Mountain Biking in the Lake District - Grizedale Forest
Here was the first of the hills, the wide track leading steeply through a field on the far side of the gate.
Beyond, the grassy slopes rose up to where they were overhung by the edge of the forest which itself cloaked steep hillsides which we would have to surmount at some point in the very near future...
This was the start of the Hawkshead Moor Trail one of the marked mountain bike trails in Grizedale Forest in the southern part of the Lake District National Park.
The route is ten and a half miles in length though one must allow longer than for the same distance on the road owing to hills and a rough surface.
There are however no technical challenges on this ride as is the case with all the Grizedale bike trails apart from the red graded North Face Trail.
The North Face route follows the same loop as the Hawkshead Moor Trail and can be joined and left along the way giving the choice of the harder or easier ride.
Grizedale Forest has 6 such trails and the site is managed by the Forestry Commission, the government agency responsible for managing the bulk of Britain's Forests.
Aside from forestry though they have made an excellent job of opening up the forests for leisure activities, providing a network of traffic free paths for both cyclists and walkers at most of their sites.
The trails are clearly waymarked and maps are provided at a low cost for both the cycling and walking routes.
From the Grizedale visitor centre which is equipped with a good - not too expensive - cafe and a large play area for the kids, 4 trails set out into the surrounding woods.
The 2 mentioned here are entirely off road (traffic free but look out for occasional forestry vehicles) and are both listed as taking two and a half hours.
The other 2 are the 7 mile (hour and a half) Moor top Trail and the 14 mile (three and a half hour) Silurian Way which are both a mixture of forest trail and public road.
From the Moor Top car park up the hill towards Hawkshead there is the 2 mile (half hour) Goosey Foot Tarn Trail and from Bogle Crag down towards Satterthwaite is the Grizedale Tarn Trail which I had ridden the previous evening and which is a delightful ride through the forest with open views in the upper sections.
On my own the 6 miles (initial steep climb) took me 45 minutes though the map says allow an hour and a half.
Both routes are off road.
An advantage of parking at either of these other car parks is that they are are free while there is a charge at the Grizedale visitor centre but if you need food, toilets or a play area then you will want the main centre regardless.
Grizedale Forest is easiest reached from Hawkshead but is also accessible from the A590 turning off at Haverthwaite or Greenodd.
Maps of the cycle trails (recommended) are available priced £1.
50 at the time of writing from the main visitor centre as are maps of the walking trails.
I personally found the times given to complete each route extremely generous but the area is hilly so take your time and enjoy the ride.
Beyond, the grassy slopes rose up to where they were overhung by the edge of the forest which itself cloaked steep hillsides which we would have to surmount at some point in the very near future...
This was the start of the Hawkshead Moor Trail one of the marked mountain bike trails in Grizedale Forest in the southern part of the Lake District National Park.
The route is ten and a half miles in length though one must allow longer than for the same distance on the road owing to hills and a rough surface.
There are however no technical challenges on this ride as is the case with all the Grizedale bike trails apart from the red graded North Face Trail.
The North Face route follows the same loop as the Hawkshead Moor Trail and can be joined and left along the way giving the choice of the harder or easier ride.
Grizedale Forest has 6 such trails and the site is managed by the Forestry Commission, the government agency responsible for managing the bulk of Britain's Forests.
Aside from forestry though they have made an excellent job of opening up the forests for leisure activities, providing a network of traffic free paths for both cyclists and walkers at most of their sites.
The trails are clearly waymarked and maps are provided at a low cost for both the cycling and walking routes.
From the Grizedale visitor centre which is equipped with a good - not too expensive - cafe and a large play area for the kids, 4 trails set out into the surrounding woods.
The 2 mentioned here are entirely off road (traffic free but look out for occasional forestry vehicles) and are both listed as taking two and a half hours.
The other 2 are the 7 mile (hour and a half) Moor top Trail and the 14 mile (three and a half hour) Silurian Way which are both a mixture of forest trail and public road.
From the Moor Top car park up the hill towards Hawkshead there is the 2 mile (half hour) Goosey Foot Tarn Trail and from Bogle Crag down towards Satterthwaite is the Grizedale Tarn Trail which I had ridden the previous evening and which is a delightful ride through the forest with open views in the upper sections.
On my own the 6 miles (initial steep climb) took me 45 minutes though the map says allow an hour and a half.
Both routes are off road.
An advantage of parking at either of these other car parks is that they are are free while there is a charge at the Grizedale visitor centre but if you need food, toilets or a play area then you will want the main centre regardless.
Grizedale Forest is easiest reached from Hawkshead but is also accessible from the A590 turning off at Haverthwaite or Greenodd.
Maps of the cycle trails (recommended) are available priced £1.
50 at the time of writing from the main visitor centre as are maps of the walking trails.
I personally found the times given to complete each route extremely generous but the area is hilly so take your time and enjoy the ride.
Source...