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Grizedale Mountain Biking

Grizedale Mountain Biking
Avg 3.00
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup
Number of Reviews (16)

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

  • Information:
  • Type: Purpose Built Centre
  • Grades: Green,Red,Black,Ungraded,Forest Roads
  • Facilities: Car Park,Toilets,Visitors Centre,Cafe,Bike Wash,Bike Hire,Bike Shop
  • Distance(s): Under 5km, 5-10km, 11-20km, 21- 30km
  • Country: England
  • County: Cumbria
  • Website: Grizedale
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Description

Grizedale Forest Park is in the Lake District. It consists of a red and black from the trail center as well as a selection of bridleways and natural routes crisscrossing the area.

Like this?

There is also a number of family-focussed forest road rides in the center itself. There are good facilities including a cafe, shop and a bike wash. 

The North Face (Red)

  • The North Face mountain bike trail is 10 miles (16km) long and is graded red. It starts from the visitors centre and has nine sections of singletrack trail on the west side of Grizedale Forest. It has rocks sections, tough climbs, technical descents, slabs, berms, drop-offs, rocks, and shore as well as loads of singletrack.
  • Moor Top (Red): In 2025, new red-grade downhill sections were added near Moor Top, built by Velosolutions for Forestry England, featuring smooth, flowy track and tight technical corners.

The Black

  • The optional black section is 1km of purpose-built downhill trail. It has a smooth ride with tight corners, berms, drop-offs, tabletops, and some rocky and steep sections. It also has two options within for single or double black trail. You access it from the forest road to the east of Carron Crag summit (North Face trail to marker number 5 then continuing straight on along the forest road for half a mile)

Forest Roads

  • There are miles of forest trails throughout the forest which makes them the perfect family riding like the 3.5km Goosey Foot Tarn trail, the 10km Grizedale Tarn trail, the 17km Hawkshead Moor trail, the 11.5km Moor Top trail, the 4.8 (or 11km longer version) of the Mushroom cycle trail or the 23.5km Silurian Way cycle route.

Bridleways

  • Grizedale has a fantastic network of bridleways. There are technical climbs, flowing and rocky, steep downhills. One natural route is the Parkamoor mountain bike route a GPS route graded Hard / Difficult. The MTB route is 17.1 miles of great rocky riding starting from the Grizedale Vistors Centre. It begins on the man-made mountain bike trails of The North Face Trail, before heading along the fells above Coniston Water for the fantastic Parkamoor descent into High Nibthwaite. Although this descent is the highlight the ones that follow don't disappoint and there's a real rock fest to finish.
  • Great site for natural routes

Off-Piste

  • There is also a network of unofficial unsanctioned off-piste non waymarked tracks. Many are steep and technical. Some of the popular ones are Vikings, Grandad, Dad and the Dentist, The Fox, Devil's Gallop, and the Breasty Haw North Descent.

Other Stuff

Share and Review

  • If you have already or do get to ride these mountain bike trails at Grizedale Forest and the surrounding area then why not share your experiences with us and post some pictures, videos or a short review to the listing.

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Cameron:
Avg 4.20
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Good variety of riding options, excellent Lake district tech!

There's plenty of great options for riding in Grizedale. From gravel riding to steep techy off piste, even a couple of short new flow trails. The trail centre is in the Lake district so climbs are hard but you get rewarded with good views and if you pick the right trails some excellent descents! If you have little ones a tow rope is a worthwhile consideration as even the easier gravel routes are hilly!

What do you like?

The natural trails and off-piste options are amazing! For options check the Biketreks Grizedale website, they have a Komoot page for natural stuff or trailforks for some of the off-piste bits. The visitor centre has a good cafe and bike shop. Plenty of car parks all over the forest for different start points, the mains ones are somewhat expensive but all car parks are in the lakes. There has been some new trails built recently that are good fun too!

What could be improved?

If you are after a modern man made trails this is not the first place to look, the red is an old techy rocky XC loop with plenty of gravel sections, so beware it might not be what you're expecting. Though natural stuff and off piste is well worth a visit and some map reading though which makes up for it! The built trails would benefit from some more care and attention on some sections, but some revamping has happened recently. The centre is sorely missing a blue trail to help riders who are learning to progress! 
Be nice if parking wasn't quite as steep at the visitor centre.

Would you recommend?

yes

Date written:

03/07/2025 - 6 months ago

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1
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Trail Explorer :
Avg 3.80
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Grizedale

The official trail centre trails are great for families and beginners but the off piste trails are steep, techy and great fun to ride if you know where to look.

What do you like?

Amazing off piste trails

What could be improved?

Official trails are a bit bland for the more experienced rider

Would you recommend?

Yes

Date written:

03/01/2021 - about 5 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

4
^
Adam:
Avg 2.32
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

No smiling

The trails here were incredibly disappointing. Some quite difficult and rocky uphill without any reward of any downhill or flowing singletrack. I won't be going back in a hurry. Superb facilities and cafe though

What do you like?

Excellent facilities

What could be improved?

The trails don't flow or have any fun sections

Would you recommend?

*No*

Date written:

22/10/2017 - about 8 years ago

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

Avoid the man made stuff for the best trails

Don't be put off by the negative reviews but do realise it's hilly here so it will be hard work.

What do you like?

The man made trails aren't the best but can still be fun but the best riding is on the periphery of the forest. Some great rides can be had by interlinking natural bridleway a with sections of the North a Face route and also by dropping out of the forest into Hawkhead, Claife, Sattertwaite, Coniston or Nibthwaite. Some reviewers have complained there are too many hills nut this is the Lakes! For anyone with children choose your route wisely as too many hills here could put you off cycling instead of encouraging them.

What could be improved?

Some trails, especially man made ones, are suffering from erosion from over use. Parking fees are expensive but that's life nowadays, cafe can be hit n miss too.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

29/05/2017 - over 8 years ago

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1
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Ciarán O:
Avg 1.09
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
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Trail Quality
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Great facilities, terrible riding

Great place to go if you stop in the bike shop and ask for some trail advice on local routes. Otherwise don't bother, worst trails I've ever ridden

What do you like?

The bike shop - best bike shop I've visited for information, customer service and general friendliness The views

What could be improved?

the trails are the worst man made trails I have ever ridden, half fire road and the rest technical climbing and flat bumpy trails with no flow, don't waste your time!

Would you recommend?

*No*

Date written:

29/05/2017 - over 8 years ago

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2
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John:
Avg 0.92
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

NOT A GOOD EXPERIENCE

I'm writing this so other people know what to expect. There were a lot of families, who would have spent £££ on bike and child carrier hire, really struggling with these tracks. This isn't a pleasant cycle through a forest, you are on gravel and rocky roads which are very steep. Most people were pushing their bikes up the numerous hills and then having to cycle slowly down as it is very easy to skid and fall off on to gravel. There a few cut knees, sides and hands. The Grizedale bike tracks are manmade roads cut through the forest and it just wasn't much fun.

What do you like?

You're out side with the sun/rain/air on your face. The staff at the hire shop are very friendly and helpful and the bikes are well maintained & good quality.

What could be improved?

Steep gravel roads

Would you recommend?

*No*

Date written:

14/04/2017 - over 8 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

0
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