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Gisburn Forest Bike Trails

Gisburn Forest Bike Trails
Avg 4.46
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup
Number of Reviews (92)

*You can claim this trail if you are the trail owner

  • Information:
  • Type: Purpose Built Centre
  • Grades: Blue,Red,Black,Orange
  • Riding: Cross Country,Downhill,Skills Area
  • Facilities: Car Park,Toilets,Cafe,Bike Shop
  • Distance(s): 5-10km, 11-20km
  • Country: England
  • County: Lancashire
  • Website: Gisburn
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Trail Network & Rider Segments

Trail network status from Trailforks and recent rider segments from Strava (see full mapped routes and details in the Tracks tab).

Trail Status

status via Trailforks.com

Tracks Nearby

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Description

Gisburn Forest MTB bike trails are in the Forest of Bowland, near Clitheroe, in Lancashire. Gisburn Forest consists of two mountain bike trails a Red (with black sections) and a Blue and a progressive skills loop. There are also Downhill tracks like the Orange graded Hope Line as well as specific DH Lines in the area.

Like this?

There is an active volunteer community at Gisburn who are continually further developing and nurturing what's on offer.

There is a vast network of natural trails in the Yorkshire Dales just over the county border.

The 8 (Red with Black Options)

  • The red (with back sections) is an 18-kilometre trail, set overlooking the Stock Reservoir in a scenic forest setting. Designed in a figure of eight (hence the name) it consists of diverse downhill and shore sections. The trail is for experienced and intermediate riders. Some of the famous sections are Bottoms Beck, Home Baked Park Wood, the roller coaster of Hully Gully, Bigfoot slab and Swoopy and Rocky Road.
  • Long Way Down is a red descent as an alternative to the black Hully Gully. As well as offering choice it should help with winter erosion of the gulkey.

Bottoms Beck (Blue)

  • The blue trail is a shorter 9.5-kilometre route specifically for families and beginners. It has sections of green. 

Hope Line Down (Orange)

  • This is a great little downhill trail that starts off with some rollers, kickers are full of fun berms, tabletops drops and then more of the same before ending on a pump track style finale

Skills loop

  • The skills loop is situated by the stone wall circle Gisburn Forest Hub. It comprises three interconnected mini loops, each progressively more challenging riding experiences. The trails are filled features and obstacles designed to test riders' abilities. 

Advanced Skills Area (Replacing Leap of Faith) 

  • Progressive set-up featuring tabletops, a new jump line, berms, and rollers

Other Trails

  • There is an off-piste network, with well-known wild trails including Stickman, LoaMUDageddon, Old School Yorkie, Search for Yann’s Burger, Chunk Norris, and Uncle Bulgaria.

Trail Map

Groups and Clubs

  • Gisburn Forest Bike Trails Facebook Group.
  • Gisburn Downhill Facebook Page
  • Gisburn Forest Trail Builders, a group of enthusiastic riders from throughout the region has helped on a number of volunteer trail building days organised by the Forestry Commission. The group has contributed an estimated £100,000 of value to the project by hand-building over 1,500 metres of new trail and over 1100 volunteer hours (last year alone). The hand-built sections of the trail are very different in character to the machine built areas.
  • PMBA are an organisation dedicated to taking biking forward across the whole Pennines. They are a group of riders, clubs and volunteer trail building teams from across Lancashire and the North Pennines.

Other Stuff

  • If you are looking for a guide or coach in the region then check out Adam at Trail Explorer who works throughout the North West including lee Quarry and Gisburn Forest
  • The trails are part of the Ribble Valley Sports and Physical Activity Alliance (SPAA) and were made possible by a £60,000 lottery grant from Sports England. £60,000 was also contributed by the Forest of Bowland AONB, Ribble Valley Borough Council, Ribble Valley Strategic Partnership, United Utilities, and the Forestry Commission
  • In 2016 Gisburn took 3rd place in the Trail of the Year campaign for England. In 2015 they took 2nd position for the iBikeride English Trail of the Year awards. In 2014 they were awarded 1st place in 2014 for the iBikeRide English Trail of the Year and in 2013 were crowned UK Trail of the Year, taking pole position.

Share

  • If you have ridden the mountain bike trails here at Gisburn Forest then why not share your experiences and write a short review below and/or add some photos or videos to the listing.

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Daniel Beech:
Avg 3.90
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Brill trail centre

Make sure you have change for the carpark, I forgot and had to take a drive to the nearest town (4 miles). As others mentioned well worth paying as all the work going into the tracks and facilities must cost so contribute its only £3!!

What do you like?

Really good tight single track reds and wider blues for beginners. Easy to follow loop on the blue and plenty of opportunities to step off the blue onto some red tracks then jump back on when you have had enough.

What could be improved?

Some of the reds quite steep and slippy to ride up especially on rainy days. Some of the red tracks a little more black in places in my opinion (fairly new to trail riding) but mostly 'doable'.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

18/08/2014 - over 11 years ago

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1
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Spaceham:
Avg 4.88
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Just keeps getting better

What do you like?

