Description
Grizedale Forest Park, in the Lake District, has a red and black from the purpose-built trail network, an extensive network of family-friendly forest roads, technical bridleways, and a scattering of unofficial off-piste lines. New red-grade downhill sections were added near Moor Top in 2025, built by Velosolutions for Forestry England. Beyond the riding, Grizedale is also home to the UK's largest forest sculpture trail and a brand-new observatory and planetarium.
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The Trails
- The North Face (Red, 16km/10 miles): Nine sections of singletrack on the west side of the forest, with rock sections, tough climbs, technical descents, slabs, berms and drop-offs.
- Moor Top (Red): In 2025, new red-grade downhill sections were added near Moor Top car park, built by Velosolutions for Forestry England: smooth, flowy track with tight technical corners.
- The Black: An optional 1km purpose-built downhill trail with smooth tight corners, berms, drop-offs, tabletops and some rocky, steep sections, with single and double black options. Access via the forest road east of Carron Crag summit (North Face Trail to marker 5, then straight on for half a mile).
- Forest Roads: A network of family-friendly routes including Goosey Foot Tarn (3.5km), Grizedale Tarn (10km), Hawkshead Moor (17km), Moor Top (11.5km), and Silurian Way (16km).
- Bridleways: A network of technical, flowing and rocky bridleways, including the Parkamoor route: a hard/difficult 17.1-mile ride starting from the visitor centre, taking in the North Face Trail before heading along the fells above Coniston Water for the Parkamoor descent into High Nibthwaite.
- Off-Piste: An unofficial, unsanctioned network of steep, technical lines known locally by names including Vikings, Grandad, Dad and the Dentist, The Fox, Devil's Gallop and the Breasty Haw North Descent. These aren't Forestry England graded or maintained routes.
Gravel Riding
Grizedale's Forest Roads network supports genuine gravel riding from the same car park as the singletrack: BikeTreks Grizedale, the on-site bike shop, brands Silurian Way as the "Silurian Gravel Trail," and the wider network of forest-road routes adds up to a substantial ride on its own terms.
Beyond the Trails
Grizedale is home to the UK's largest forest sculpture exhibition, with over 40 sculptures across the site, plus Gruffalo and Room on the Broom family trails for younger visitors. Go Ape runs a high ropes course here, including a Treetop Adventure Plus course suitable for ages 6 to 10. New for 2025, the Grizedale Observatory and Planetarium offers stargazing and planetarium experiences, and there's an on-site cafe.
Local Organisation
- The Lake District Mountain Bike Association (LDMBA) is the consultative body for off-road cycling in the Lake District, though current activity levels could not be confirmed.
Getting Here
From Ambleside, head for Coniston. After the one-way section by the rugby club, keep in the left-hand lane then bear left onto the A593 towards Coniston/Hawkshead. Follow the B5286 (signposted Hawkshead) past the village to a junction where Grizedale is signposted; turn right, pass a school, then turn right again at the next signpost and follow the road to the visitor centre. From the A591 Barrow Road, a signed route from Haverthwaite leads through country lanes to the visitor centre (LA22 0QJ). BikeTreks Grizedale, the on-site bike shop, offers hire, demo days and races.
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