First the good news – the new The North Face MTB Trail officially opened in Grizedale Forest, Cumbria on 26 September. The ten-mile trail is located on the west side of the forest and includes nine sections of purpose-built singletrack. There’re also extensive “Shore-Lite” slightly-raised boardwalk sections, complete with berms. The trail’s been built by the same team responsible for most of the trails at Afan Argoed, with the money coming from The North Face, Rural Regeneration Cumbria and the Forestry Commission.

And now the bad news – bad weather and heavy use in the first few weeks of the trail being open have resulted in some boggy holes appearing, which wouldn’t be so bad on its own but the mud’s finding its way on to the boardwalk sections and making them very slippery. So the trail’s been temporarily closed again to sort out the teething troubles. The Forestry Commission asks riders not to ride the trail until further notice – keep an eye on the FC website for updates.

While we’re on the subject of trail closures, it’s time to bid farewell to the Nannerch downhill (aka Llangwyfan). Originally a “pirate” track built without permission, the course has been tolerated for several years, but what with it crossing a public bridleway and emerging on to another bridleway, Forestry Commission Wales has decided that it’s simply too dangerous.

FCW Local Area Manager Dave Liddy says, “FCW has worked hard with the local authority, downhill riders and local people to try and overcome the difficulties presented at Llangwyfan, but finally we have decided that we can no longer accept the course in this location as the potential for accidents is too great.”

“There is a public bridleway crossing the middle of the course and it exits on to a second public bridleway at the bottom. Riders have been involved in road traffic accidents on the narrow approach roads. FCW’s Civil Engineering team have investigated building an underpass or a bridge as a solution, but the risks cannot be eliminated to the
satisfaction of the Highways Authority or FCW.”

The silver lining to this particular cloud, though, is that FCW is inviting riders to help it out with new trails at nearby Foel Gasnach in Clocaenog Forest, away from public rights of way. If you want to get involved, contact Dave Liddy on 01938 557400 or by email.