A lot of UK eMTB riders ask a version of the same question every winter and spring: “Can I ride my eMTB in Forestry England forests?” It comes up because Forestry England manages some of the most popular riding venues in the country, from waymarked family routes and gravel loops through to proper trail-centre style riding, and because the signage can vary from forest to forest. It also comes up because the broader UK conversation about “e-bikes” is messy, and people mix up UK-legal pedal-assist eMTBs with electric motorbikes and throttle-driven machines.
The simplest answer is that a UK-legal pedal-assist eMTB is treated as a bicycle in law, and Forestry England’s own guidance is very clear that e-bikes can be used anywhere pedal cycles are permitted in their forests. The detail is in the “where bikes are permitted” part, and that is where most riders get caught out. Forestry England’s Electric-powered transport guidance outlines the basic approach and the types of routes where e-bikes are welcome.
The headline rule: e-bikes go where bikes go in Forestry England
Forestry England’s position is straightforward: if your e-bike is legally considered a pedal cycle, you can use it on the same routes where pedal cycles are permitted. Their guidance explicitly includes waymarked cycle trails, cycle-permitted public rights of way, and stone-based tracks and forest roads, with a note that leasehold forests may have different access where the landowner has not granted recreational permission: Electric-powered transport.
This is also where it helps to keep definitions tidy. A UK-legal eMTB, as covered on Electric MTB UK, is a pedal-assist bike that complies with the EAPC framework. GOV.UK’s summary is the cleanest baseline: Riding an electric bike: the rules. If a bike is not an EAPC, it is not treated like a bicycle for road use, and you should not assume it belongs on cycle trails or public rights of way. That is one reason the “e-bike” label causes confusion. It applies to everything, including machines that operate like mopeds. If you want the deeper explanation written for off-road riders, read our guide: UK eMTB law explained.
Planning your next ride? Our Bike Parks and eMTB-friendly riding directory can help you choose where to go once you have checked the local access rules.
Rights of way basics for eMTB riders
In England, the rights-of-way network is not intuitive, and that is why people keep asking this question. The practical rule is that cycling is generally allowed on bridleways, restricted byways, byways open to all traffic, and on designated cycle tracks. Cycling is not permitted on footpaths unless there is specific permission, which can catch people out because many footpaths look like they “should” be rideable.
Forestry England’s own wording helps because it frames e-bikes as bicycles within its forests, where bicycles are permitted, but you still need to know what you are looking at on the ground.
For eMTB riders, the key takeaway is this. If you are on a UK-legal pedal-assist eMTB, you do not need special e-bike permission in Forestry England forests. You need cycle permission, full stop. That means reading signs, respecting closures, and choosing routes that are explicitly cycle-allowed.
Practical checklist for riding Forestry England on an eMTB
A few straightforward checks will help you choose permitted routes and share them responsibly.
Start by treating Forestry England’s cycling hub as the “front door” for local riding rules and links, then drill down to the specific forest you plan to visit: Forestry England cycling. Forest pages often highlight waymarked trails, seasonal notices and any local restrictions.
Then, ride as your access depends on it, because it does. Keep speed sensible on shared trails, slow down around walkers and horses, and do not assume that “eMTB” means you can climb anywhere. On steep, muddy ground, a spinning rear tyre does more damage than a calm, controlled climb. If you are new to assisted riding, our introduction to eMTBs explains the different types of bike. Motor assistance does not change the need to give other trail users space.
Finally, if you are planning a longer day, plan your route around cycle-permitted tracks and bridleways, then use assist modes intelligently. Forestry England riding often involves long forest roads and linking tracks, and that makes range planning relevant, especially in winter. Our guide on how to get more range from your eMTB battery offers practical advice to help you avoid cutting a ride short through unnecessary use of maximum assistance.
In short, a UK-legal pedal-assist eMTB can be ridden in Forestry England forests anywhere bicycles are permitted, including waymarked cycle trails and cycle-permissible rights of way, but not on footpaths unless cycling is allowed, and not on routes where cycling is prohibited or closed. For the full access guidance, see Forestry England’s electric-powered transport guidance, and for the UK legality baseline, use GOV.UK’s EAPC rules.