Frequently
Asked Questions

Your questions, answered

What exactly is Making Tracks?

Making Tracks is a guided outdoor experience in the Chiltern Hills, just outside London. Think of it as a brilliant day in the countryside - beautiful trails, hidden villages, and a delicious pub lunch. With comfortable electric bikes as the way you get around, the bikes do most of the work, so the focus is on the day, the people and the place, not just on the cycling.

Where are you based and what does the area look like?

We're based at The Crown pub in Radnage, Buckinghamshire (HP14 4DW), in the heart of the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Depending on your route, from there we explore Turville (yes, the village from The Vicar of Dibley), Turville Heath, Ewelme and Henley-on-Thames plus loads more!! Rolling chalk hills, ancient beech woods, picture-book villages and panoramic ridge views.

How far is it from London?

Under an hour from west London by car, and less by train (Henley-on-Thames or High Wycombe stations, with a short transfer). It's one of the easiest countryside days out you can do from the capital - no airports, no traffic chaos, no early start.

Do I need to be fit or know how to mountain bike?

No. If you can ride a normal bike, you can ride with us. Our electric bikes flatten the hills and make distances feel easy, so reasonable fitness and a bit of balance are all you need. Our Beginner Trail Explorer is genuinely for first-timers; only the Intermediate & Advanced day asks for prior off-road experience.

Is it good for team building and corporate away days?

Yes - it's one of the best things we do. Teams, leadership groups and client entertainment days love it because it gets people side-by-side, outdoors, away from screens. Shared adventure, fresh air and a fun lunch produce conversations and ideas you'll never get in a meeting room. We handle everything: bikes, route, food, photography, transfers and a single invoice. Totally bespoke, so we work to your needs.

What's included in the price?

Everything you need: a premium full-suspension electric mountain bike, helmet, gloves and a friendly local guide, a traditional pub lunch, mechanical and emergency backup. You just need comfortable clothes and trainers - and if rain is forecast, don't forget a waterproof!

What about families, groups of friends or special occasions?

Perfect for all of them. Birthdays, hen and stag weekends, family days out, milestone celebrations, friends catching up - our Private Group experience is built around your group, your pace and your plans (champagne picnic on a ridge, anyone?).

How long does the experience last?

Most experiences are a full day, roughly 10am to mid-afternoon (Beginner) or late afternoon (Intermediate/Advanced). Self-guided hires give you the whole day at your own pace. Private and corporate days can be a half day, full day or multi-day - your call.

What happens if the weather is rubbish?

We run rain or shine - a bit of British weather is part of the adventure, and the trails actually grip better when slightly damp. We only cancel for genuinely unsafe conditions (thunderstorms, heat warnings, very high winds), in which case you get a refund or free reschedule.

What's the cancellation policy?

Full refund up to 14 days before your day with us. 50% refund 7–14 days before. Inside 7 days we can usually move your booking but cannot refund. Weather cancellations on our side are always fully refunded.

Why the Chilterns?

Because pound-for-pound it's the most beautiful piece of countryside this close to London. Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for a reason: rolling chalk hills, vast beech woodlands, red kites overhead, picture-postcard villages and a network of ancient paths and byways. It feels like you've travelled much further than you have.

What makes this different from just hiring a bike?

Everything. You get the routes only locals know, a guide who tells you what you're looking at, the best lunch stop sorted, backup if anything goes wrong, and a properly planned day from start to finish. The bike is the smallest part of it - what you remember is the day.