[Closed] Gisburn Forest - Whats it like?

It's come on massivley over the last few years with a great red/back route. There's plenty of stuff on here about the trails, as with lots of other places the winter hit it pretty bad in some sections so it's worth finding out areas where maintenance is ongoing. Lee quary is worth a look too!

I've had a look on youtube at some of the trails and it looks quite fun, i'll check lee quarry out later. Cheers

It's rubbish. Stay away.

More for me! 😉

haha i'll only be quick don't worry!!

But you must do the slab drop bit. Everyone seesm to miss it out and it's a highlight.

One of the best bits is closed for repairs, it might be worth waiting until that reopens. Or go twice!

I'm not going until the end of April, hopefully it will be open then?? I will be sure to do it, tend to ride first and think afterwards!!

That's the spirit! The missing bit should be back by then, I'd think. It's on Yestube as the Rollercoaster, IIRC.

Finchie,

info here,

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/gisburn-fully-open-or-bits-still-shut

Yep should be open again by the end of April if martin and Nigel complete the repairs this week.

poor design & choice of material have ruined what should of been a very good place to ride. I would be happy to pay a few quid for the car park as this trail is going to need loads of maintenance. I'd close. It October to March personally.

I rode it just as it was finishing in the summer/autumn, before the directions were finished but some locals showed me round. I really liked it, the big dipper section (or what ever its called) is great fun!

If it wasnt for the locals i wouldnt have found my way round very well back then but i guess this is all way marked now.

There are some great standout sections and im not sure if they are the bits closed for maintenance and if they are i would put it off till later as the foresty bit as just a bit, well, foresty 🙂

knott4me - Member

poor design & choice of material have ruined what should of been a very good place to ride

The design was only flawed or 'not appropriate' on one section IMO (ie putting obsticals on the climb to the crag). I think most mtbers would have ridden the obsticals, other people just rode around them, causing the current problems. I don't think the design was poor in that section, there was just no alternative for numptys. But yes, I think everyone involved, given the chance, would turn the clocks back and change some of the locally sourced materials for trail spec. aggregate. The locally sourced material, in some sections, just hasn't held up to the massive number of users over the winter.

The Hully Gully (rollercoaster) section is being resurfaced by volunteers. I expect other sections will be aswell. So, new volunteer build sections are being held up.

It's a great spot and well worth a day. Repairs to the trails are in the pipeline and in the meantime, trails is better than no trails 🙂

I've only ridden it once so far, and really liked it. OK, it's man made, and many sections reflect that, but the fact that around the crag it actually passes over something resembling moorland means it looses that hemmed in trail centre feel.

I can recall describing some of the route as being similar to the natural trails in southern Grizedale.

I rode it with Ed on one of his skills days... The volunteer section of singletrack through the woods is one of the most fun bits of trail I've ridden in a long time! Fast, twisty, turney, few little jumps and bang! Into a rocky chute at a fair old pace and then on the gas again for the last few twists and turns.

Will be off back as soon as its all fully open (and dried out!).

Rode it over the w/e for the first time and surprised how 'natural' it felt even though it's man-made - guess that has to do with the forest and crags really;-) Yes, it's been armoured and parts are a little dull but this comes with the territory; it looks like it's had some hammer over the winter and in parts (although it was dry weather over the w/e), there was still some seriously gloopy bits that when they dry out would speed up the trail no end.

I enjoyed it, took my gf there for her first singletrack experience and loved it (if a little knackering for her - she only ickle). I'd like to head back when it's drier (and when the hully gully bit's re-opened) then have a ponder about it...

ps. was having a chat with the owner at the Whelpstone Cafe - top little spot, got bike shop starting up there too - and he was saying that there's going to be some massive redevelopment on the trail, so watch that space I guess.

I went about 6 months ago and was competely underwhelmed.

If you're into the trail centre thing then IMO this is one of the weakest.

B.A.Nana - Member
The design was only flawed or 'not appropriate' on one section IMO (ie putting obsticals on the climb to the crag). I think most mtbers would have ridden the obsticals, other people just rode around them, causing the current problems.

If that was true, you'd have a lovely trail up the middle and it isn't.

Ok update time:

The Gully is nearly finished.
Martin has plans for the forestry lads to carry out repairs near the crag once the current round of tree planting is completed.
Carpark / facilities / skills area plans are moving forward.
Freeride skills area is progressing.
Volunteers are still working away on new sections of trail.
It's only been officially open 7 months.

We've all learnt alot about trial design and materials and I hope those lessons are now being out into action.

Didn't Whinlatter suffer badly during it's first winter due to construction issues?

Quite often trail centres improve over time. I went to Lee Quarry after the first build phase and enjoyed bits but wasn't blown away overall (except on top!). I've heard from the same guys who went at the time that the subsequent build phases have improved it significantly. Would there have been any point in lambasting it after Phase 1? Not IMO.

It is incredibly easy to find fault, especially when enjoyment is such a personal and subjective experience. Especially so if you only know a little bit about what's behind a project (honestly, they're like icebergs 😉

I've ridden both Gis' and Lee Quarry and seen the pro's and con's in each. IMO it's better to be doing something, even if some bits are done "wrong"/"badly" (so long as you're learning at the same time), than not be doing anything significant at all.

If that appears to be faint praise then it shouldn't be taken as such. I appluad all the folks behind both projects for giving a sh1t and having a damn good stab at it. So what if there's a few bits of contention? It's a learning process. Taken as a whole, and seeing the rammed car park on a cold, wet, sh1tty Sunday morning I think it's safe to assume there's an awful lot of people that think Gis' is worth the effort. I suspect Lee is just the same. Still, there are always people who will know that [i]really [/i]some places are sh1t, despite their apparent appeal. Funny, eh 😉

I don't even bother asking whether the critics know anything about or have done any trail building before. No one ever admits ignorance. It's always "I was out digging my local trails last weekend" but there's never any chance or enough detail to cast a critical eye over their efforts 😉

Peace & Love & Best Wishes

Tim (SingletrAction)