tet central

ViewRanger map starting showing TET routesfrom Salisbury Plain

Simon Creasey from the Wiltshire Group figures that Salisbury Plain is well placed for day-tripping a number of Trans European Trails

Before I started riding the Trans European Trail, or TET, it had a mystique attached to it in my mind not dissimilar to the Paris Dakar Rally. In fact, it is just a series of byways open to all traffic (aka BOATs), interconnected by normal roads: mostly quiet country back roads. Some of the sections can be technically challenging, for sure, depending on your skill and the weather conditions (presence or absence of recent rain, snow, ice, etc) and the surface (chalk, slippery rock, gravel, mud, etc) but the great majority of it is very straightforward riding. It takes you to some of the most beautiful countryside that you will ever see and places that many are unable to access (if not on a trail bike).

It is a constant surprise to me that in the course of a full day ’ s riding I may only bump into one or two other trail bikes. I have done road trips to Ireland and Scotland, ridden the NC500, been to Orkney and Shetland and ridden from Aberdeen to Salisbury in one day but nothing has given me a greater buzz than riding the TET. It is true adventure bike riding. Whilst the idea of riding the TET from Dover, ▲

Savernake Forest – easy riding, beautiful view

Roman Bridge over the River Divelish at Fifehead Neville, Dorset

Malmesbury – Abbey in the background, Wiltshire

This petrol station appeared just as I was running on fumes! Garmin GPS and RAM Mount on handlebars

Salisbury Plain Training Area – read the SPTA Newsletter, keep to the byways and keep clear of areas marked by red flags all round England and Wales, to Newcastle in one go may be appealing as a romantic notion, the logistics for such a trip may also be quite intimidating for many, not unlike undertaking the Paris Dakar Rally. Finding the time and someone to do it with may also be problematic.

I am fortunate to live in the Salisbury area which, as it turns out, is TET Central with the option of six routes that can easily be done as day-rides. Starting from Salisbury, I have ridden the Salisbury Plain circuit, up to Bristol, down to Bridport, across to Basingstoke, Basingstoke to Chichester and up to Cirencester. There and back, in a day. Faster riders could get much further, I’ m sure. Anyone looking for a UK-based trail riding holiday could do worse than to base themselves in a suitable campsite, Airbnb, hotel or pub in one of the beautiful villages or towns in the Salisbury Plain area.

GPEX files for the TET routes can be downloaded from the TET website (transeurotrail.org). Whilst the ViewRanger App is a very good way of navigating and works very well on my mobile phone, the vibration through the handlebar mount shook the camera apart, ▲

North side of Salisbury Plain looking north to Pewsey

so I have now a replacement iPhone and have converted to a Garmin GPS.

The TET route takes you to some out of the way places, so it is worth working out the range of your bike on a full tank and planning re-fuelling/coffee stops, or it could be a long push to the nearest gas station!

A number of the TET routes cross the Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) and the routes are closed if there is live firing when they will be marked with red flags and closed barriers.

The GPEX files downloaded from the TET routes contain alternate routes for when the ranges are operational. Riders that are new to the area should familiarise themselves with the latest version of the SPTA Newsletter for safety information and have a look at the ‘Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) firing times ’ document on the gov.uk website. Specific routes can then be planned for days when the ranges are open. I am nearly 60, a relatively recent convert to trail riding and far from being an expert rider, so if I can do it, anyone can! Most of the riding is very straightforward, even for novice riders.

But there are undoubtedly some sections ▲

A lot of the route is on quiet back roads

Gravel tracks

Mud fest!

Muddy puddle on far side of mud fest in previous photo (left)

It may not look like it but this is a steep 5 metre drop

Keep out of big puddles unless you absolutely have to go through them!

Me and my mate Bill

Blimey –I forgot the sandwiches!

Pride comes before a fall! that are trickier than others, some technical sections and one or two obstacles that have to be got past. Initially, I found these quite intimidating. Now I enjoy the challenge. If in doubt, I stop, ponder the problem for a while, come up with a plan and then ride the obstacle slowly. What’ s the worst that could happen?

I dropped my bike in this puddle and flooded the engine. The water was up to my waist at the centre point. Keep out of big puddles unless you absolutely have to go through them. Use a stick, or walk them first, to see how deep they are before you do go through.

I tried but there was no avoiding this water feature! At least this one wasn ’t as deep as it looked.

For various reasons, I have ended up riding the routes mostly solo over the lockdown but it is always preferable to ride in the company of at least one other rider, for company and safety.

I am careful not to go too fast in order to avoid any permanent damage to myself as a result of close contact with the scenery but it does happen from time to time, so I wear ▲

Arrival Bridport –who ’ s up for a fish supper then?

body armour and keep the speed below 20 mph. The maximum number of ‘ offs ’ I have had in one day is three, thus far!

What I lack in skill, I make up for with enthusiasm. I have only come across one obstacle that I could not get past solo, so I retraced my steps and found an alternative route. This was on the section of the route that goes north from Beaminster in Dorset, where there is an uphill step that I just could not get up. It is difficult to take a photo that shows exactly how difficult this obstacle was – I took the ride of shame back down the hill and found an alternative route.

I cannot tell you how satisfying it is to reach your destination after a full day in the saddle. I get a buzz from these trips that lasts for weeks.

At a time when UK-based riding holidays are the most practical and the mental health benefits of biking are being widely talked about, riding the TET should be right up there. Of course, doing it in the company of a few mates would be even more beneficial and you could not do better than join the Trail Riders ’ Fellowship. So, pack your sandwiches and a flask of coffee in your rucksack and get out there on the TET! ■ 44 Trail Autumn 2021

Occasionally the obstacles are moving – these chickens ran ahead of my bike for about half a mile before I could get past them!