Great trail, with loads of variety. It's got everything, from flowing single track, rooty descents and rocky technical climbs (Never too long or difficult), and probably one of the most fun features of any centre, Hully Gully. Never fails to put a smile on your face. It now has a 'dads' downhill, the hope line (Perfect!), and a proper downhill section (One day I'll do it all, just get the Heli ready!). If you're just starting out it can be a tough trail fitness wise, but can be split in two by doing either the lower loop, or the top loop, both about 9km each. I'm told that all of the money from the pay and display is going back into the trail, and it's not much. Worth paying, as you can see the trails are constantly being added to, and upgraded.

What could be improved?

The facilities are basic, but it's being developed all the time, and just keeps getting better.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

30/06/2014 - over 11 years ago

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2
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Steve Williams:
Avg 4.72
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Middle aged men evening ride round red 8

We did the red run figure of 8, will return to have a go at the black sections this is a really great venue. The thing that would really improve the venue is better maps, with little descriptions of each section, plus a few photos, on the marker posts indicate north south etc and quality of printed maps could be so much better.

What do you like?

Loved the variety, the spacing between sections, all rideable but as it was our first time a couple of foot faults and one off. We had permanent grins from start to finish although they faded a little on some of the steep climbs. Scenery was great and it is now a destination that will be revisited. Anyone wanting to develop their skills, be challenged this is the place to go, brilliant design, good signposts completely surprised how good it was. As a footnote last few rides include walna scar road, Loadpot, Skiddaw in the lakes and this was as much fun. Cannot think of a better way to spend a Friday evening unless Kylie Minogue is free.

What could be improved?

Midges attacked without warning in the car park but soon were outpaced.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

31/05/2014 - over 11 years ago

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1
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beardedbiggs:
Avg 5.00
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

the (amazing) 8

from the start you get to see the high standard that these trails are built to very technical trails with a good mix of rocks (and lots of them) roots, climbs and descents. hully gully is a cracking section and well worth the trip alone! we didnt get to try out the downhill lines as we were shattered but next time we will certainly give them a go. i would put gisburn up there as one of the best trail centres in the uk, i rode round grinning like a cheshire cat, its just a shame its in the middle of nowhere! i will definitely be visiting again and again

What do you like?

well maintained trails technical red black options are top notch great fun

What could be improved?

is there any?

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

15/03/2014 - almost 12 years ago

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1
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parky:
Avg 4.64
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Gisburn mtb rock climbing!

The red and black are a cross between Penmachno and Cannock, best of both worlds. Always see younger riders, mother daughters, dad and lad etc. so must have other trials suitable. Have a go at the skills area its excellent, i usually pass them by but this one well worth a go.

What do you like?

there are no bad points! the scenery, mtb does rock climbing! makes you ride the bike properly, you have to get out of your seat! rough like what mountains are made of( unlike llandegla with the smooth track that has been mistaken for fire road!) Superb excellent Skills area, this one is worth having a go at.

What could be improved?

none really, maybe a bit short for advanced fit riders or some may not like the lack of facilities but it is mountain biking, not a ride in the local park. There is a cafe which has everything you need after a ride!

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

04/03/2014 - almost 12 years ago

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1
^
Chaserider1:
Avg 4.59
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Solo ride at Gisburn

I will be going back with friends who have not been.

What do you like?

Had to go to Leeds for an evening appointment so decided to throw bike in car and set off early and make the 2 hr journey worth while with a ride at Gisburn Forest. Recently read it was voted best in the UK and I can see why. I usually ride Cannock Chase as I live within a 10 minute ride and although it's good can get a bit tedious riding same trails all the time. It's been a few years but I have also ridden CyB, Llandegla and Afan so can give good comparisons. I rally enjoyed GF. I did about 19 miles doing the top loop of The 8 twice as I really enjoyed it. I found the bottom half similar to the parts dog the Chase, lovely enclosed trails through tight trees and then loved how the trails changed once you climb up the steep fire road climb next to the Hope Line. The single track goes up over bed rock at a small quarry and continues to be rocky upto Whepstone Crag. This was excellent and although slow I enjoyed the technical riding, with pedal placement weight shifting essential over such large boulders. The fast flowy stuff soon came and really felt the g force on Hully Gully. I also really enjoyed the surrounding area and gave you sense of isolation which you don't get on Cannock Chase. In this respect, especially on top loop of The 8, I felt it was a little like some parts of Wales. Found trails good quality and with all the rain was surprised to find not that muddy, but held a few puddles.

What could be improved?

It's a shame it's not a little longer but this is a new trail centre and it has plenty of room to expand in the coming years. Don't expect facilities like Llandegla, Cannock Chase or CyB but this is part of the appeal for me,but again think this will be changing in coming years as there was a bit of building work going on in the carpals etc. I went on a Tues and only saw two other bikers.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

16/01/2014 - almost 12 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

2
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