winding singletrack that leads back into the trees.
After a little rocky climb into the trees negotiate a
short boggy section. The trail then bears left
before finishing with a short, sharp and loose
climb to a junction (GR346951).
13. Turn right on the wide forest track and
descend to the next junction at the big fox. Turn
left follow the track to the next junction a short
distance later (GR343950). Turn right and cross
the stream then bear left. Stay on the wide forest
track and bear right to the next junction with a
wide rocky track on the left (GR341947). Turn left
down this trail to start the final descent. Be
careful on this descent as it is the rockiest of the
After a little rocky climb into the trees negotiate a
short boggy section. The trail then bears left
before finishing with a short, sharp and loose
climb to a junction (GR346951).
13. Turn right on the wide forest track and
descend to the next junction at the big fox. Turn
left follow the track to the next junction a short
distance later (GR343950). Turn right and cross
the stream then bear left. Stay on the wide forest
track and bear right to the next junction with a
wide rocky track on the left (GR341947). Turn left
down this trail to start the final descent. Be
careful on this descent as it is the rockiest of the
Starting from the Grizedale Vistors Centre this route is 16.7 miles of great rocky riding. The ride begins on man made
mountain bike trails, following the North Face Trail, before heading along the fell above Coniston Water for a fantastic
descent into High Nibthwaite. Although this descent is the highlight the ones that follow don't disappoint and there's a
real rock fest of a finish.
1. Start from the Grizedale Visitors Centre (GR335944). Head out the back of the centre and follow the North Face
trail. Climb the wide forest track then go up the first section of singletrack, 'Elephants Paradise'. At the end of
'Elephants Paradise' follow the North Face trail along the wide forest track to the next section of singletrack, 'The Great
Escape'. At the end of this trail rejoin the forest track and go straight on to the next junction (GR323935). Turn right
and climb the wide forest track, still on the North Face trail. Go through an ‘S’ bend and past a junction with a track on
the left. Continue straight on at the next junction, with another track on the left. Follow the next flat section of track to
another junction, with a signpost, where the wide forest track bears right (GR318943).
mountain bike trails, following the North Face Trail, before heading along the fell above Coniston Water for a fantastic
descent into High Nibthwaite. Although this descent is the highlight the ones that follow don't disappoint and there's a
real rock fest of a finish.
1. Start from the Grizedale Visitors Centre (GR335944). Head out the back of the centre and follow the North Face
trail. Climb the wide forest track then go up the first section of singletrack, 'Elephants Paradise'. At the end of
'Elephants Paradise' follow the North Face trail along the wide forest track to the next section of singletrack, 'The Great
Escape'. At the end of this trail rejoin the forest track and go straight on to the next junction (GR323935). Turn right
and climb the wide forest track, still on the North Face trail. Go through an ‘S’ bend and past a junction with a track on
the left. Continue straight on at the next junction, with another track on the left. Follow the next flat section of track to
another junction, with a signpost, where the wide forest track bears right (GR318943).
2. Turn left up the BW signposted for Parkamoor and
climb the singletrack into the trees. This track winds
through the trees and eventually, near the top, gives some
great views across Coniston Water and towards the Old
Man of Coniston. Just after leaving the trees go through a
gate that leads to a short steep climb. After the climb
continue along the rocky track across the top of the fell
then descend to the next gate. After the gate the track
becomes grassy and descends to the farm buildings of
Low Parkamoor. At the buildings go through the gate then
straight on down the rocky track to the gate and the
stream at the bottom.
3. Go through the gate at the bottom then climb the short,
steep, rocky track to the junction at the top (GR307925).
Go straight on along the rocky double track and climb
gently across the side of the fell. After a while the track
points down hill for a fantastic, rocky descent. It's quite
technical in places with drops, loose boulders, tight
corners, water and the opportunity for quite a bit of speed.
The descent ends at a gate in High Nibthwaite
(GR294897).
4. After the gate go straight on to a junction with a lane.
Turn left and follow the lane along the bottom of the valley.
Go past a lane on the right then at the following
junction(GR296881), at Nibthwaite Grange, turn left.
Climb this steep lane though a number of bends to a
junction with a forest track on the left, at the top. Continue
along the lane to a junction at the end of the tarmac a little
further on (GR305888).
5. Go straight on along the double track, keeping the
trees on the left, to a gate a little further on. After the gate
bear right and follow the signposted BW. There are
usually some long, deep puddles, on this section of track.
