The first ride of 2016. I decided to pick up where I failed in my early blog posts. A 16-17 mile loop encompassing Grizedale Forest taking in some of the best descents in the area (the Parkamoor descent is rated VERY highly by locals and it's not difficult to understand why to be honest...INSANE!!).
My last attempt at this loop saw me and a mate miss a turn which led to some 10 miles of road riding back to the car park in the rain...not ideal, or the plan. So with my riding buddies expertly avoiding the original plan to visit Whinlatter (We'll save that for another day), I headed out on my own armed with the route guide to ensure I get a solid loop in and really tackle it...
My last attempt at this loop saw me and a mate miss a turn which led to some 10 miles of road riding back to the car park in the rain...not ideal, or the plan. So with my riding buddies expertly avoiding the original plan to visit Whinlatter (We'll save that for another day), I headed out on my own armed with the route guide to ensure I get a solid loop in and really tackle it...
I parked up at the visitors centre at Grizedale and began my journey, standard forestry commission's parking prices here but about half a mile south of the car park is a decent sized lay by that is often used by visitors for parking and usually is host to half a dozen or so cars.
To to begin with you pick up the North Face trail (another one I'll save for later) for the initial climbing. You can use the forest roads if you want to get up a bit quicker but there's plenty of wide tracks and fire roads in the loop already so I suggest picking it up and doing the Elephant's Pass and Great Escape sections.
Its after this that you venture from the man-made sign posted trail and really explore, taking a left and heading up to the Parkamoor descent. But first you're treated to some incredible views overlooking Coniston. As you can see below its worth it just for this!! Incredible!!
To to begin with you pick up the North Face trail (another one I'll save for later) for the initial climbing. You can use the forest roads if you want to get up a bit quicker but there's plenty of wide tracks and fire roads in the loop already so I suggest picking it up and doing the Elephant's Pass and Great Escape sections.
Its after this that you venture from the man-made sign posted trail and really explore, taking a left and heading up to the Parkamoor descent. But first you're treated to some incredible views overlooking Coniston. As you can see below its worth it just for this!! Incredible!!
Following these awesome views the trail undulates along the valley with some great fast open sections but beware because it is damn rocky, then before you know you're upon the Parkamoor final descent into High Nibthwaite. Crazy rock sections that really are a challenge for anyone and it's all about line choice. Pick the wrong one and you'll be second guessing and probably on your arse in tatters!!
From here the route follows some quite lanes up to Stock Farm, the climb up to which is absolutely brutal to most human beings!! Not ashamed to say it...I got off and walked.
The tracks from the top down to sicken theatre are great fun. Nice and wide, fast and the occasional drop off to keep you on your toes. This is followed by more roads right back to Grizedale Forest where you join a long slog of a fire road climb.
The tracks from the top down to sicken theatre are great fun. Nice and wide, fast and the occasional drop off to keep you on your toes. This is followed by more roads right back to Grizedale Forest where you join a long slog of a fire road climb.
I have to admit at this point that I didn't manage to follow the route exactly. At the top of Breasty Haw (Yeah...I know...) you take some great single track and should shoot across a fire road and into a bad arse descent that's steeper than the drop to hell!
But I got there and the trail was out of bounds...me and several other riders were a bit perplexed at this but I followed the fire roads a bit further and picked up the remainder of the route.
But I got there and the trail was out of bounds...me and several other riders were a bit perplexed at this but I followed the fire roads a bit further and picked up the remainder of the route.
Some really nice single track takes you through the forest and brings you out heading towards a sculpture known locally as "the Fox". It's here at a crossroads you can either head up and explore the northern areas of the forest or, following the route, head back towards the car park...and one final insane descent.
I wasnt expecting this. The track starts smooth and fast but very quickly turns into some frighteningly loose rocks and of various sizes, some small enough that you wouldn't notice whilst others are big enough to scare the shoes right off your feet. If you're heading down this last descent back to the visitors centre you gotta be careful!
I wasnt expecting this. The track starts smooth and fast but very quickly turns into some frighteningly loose rocks and of various sizes, some small enough that you wouldn't notice whilst others are big enough to scare the shoes right off your feet. If you're heading down this last descent back to the visitors centre you gotta be careful!
In Staton and Gore's book, this route can be found on page 107. It's an incredibly good ride and it will absolutely become a staple ride for me to return to.
Anyone that has time to spare to really take in a good ride I'd definitely recommend this one. The descents alone are incredible, however speaking from my personal tastes I have to say there's far too much fire road and road riding to be done to link all these lines together. However I'm discovering that is simply the nature of the forest. So if you want to experience some hairy, rocky descents and have an absolute BALL, get onto this route!!
Ta-rah ✌️
Anyone that has time to spare to really take in a good ride I'd definitely recommend this one. The descents alone are incredible, however speaking from my personal tastes I have to say there's far too much fire road and road riding to be done to link all these lines together. However I'm discovering that is simply the nature of the forest. So if you want to experience some hairy, rocky descents and have an absolute BALL, get onto this route!!
Ta-rah ✌️
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