and seems slightly less severe than Oblivion or the Snake Pit.
- Once you've taken a few moments to check the unnamed pit out, head back onto the trail and continue along the final section of singletrack for the next 2 km or so, before it arrives back onto the wider fire track that we came in on.
- Head back along the fire track for 800 metres or so before following it around to the right where it heads back to the car park in a straight line.
Note
Getting there
- From the A12, take the B1078 heading towards Lower Hacheston and Campsea Ashe until you reach the village of Tunstall.
- Once in Tunstall, turn left onto Snape Road (B1069) and follow it for 1.2 miles before turning onto Tunstall Road.
- After 0.3 miles, Sandgalls Carpark will be on your right hand side
Parking
Sandgalls car park is of a reasonable size and there is no charge to leave your vehicle there.Coordinates
Author’s map recommendations
Equipment
Nothing special needed, just your usual "day out on the bike" gear. Again, just bear in mind that there are no facilities around so if it's not with you, you'll have to go without.Statistics
- Waypoints
- Waypoints
Questions and answers
Would you like to the ask the author a question?
Rating
Help others by being the first to add a review.
Photos from others