Gisburn Forest Mountain Bike Trail Hot
Trails
Gisburn Forest Mountain Bike Trail: The Forestry Commission is celebrating its latest successful mountain bike venture on its estate at Gisburn Forest, near Clitheroe, in Lancashire.
The new waymarked trails, which were opened in September last year, are still being developed, but are fast becoming the one of the county’s premier mountain biking centres. The Forestry Commission is also expanding the current infrastructure, particularly the car parking areas, to cope with the extra influx of visitors. The facilities include an easy eight kilometre ‘blue’ route for families and beginners and a 22 kilometre ‘red’ course for more experienced and expert cyclists.
The trails, which are set against the stunning backdrop of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, include tricky downhill and boardwalk sections and also offer fine views over the nearby Stocks Reservoir. The trails are part of the Ribble Valley Sports and Physical Activity Alliance (SPAA) and were completed with the aid of a £60,000 lottery grant from Sport England. £60,000 was also contributed by the project partners - the Forest of Bowland AONB, Ribble Valley Borough Council, Ribble Valley Strategic Partnership, United Utilities and the Forestry Commission.
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 £15,000 of value to the project by hand building over 1,000 metres of new trail. The hand built section of trail is very different in character to the machine built areas. Some visiting riders have commented that it is unique and their favourite section of new trail.
The Forestry Commission are working towards providing opportunities for year round visits, as well as developing bridleway and quiet road links that will encourage alternative starting points by cyclists. As well as mountain biking, Gisburn Forest is also an ideal location for walking, wildlife spotting and picnics. More information about Gisburn Forest can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland
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Gisburn Review
ideal place as an alternative to grizedale or llandegla, mainly because due to its location and lack of facilities, not many people come to have a go, which one the one side is a sad thing because it should be used a lot more, but on the plus side its never crowded.
there is a van that comes serving hot food and drink on weekends, although i've not been during the week (daytime) i cannot say if it goes then too, but i doubt it.
its an ideal place to fill a couple of hours as its approx 11miles around the red route, but this doesnt include the DH section.
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