Want to ride the ultimate Lake District mountain bike trail, well, deemed that by some bikers. The Lake District has had its fair share of mountain bikers for years, so why Grizedales North Face trail?
Well, like the rest of the Lake District, Grizedale has to attract more and more people to stay economically viable, the North face trail is an ideal way of encouraging a full range of mountain bikers to take up the sport and explore the national park therefore creating revenue. The North Face trail is soon becoming infamous as far as mountain bike routes in the Lake District go, thanks to the regional and local press. The Grizedale MTB route was built thanks to sponsorship from North Face & Rural Regeneration Cumbria.
The Grizedale North Face trail starts at the the Grizedale Visitors Centre, which in turn is being renovated, as part of a major regeneration project. The North Face Trail is a 9.7 mile track consisting of 9 sections of approx 1 metre wide mtb track sometimes considerably thinner, the mountain bike route is on the west side of Grizedale Forest, ideal for training and exploring different obstacles and terrains. Mountain biking in the North west, has been popular for years, it is hoped the introduction of the North Face Trail will not discourage mountain bikers to explore independently - The Munkies opinion "The North Face Trail needs bedding in more, still an awesome mountain bike trail".
The North Face Trail offers mountain bikers an adrenalin filled experience incorporating single track descents with leg burning uphills, twisting through oak woodlands and conifer forests. The challenging North Face cycling route gives all mountain bikers lairy board walks with picturesque views along the way, the North Face trail offers a whole new cycling experience to The Lake District.
The North Face trail situated in Grizedale is designed and built by a Welsh team who built the infamous Afan Forest moutain bike routes in Swansea.
The North Face trail
A rough guide to the MTB trail
- The North Face Trail
- Location Grizedale Forest Park, The Lake District Cumbria
- Grade Red (difficult)
- Length 15.5km (9.7 miles)
- Features Boardwalks, wooden berms, log ride, drops, rock sections
- Further information www.forestry.gov.uk/thenorthfacetrail
Grizedale forest, unlike mountain bike trails in South and West Wales and the Scottish Borders, the Lakes already gets countless mountain bikers without needing purpose built trails and some riders fear that mountain bikers will be over-encouraged to ride the trail in preference to exploring the bridleways up on the hills - though as we've seen in places like north Wales and the Scottish Borders, most riders seem happy with this self-segregation and will choose easy to follow waymarked trails over the challenge of routefinding in the hills.
The North Face Trail is a great mountain biking route in all weathers especially snow and rain, beware the slippery North Face trail boardwalks.
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The North Face Trail has a variety of terrains set over a 10-mile track, 10 sections, single track combined with forest tracks set in Cumbria's picturesque Grizedale Forest.
Katie Jarvis of the Forestry Commission comments:
"We're delighted that Grizedale will be home to one of England's most challenging purpose built mountain biking trails 'The North Face Trail'. It will help to make this one the best venues for mountain biking in the country."
Keith Byrne, UK Marketing Manager of The North Face, comments:
"The Lake District is crying out for a top quality purpose-built mountain biking trail and it's brilliant that we're the title sponsor now that it's finally about to happen. "The location couldn't be better and the past work of the designers on board speaks for itself so everything is in place for The North Face Trail to emulate the success of the hugely popular trails in North Wales."
James Rebanks, Tourism Programme Manager at Rural Regeneration Cumbria, said:"This is a really exciting project that adds another strand to the facilities on offer at Grizedale. It is important that we develop a sustainable mountain bike trail network which is accessible for families, in this way we can extend the season and maximise the economic benefit for local businesses. This kind of development works so well because it spreads visitors throughout the forest without negative impact on the environment".
The North Face trail is situated close to Hawkshead and Lake Windermere and The North Face trail believe its Grizedale mountain bike trail will benefit from being in heart of the Lake District's well-ridden mountain bike routes.
I will add any of your comments to the site - please email ben@nothernmunkies.co.uk
Why not take a look at another Grizedale forest track? |
