10 miles of Suffolk’s finest single track
The origins of the Viking Trail are a legacy of the motorcycle enduro events held in the forest over past decades. These trails have been extended and enhanced by the Tunstall and Rendlesham Off-road Group (TROG). There is an on-going programme of maintenance which includes hidden drainage and the building of technical features for more advanced riders, the aim being to retain what is the ‘essence of Tunstall’, with a natural feel to the trails and minimum use of imported material.
In partnership with the Forestry Commission, TROG have developed, maintained and fully way marked 10 miles of Suffolk’s finest singletrack winding through Tunstall Forest.
This 10 mile loop that has now become the Viking Trail is the culmination of years careful development making use of old motorcycle enduro race tracks in some places and completely new trails built entirely by hand.
No heavy machinery is used in the forest for either trail maintenance or development. TROG is committed to ensuring all work done in the forest is to the satisfaction of the Forestry Commission and always with the ethos of low environmental impact and to retain a naturalistic ‘wild’ feel of the forest.
Waymarking the Viking Trail was achieved through funding from Suffolk Coasts and Heaths AONB, EDF Energy and a lot of time, sweat and effort from the members of TROG to make it happen.
The waymarking has fulfilled part of the TROG commitment set out in the club charter to enable and promote better mountain biking opportunities for the community in Suffolk. It has also secured the trail for the future giving further status and protection as a recreational asset to the region.