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Whinlatter Forest Park Mountain Bike Trail Centre

Whinlatter Forest Park Mountain Bike Trail Centre
Avg 4.26
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup
Number of Reviews (34)

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

  • Information:
  • Type: Purpose Built Centre
  • Grades: Blue,Red,Forest Road
  • Facilities: Car Park,Toilets,Visitors Centre,Cafe,Bike Wash
  • Distance(s): Under 5km, 5-10km, 11-20km
  • Country: England
  • County: Cumbria
  • Website: Whinlatter Forest
  • Facebook:
  • Email:

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Description

Whinlatter Forest Park Mountain bike trail centre near Keswick in Cumbria in the Lake District has two purpose-built mountain bike trails: the red Altura trail and the blue Quercus trail. It also has a waymarked forest road graded trail

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Whinlatter Forest Park rises to 790 metres above sea level and is England's only mountain forest so the views of the Lake District and into Scotland as you ride are spectacular. 

The Altura Trail

  • The Altura Trail is graded red and is 19 kilometres long (including 15 kilometres of new singletrack).  The trail has been built for experienced riders with good off-road skills and a reasonable level of fitness.
  • It has challenging singletrack sections and popular features like berms, jumps, rock gardens, skinnies, corkscrews and tabletops. There are also great views of Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite and the surrounding fells.
  • It is split into a North Loop and a South Loop and part of the benefit of Whinlatter is that you can conveniently mix and match sections e.g. do the blue Quercus then the Altura South Loop for variety. 

The Quercus Trail

  • The blue Quercus trail has a 7.5km option and a shorter 3.5 km option. It consists of flowing single track with gentle berms, rolling jumps and wide gradual climbs with technical features. The trail starts downhill with sweeping intricate bends, then climbs up and bends and twists its way until riders come face to face with the Big Wall, a double-banked bend within the forest. After climbing up through oak woodland, the trail crosses a bridge and into the darker conifer forest. The trail finishes with the hollow sound of a raised boardwalk over a bog and through the forest.

Gorse Cycle Trail

    • A 10km forest road graded route, along well-surfaced forest roads. Long gradual climbs and descents through fantastic scenery.

History

  • The trails were built by trail builders Clixbys with funding support from the North West Regional Development Agency who not only helped fund the trail but also the redevelopment of the car park at the Visitor Centre.  
  • The Altura is the longest purpose-built mountain bike trail in the Lake District and took nine months to build. It was constructed using material that had been sourced from the forest. 
  • The Quercus Trail is named after the Latin for Oak (Quercus Petraea) because the furthest loop of the trail runs through the Masmill Oak Woodland.

Other Stuff

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  • If you have ridden the mountain bike trails at Whinlatter Forest then why not share your experience and add some pictures, videos or a brief review to the listing.

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Ollie:
Avg 4.30
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Excellent trail

Located at the top of the lakes, Whinlatter is bloody miles away from everything (ie the south) but what it lacks in ease of access it makes up for in quality riding. Whinlatter is a "proper" mountain trail - its steep, rocky, cold, wet, fast, rooty, techy, and then covers it all with epic views over the Scottish hills on one side and the lakes on the other. The quality of the trails are simply outstanding. Having ridden at the blown out braking bumps of Cannock a few weeks prior, this was like another world. Yes, the climbs are tough, and possibly it could do with a few more options (either black lines or additional red routes) but the downhills more than make up for it. The climb for the south side trail was brutal, but the descent was one of the best I've ridden in recent memory. FWIW I rode a 29er XC bike and was in no way under biked despite the rocky nature of start of the final downhill. I'd definatley go back if I was in the area again. Cafe / changing facilities were good, the only downside was the cost of parking which increases every 20 mins(!) after 2 hours.

What do you like?

Great quality trail Tough climb Epic views Decent cake

What could be improved?

Parking costs Miles away from civilisation

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

24/09/2018 - over 7 years ago

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2
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Marc jenkinson:
Avg 4.31
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Whinny

Awesome place to ride

What do you like?

Great all round trails

What could be improved?

Could do with some new trails

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

15/12/2017 - about 8 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

2
^
Andy:
Avg 4.67
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Whinlatter

Grand places, some great local trails too.

What do you like?

Bike shop, cafe. Trails great. Easy access

What could be improved?

Done it dozens of times, it would be nice to introduce some new sections.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

26/11/2017 - about 8 years ago

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2
^
Angela Hart:
Avg 4.42
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Pristine!

Both the north and south trails have a brilliant descent. It must be the best maintained forest or trail centre have ever been to. It's beautiful scenery, varied woodland, there isn't a pothole on the fire roads, it's just perfect, as are the trails. The car park is high tech, reg recognition so no dicking with tickets. The visitor centre is also mega.

What do you like?

Good descents! Well maintained.

What could be improved?

None

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

19/11/2017 - about 8 years ago

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2
^
Adam:
Avg 4.19
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Some of the best downhill I've done. I always say it's similar to glentress for the trails. You go up then come down with a smile. Usually busy when I've been. The variety of trails is a bit lacking but still a great place for a ride.

What do you like?

Superb downhill Great views of the lakes

What could be improved?

Not much variety Usually very busy

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

22/10/2017 - over 8 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

2
^
Jody W:
Avg 4.54
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Whinlatter Altura red

Haven't tried blue route but wife and kids love it.

What do you like?

North and south loops start from trail centre so can have a break between them. Both similar in being climb to top via fire road and singletrack then descend in one go. Both brilliant fun, well made and have jaw dropping views. About 5 miles long each, climbs are hard enough. Good cafe and bike shop.

What could be improved?

None really.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

27/04/2017 - over 8 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

2
^
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