Be Free Be Happy!!
Mountain Biking The Felly Nottinghamshire:
When I have a spare hour and no more my go to ride is to ‘The felly’, or Felly Priory as it is shown on the map. 'Be free, Be happy' is a favourite video showing a little snippet of mountain biking in ‘The Felly’. Taken in winter, the mix of cold clear skies and sun made for some amazing pictures. With a bit of winter sun biking really does bring a smile to anyone's face.
The felly sits just between Kirkby, Newstead village, Underwood, Greasley and Hucknall, close to the Nottinghamshire Derbyshire border. The M1 passes right through it from Junction 26 to 27 but you wouldn't know as it is cleverly elevated above or below view, out of the way. The felly is a patch of discrete land with small clumps of woods, fields, and farm tracks. There is a simple loop taking you under the M1 and then over the M1 with an exhilarating downhill and a very challenging climb, no matter which way you ride it. It’s not technical but does get a little bumpy.
The Felly is a civil parish in the Ashfield district. According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of four. At the 2011 Census the population remained minimal. Prior to 1974 it was part of Basford Rural District. The parish is grouped with the neighbouring parish of Annesley (pop 1,096) to elect a joint parish council.
The name "Felley" means 'Wood/clearing with ploughed land'. Throughout its history the hamlet of Felley has been overshadowed by the Augustinian priory, Felley Priory. Therefore, few records of the secular settlement exist. Felley was an extra-parochial area, it became a civil parish in 1858.
For a bit more information, have a look at the Wikipedia site.
There are a number of articles that focus on ‘The Felly’. Take a look at the second episode of my short trail series which is the downhill toward Moorgreen reservoir. What about seeing the Felly in the snow. I managed to get out on the bike as the snow fell, it was an amazing ride. The Felly also features in my ‘Moorgreen Loop’. On the 16-mile loop you pass through the felly in section four. Or, you can have a look at the route map which I captured during another ride at the start of winter.
In between the hustle and bustle of the busy roads the felly provides a lovely tranquil place to bike (or walk) with plenty of little routes and trails, an ideal place for a quick ride.
