**Where to Ride

Bikemagic Trail Guide: Gisburn, Lancashire

Destination: Gisburn, Lancashire

With the Adrenaline Gateway project and an extremely active trail building team, Gisburn just keeps on getting better and better. There’s a bit of something for everyone and you might even spot the bearded wonder Ed Oxley in one of his favoured haunts.

How to get there

From Skipton, head north west towards Kendal on the A65 to Long Preston. In Long Preston, turn left onto the B6478 towards Clitheroe. Follow this through the villages of Wigglesworth and Tosside and then turn right on a minor road signed to Gisburn Forest. Park at Cocklet Hill car park, which is on your right, immediately after entering the forest.

Sat Nav: Slaidburn

Facilities

Parking, trees and trails, what more do you want?

Click to download the full size trail map

Trails

Bottoms Beck is a great fun, 9.5km blue grade trail that’s great for youngsters, novices or just shaking the dust out after a long drive. There are a couple of mellow (dull) green sections including an old rail line and forest roads but the singletrack sections, especially Park Wood, more than make up.

Onto the red graded ‘8’. Named because it’s a figure of eight, it’s an 18 km XC gem. Sections such as Home Baked, Whelpstone Crag and Hully Gully are already ensconced in mountain bike folklore. You’ve got optional black-graded sections, a new freeride area, downhill track and, if you can find a willing local, plenty of secret stuff too.

Nearest bike shop

Gisburn Forest Bikes, Tosside, near Skipton www.gisburnforestbikes.co.uk

ATR Cycles, Clitheroe www.atrcycles.co.uk

Other info

Look on the Gisburn Forest Bikes website for information about accommodation, bike hire and skills courses. They’ve even got a small workshop available where you can fettle with your own bike.