[Closed] Grizedale Forest - what's it like?

The way marked bits are ok-ish, but there isn't one single decent descent really.

I always use them to link up the superb bridleways that the forest is riddled with.

I like the NFT, it's not technical and it can be done in an hour and a half or so, but it's quite fast and worth doing a couple of laps. The first 'ascent' winding through the trees is great.

yes mate,

There is a trail round Grizedale its ok, worth while if your in the nearby area though if you have the option I would head up to whinlatter as its much better. Grizedale is lots of climbing the climbs are quite enjoyable though (look out for the hand drawn elephant about a 1/3rd of the way up on your left drawn on a rock its cool!) but to be honest the downhills are'nt as good. Plus you do a large chunk of the descending on a fireroad though you climb all the way up on singletrack?!?!?!? Though like I say its worth a bash if your in the area.

If you can get to Whinlatter go its easily one of the best trail centres in the uk (in my opinion!!!)

Good luck,

we want pics!!

Grizedale is stuffed with fantastic bridleways although if you don't know the way round it's easy to do them the wrong way round. Have a look on the [url= http://www.bogtrotters.org ]bogtrotters website[/url] for route maps and photos.

NFT is OK as a beginner loop but frankly it's only any good if a) you're properly nailing it or b) you're on a CX bike.
Trying to bimble round it on a full sus is just dull, there's too much fireroad and the singetrack sections are too bumpy to really flow properly.

It's okay. Standard trail centre stuff. Tame singletrack mainly.

Can you get over to Kentmere/Wheelbase/Staveley?

Better stuff over there IMO. More fun, more varied and better downhills.

Thanks for the info. Hmm...sounds like it might be fun to really whizz around it on a fast xc bike - might have to borrow the wifes Anthem X (just to test and bed in the new brakes I've just fitted to it 😉 ).

p.s. ta for the link to bogtrotters site.

If your short of time the North Face Trail will be fine. Personally I reckon it gets a bit of a bad press.

Put it anywhere else apart from in Grizedale and it would be ace, its just that there is so much superb natural stuff in the forest that makes it hard for the man made to compete.

FWIW I reckon the final run from Moor Top to the VC is a cracking run.

If your not struggling for time, let me know and I can send you some MMO's or JPEG of routes in the forest.

Grizedale is one of the best riding areas in the country. The NFT is very good for linking bits of the natural stuff together. The climb out of Grizedale is made bearable by the trail and you can then use it to get to my favourite descents, Parkamoor, Carron Crag and that one called the Dentist's Chair down to Satterthwaite.

Just before Christmas we did quite a bit of the NFT in thick snow and ice (navigating as above). That made it a bit more techy.

Top Tip - start at Hawkshead - the parking is cheaper and the pubs are better.

mbr did an article on this in their january issue (i think feb's is in the shops now) shows how to link the trail centre in with the local bridleways etc, might be worth a look if you can get hold of a copy.

The trailcentre itself is ok as a trailcentre, dull as dishwater on a biggish bike but probably quite fun on a nice light XC bike. The natural stuff in the forest is way, WAY better. Last time we were up there with some friends they both bailed due to too much alcohol the night before so we ended up doing the marked loop instead of the natural stuff, on 5" bikes with some kind of adventure race going on. That was dire.

A topper tip than the previous top tip

Park beside Coniston Water at one of the FREE car parks near Brantwood then climb up the back of Brantwood to Lawson Park. Turn left there and climb through the forest to the fire road. Turn left there and pick up the NFT on your right and follow to Grizedale Centre. Then EITHER cut down towards Satterthwaite, pick up Moor Lane and climb to Parkamoor OR climb straight out of the centre on a bridleway that leads you back to that first fire road and pick up the higher bridleway to Parkamoor. Descend (Dodgy in places)to Nibthwaite and retrace along side of Lake to car.

That'll give you a bit of both worlds and no parking tax....and yes it is generaly the case that the original trails in this area are rather better than the NFT but at least the NFT does take the strain of numbers away from everywhere else.

Thanks very much for all the feedback and suggestions. I'd missed the recent MBR feature on the BW links in the area - and, (I'll get flamed on here for admitting it, I do have an electronic subscription to MBR - which I hardly ever get time to open 😕 ).

The venue sounds a bit Sherwood Pines-ey in nature. When we get bored with bouncing around on the local Peak Dist. trails, we go over to Pines for a XC type blast - we find the red route a bit duff, but it sounds similar to Grizedale, in that you can cherry pick the best bits to link into good 'off the radar' stuff.

From what's been said, I think I'll definately use my wifes Anthem X (way lighter and faster than my Trek EX), it sort of has the ability to bring tame trails alive. Cant't wait to get up there now 🙂 (my client had better not cancel!)

p.s. cheers for the parking tip offs.

Personally, I think the NFT is a waste of a hillside; the bridleways that criss-cross it are far superior. As mentioned above, it's okay for linking sections of bridleway together but that is it, and the descent is gash. If the NFT trail was to be graded, then surely it would be a green trail.

You could do a lot worse than pop into Bike Treks in Ambleside and have a chat with the guys there; they will point you in the direction of trails that are far, far better than NFT and Whinlatter.