Richmond Hills

From the Silvan Mountainbike Carpark, head up the gravel road which winds its way to the top of the Richmond Hills, always heading straight as opposed to turning off left or right at any of the junctions. Approximately 4kms in you will be at the top and in sight of the Firehouse in a clearing at the top. Instead of jumping the fence and going up to the Firehouse (good views up there if you want to though), follow the gravel trail to the left of the Firehouse hill.

When the trail ends you will need to backtrack slightly and locate an opening in the bushes on the right to pop through and hop onto the ridgeline trail. This is the trickiest bit of navigation and unfortunately is not signposted. Once done, follow this trail north all the way along the ridgeline, up and down hills until you get to the trail marker for Involution/Barnicoat. There is one point along the ridge where the trail goes up an extremely steep hill which is a bit of a scramble, but I'm told there is an alternative that is easier. Have a look around for it if scrambling up the steep hill doesnt appeal!

You can go down either Barnicoat or Involution and end up at the same place but this example is for Involution. Involution is a mountain bike trail so watch for bikes at all times. It is also wicked fun; rooty, twisty and all downhill! The trail ends at the Barnicoat Carpark at the top of Marsden Valley Road. If you have left a car here, you're home free. If your car is at Silvan Forest Mountainbike Park, you'll need to run back through suburbia; all the way down Marsden Valley Road, turn left onto The Ridgeway, onto Suffolk Road, through Saxton Park, left onto Main Road Stoke and Salisbury Road, left onto Champion Road and finally back to Silvan Forest! I'm not sure how long this would make the run in total. Maybe 25km or 30km?