Family-Friendly Pump Track Review: Sundorne BMX Track, Shrewsbury.

Sunday  11th May 2025. We had been blessed with another warm and sunny weekend, so today we asked the boys where they would like to go on their bikes. They’d heard us talk about ‘Pump Tracks’, and in particular one Dad had mentioned at the bottom end of Shrewsbury that looked pretty fun from the Google review photos.

So, what are pump tracks? Pump tracks are continuous loops of berms, rollers, and features designed to be ridden without pedalling. (I’ve written in more detail about Pump Tracks here if you want to find out more.) This “Pump It Up!” series will include our thoughts from all the ones we visit, with feedback from the parent(s) and our boys too!

Sadly, all of our pump tracks are at least 35-40 minutes away at best. (I feel like a proposition to our local town council is in order!) Dad and I had woken up with colds, lovingly passed on from our eldest (who’d picked it up at a Scouts camp last weekend), so despite having visions of relaxing in the van whilst the boys utilised Shrewsburys facilities, we still decided to pop in our bikes too, just in case the Lemsip had kicked in by that point 😂

Feeling ill had influenced our choice in pump track too. The thought of a 45 minute drive when I felt iffy was off putting, so I did a quick Google and found one at the top end of Shrewsbury, just over 30 minutes away. In fact, Shrewsbury seems to have a fairly decent selection of these tracks locally (lucky lot!) so we decided to head here instead…

Track Overview

• Name and Location: Sundorne Pump Track, Moston Road, Sundorne, Shrewsbury, SY1 4QE
• Track Type: Tarmac Pump Track (Clark & Kent)
• Surface: Smooth Tarmac
• Design: The track features a continuous loop with a series of rollers, berms, and jumps, allowing riders to maintain momentum without pedaling.
• Suitable for Beginners? Suitable for young children and beginners, while still offering challenges for more experienced riders.
• Age Recommemdation: All Ages!

First Impressions

Tucked away in the Sundorne area of Shrewsbury, the Moston Road Pump Track is a fab place to go for cycling enthusiasts of all ages. Designed by the renowned Clark & Kent Contractors, this track boasts a modern design that caters to riders of all skill levels.

Our Experience

We arrived just before midday, and bar one child, the pump track was empty – perfect, because the Lemsip was kicking in and I was dying to try it too! We got our bikes out of the van and headed over. The carpark was empty so we had managed to park easily, with space to get the bikes out from the sliding door, and close enough that Dad could sit and watch from the comfort of the van. The boys did the first laps, so I could see how they did, and they took to it like ducks to water! Pump tracks give children the opportunity to practice jumps and hills and dips and berms in a controlled environment, helping them to build confidence on the less than predictable trails you’ll find in woodland! They learn how to handle their bikes as well as themselves, as the landscapes varies. One such lesson was received by my youngest, who went too high up a berm and toppled off. The lad who was already at the track when we arrived was right next to him and very sweetly rushed to his aid! A quick brush down revealed just a few grazes, and nothing that required Mum to make a fuss, as he quickly seized up his bike and hit the track for another circuit!

The other great thing about these tracks is that they are squeezed into small areas, meaning that despite the area you can cover in your mileage, you’re never actually too far away, and parents can easily keep an eye on everything. This particular track was surrounded by lots of grassland, and assorted play equipment, so a wonderful spot to bring children of all ages and interests, as no one would get bored.

The tarmac surface meant that this track could also be used by other “equipment”. The lad who had arrived before us had a BMX, our boys were on their mountain bikes (hardtails), another very young lad joined us shortly after we arrived on a scooter (and was doing very well too!) – I’m sure even skaters and roller-skaters could have a huge amount of fun on this!

It is a tiring activity though, and we quickly returned to the van for water and our packed lunch. During this time the track started to get busy. When we returned there were probably a dozen other children enjoying the track. It was lovely to see how respectful everyone was regarding taking turns and not pushing in front of each other, and complementing each others moves or equipment. The boys had a few more laps around the track before even more children arrived, so we decided to call it a day.

Back at the van, we decided we weren’t quite ready to go home though – so we decided to explore the Pump Track that Dad had originally found! As Dad said – “Well, we’re pretty much there now, so we might as well pay it a visit…” To be continued!

Facilities and Practical Info

Parking: ///third.shell.statue

Toilets: Available in the Lantern Library (building next to playground) when open.

Café/Kiosk Nearby: Available in the Lantern Library (building next to playground) when open. Supermarkets within a 5 minute drive with cafe facilities.

Bike Hire Available?: No.

Thanks so much to Clare for reaching out after reading this post and letting me know that the building next to the playground, known as the ‘Lantern Library’ has the library, cafe & toilets in there! 🤗 Access of course will be limited to opening times, which you can check here.

Parent Tips and Rider Notes

• What to Bring: Always bring a helmet! Protective gear (elbow and knee pads for instance) can be a good idea too. Water bottles, snacks, and a basic first-aid kit. It’s hard work, so a cheeky snack or two wouldn’t go amiss (or make an occasion of it and bring a packed lunch for a picnic!) Park facilities make this the perfect place to bring the whole family, because there is something for everyone!
• Best Times to Visit: By early afternoon we noticed crowd levels had started to increase. I would say the best time to come, especially for young children or those still new at the sport, is earlier in the day, for a quieter, slower experience.

It was getting crowded so we decided to head off. The boys were still clearly pumped (pardon the pun) and suggested we went to the other one Dad had mentioned earlier in the week. Clearly the Lemsip had Kicked in for him too, as he said yes – so off we went.

Children’s Verdict

I always ask the boys for their brutally honest opinions. This is what they had to say:

S (age 11): RATING 3/5.

“It was good but it didn’t have such good jumps as the one we went to after.”

C (age 8): RATING 4/5.

“I liked the second one better because I fell off at this one and people were swearing!”

(😂 Can’t argue with honesty!)

Final Thoughts

Would we go again? Probably not. Not for any negative reasons though; the track was great, the children were great taking turns and being respectful of smaller and slower children, but having tried two tracks in one day, we found the second one was more for us, so if we did find ourselves Pump Track hunting in Shrewsbury again, we would probably go for the second one…

Coming up next week… Bayston Hill Pump Track, Shropshire!