After a short descent climb through a gate and continue
straight up the rocky double track, past the grassy BW
signed off to the right. At the top of this short climb the
track flattens off for a while before it heads down hill
another fun, rocky descent that ends at a gated junction
with a lane (GR323894).
6. Turn right and follow the lane through a left hand bend.
Stay on the lane and descend through the trees and a number of bends to the junction at the bottom (GR331893).
Turn left, then a short distance later turn right at the next junction. A short distance after that go straight on at the next
junction. Follow the lane over a river to the next junction (GR336896). Take the lane on the left and go up the short
climb to the church at the crest. Continue along the lane and descend to the next junction (GR340897).
7. At the four-way junction turn left up the rocky track. Go through the gate and climb the rocky double track along the
line of the wall on the left. Follow this track over the crest and descend to a junction. Bear left on the wide track then
almost immediately afterwards turn left down the singletrack descent signposted as a BW. Go down this short but
increasingly tricky and tight section of track to a junction with the lane at the bottom in Force Mills (GR339909).
Turn left, then a short distance later turn right at the next junction. A short distance after that go straight on at the next
junction. Follow the lane over a river to the next junction (GR336896). Take the lane on the left and go up the short
climb to the church at the crest. Continue along the lane and descend to the next junction (GR340897).
7. At the four-way junction turn left up the rocky track. Go through the gate and climb the rocky double track along the
line of the wall on the left. Follow this track over the crest and descend to a junction. Bear left on the wide track then
almost immediately afterwards turn left down the singletrack descent signposted as a BW. Go down this short but
increasingly tricky and tight section of track to a junction with the lane at the bottom in Force Mills (GR339909).
8. Turn right and climb past the waterfall on the left. Go past a track on the
right to a junction where the lane bears off to the left (GR341911). Go straight
on along the thin lane, past a car park and picnic area in the trees on the left
then descend to the next junction (GR345913). At this junction turn left into
the trees. Follow the wide forest track and climb through a tight left then right
hand bend, ignoring any of the tracks off to the side. Continue climbing up the
wide track to the four-way junction at the top (GR344918). Go straight ahead
on the singletrack leading into the trees. This reaches the top of the climb a
short distance later before going over a rocky drop that marks the start of the
descent to Satterthwaite. At the junction at the village go straight on, bearing
left around the house, and follow the lane straight on into the village.
9. Bear right around the church. Just after, turn right and follow the short, thin lane
between the houses to a junction (GR338924). Turn right and climb the steep lane past
the private drive on the left. The lane then bears left and climbs to a junction at a house
at the edge of the forest (GR339926). Take the first track on the right for a steep, rocky
climb into the trees. About 1/3rd of the way up bear right and cross a stream then follow
the track left for a straight, loose and rocky climb to the junction at the top (GR345929).
10. At the junction go straight across and head along the singletrack that undulates
along the line of the hill and bears left. The track soon heads downhill for another
fantastic descent. The winding trail straightens, then drops over some rocks and comes
to a junction with a forest track (GR349932). Go straight across this junction and down
some more rocks to head into the trees. What follows is a great section of rocky,
woodland singletrack before some tight, loose and rocky bends that mark the end of the
descent. Follow the looser rocky trail all the way down to the junction with the lane at the
bottom (GR354937).
11. Turn left on the lane and climb past a BW signposted
off to the right. At the junction at the crest of the climb
(GR355941) take the dirt track off to the left. Go straight
on to the singletrack climb a short distance later. The
track immediately bears right for a tricky rock section that
leads to a high gate soon after. Go through the gate and
continue up the difficult climb. After the next gate continue
up the singletrack climb. The track eventually finishes at a
junction with a wide forest track (GR351941).
12. Turn right on the forest track then at the next junction
turn right again. A short distance later, at the end of the
wide track, continue straight on along the undulating and
11. Turn left on the lane and climb past a BW signposted
off to the right. At the junction at the crest of the climb
(GR355941) take the dirt track off to the left. Go straight
on to the singletrack climb a short distance later. The
track immediately bears right for a tricky rock section that
leads to a high gate soon after. Go through the gate and
continue up the difficult climb. After the next gate continue
up the singletrack climb. The track eventually finishes at a
junction with a wide forest track (GR351941).
12. Turn right on the forest track then at the next junction
turn right again. A short distance later, at the end of the
wide track, continue straight on along the undulating and
ride, with lots of big loose boulders. At the junction at bottom turn right onto the lane then, a short distance later, turn
left to return to the Grizedale Visitor Centre and the end of the ride.
left to return to the Grizedale Visitor Centre and the end of the ride.
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