Mountain biking into the cradle of the Trail Center – Outdoor City Sheffield

Action-packed trails by day and pubs and sightseeing by night – mountain biking in the beautiful landscape of the Peak District is full of surprises — and only a two hours flight away from Germany. In the middle of England, a stone’s throw from the pulsating and historic city of Sheffield, you will find fantastic views and a very special mountain bike culture. The region is, after all, famed as the birthplace of the Trail Center. Sounds like a fantastic bike holiday package that is almost too good to be true? Not at all! In this Collection, we show you the best trails outside of the city as well as why Sheffield is a great alternative to well-known biking areas.

If you don't live close to the Alps or in the middle of the Black Forest you usually expect travel a certain distance when considering a “genuine” biking holiday. With few “real” mountains on your doorstep, the german low mountain ranges, Czech biking regions, or the classic Alps often mean you have to plan at least two days to get there and back. In comparison, Sheffield is easy to get to: from several german airports there are many (and cheap) flight connections to Manchester where you can take a fast train to your destination. In the time you would spend melting in your car on the motorway on your way to the Alps, you can already get on your bike in Sheffield!

Sheffield is the outdoor city of the United Kingdom. With excellent conditions for climbing, hiking, racing and of course mountain biking, you’ll find your sporting paradise here. Sheffield is particularly well known among mountain bikers – not least because one of the greatest bike legends Downhill World Champion Steve Peat comes from there. To the west of Sheffield, you will find the Peak District National Park, an area with fantastic biking opportunities. From challenging day trips to fun after work trail experiences in a typical British trail park – every kind of mountain biking is possible here. And, that’s not all: trails lead out of Sheffield, far away from car traffic, and into a bikers’ heaven. Alternatively, trains run from Sheffield to the trails so you can safely leave your car at home and get there by rail.

Once you've exhausted yourself on your bike, the adventure is far from over. A trip to England is always something special. After biking, you can relax in a cosy English pub and immerse yourself in the city’s culture. Sheffield has a long history and there is much to discover. You will find many small breweries, street art, exhibitions and interesting sights, accompanied by the lively sounds of street buskers who accompany you on your journey of discovery – a cultural experience that will make your (bike) holiday in Sheffield an all-round perfect adventure!


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Arrival by plane
The best way to reach Sheffield rom Germany is to fly direct to Manchester. Flights run daily from here with low-cost airlines such as EasyJet or Ryanair. Both airlines also carry your bike for an extra charge, provided you register it in good time. From Manchester airport, take the express train to Sheffield, which takes just over an hour. You can easily plan your train journeys in England, here: de.britrail.net

Remember that for express trains in England you have to book on your bike in advance. You can find information about bicycle reservations on your train company’s website. As there are many different train companies in England, there is no general rule of thumb. However, usually, you can make a (free) bicycle reservation at the train company’s service desk at your departure station, but make sure you arrive with enough time before the train leaves. It’s worth bearing in mind that there is normally not much space for a large bike bag in English express train carriages, so you may want to consider packing light.

Arrival by train
The journey by train takes longer, but compared to a trip to the Alps, it is not so far away and much more sustainable than a flight. The fastest way to reach Sheffield by train is to take the ICE and Eurostar. For this, it makes sense to pack the bike as small as possible. If you take off both wheels and pack the bike in a compact bag, it will go through in the ICE as a piece of luggage. In the Eurostar, there is a maximum baggage length of 85 cm and you also have to register your bike in advance. You can find more information, here: de.oui.sncf/de/eurostar/services

Bike rental in Sheffield
Having your own bike with you is a great thing – but you can travel more cheaply and comfortably without a bike. A great alternative is to rent a bike when you arrive. In and around Sheffield, there are several bike shops with high quality rental mountain bikes. At theoutdoorcity.co.uk you will find links to various offers.