Gisburn forest - should I?
Discussion
I last rode there over 10yrs ago. It was OK but apart from Hully gully? I can't remember anything else.
I'm taking my 12yr old out soon on the trails. He is out of the box fairly competent. He rode the indooe national bmx track on his balance bike aged 2 multiple times and he's ridden steep roll ins etc just not trail riding...
I can't face going to Llandegla. It's a trek when the white Peak is 45mins drive.
So I was thinking introduce him to the Peak district or somewhere else I.e. Gisburn?
I'm taking my 12yr old out soon on the trails. He is out of the box fairly competent. He rode the indooe national bmx track on his balance bike aged 2 multiple times and he's ridden steep roll ins etc just not trail riding...
I can't face going to Llandegla. It's a trek when the white Peak is 45mins drive.
So I was thinking introduce him to the Peak district or somewhere else I.e. Gisburn?
Hully Gully has just been resurfaced so it’s in good condition.
It’s on my doorstep most often riding at night which is fun.
Popular and some changes over the last 10 years it’s worth a try if it’s not to far to drive.
Some good off piste stuff to try.
It has bits of everything so give it a go.
Practically everything is on YouTube.
Are you really coming up from London?
Don’t think Gisburn is that good!
It’s on my doorstep most often riding at night which is fun.
Popular and some changes over the last 10 years it’s worth a try if it’s not to far to drive.
Some good off piste stuff to try.
It has bits of everything so give it a go.
Practically everything is on YouTube.
Are you really coming up from London?
Don’t think Gisburn is that good!
Edited by leyorkie on Wednesday 15th February 19:29
The best place in the UK (imo) is Lee Quarries at Stacksteads, Bacup, you can ride for hours and always find something new. The scenery is stunning too.
http://www.pmba.org.uk/lee-cragg-quarries/
http://www.pmba.org.uk/lee-cragg-quarries/
I didn't like Gisburn. Did it once with my lads and felt like a chore, lots of uphill for little reward.
I'd take Llandegla or Lee Quarry over Gisburn every day. Of course my kids favourite is Bike Park Wales. We'll travel down the day before, stay at the Travelodge in Merthyr (£35 per night), meal in Nandos and a £5 ticket at the cinema. Then up early for a full day, then travel back that night.
I'd take Llandegla or Lee Quarry over Gisburn every day. Of course my kids favourite is Bike Park Wales. We'll travel down the day before, stay at the Travelodge in Merthyr (£35 per night), meal in Nandos and a £5 ticket at the cinema. Then up early for a full day, then travel back that night.
I don’t mind Gisburn, but it is a bit underwhelming. I could say the same for Llandegla, it’s not particularly exciting.
I don’t mind Lee Quarry, apart the drag up from the car park is a pain, and don’t stray from the paths too far, there’s quite a few unmarked rock faces to fall down if you aren’t careful.
If it’s within traveling distance, then I do like Whinlatter, although the café will have your pants down.
Grizedale has appeal as an XC course, but there’s no big jumps or outstanding features.
Have you considered Middleton Park? The trail is a bit tame, but there’s separate jump tracks if either of you is brave enough…
I don’t mind Lee Quarry, apart the drag up from the car park is a pain, and don’t stray from the paths too far, there’s quite a few unmarked rock faces to fall down if you aren’t careful.
If it’s within traveling distance, then I do like Whinlatter, although the café will have your pants down.
Grizedale has appeal as an XC course, but there’s no big jumps or outstanding features.
Have you considered Middleton Park? The trail is a bit tame, but there’s separate jump tracks if either of you is brave enough…
As said, continue up the M6 and do Grizedale (the natural, unofficial, trails are the best there) or Whinlatter or even better the best (IMO) natural route in the Lakes:
https://lakesmtb.co.uk/routes/drunken-duck/
I did Gisburn around 10 years ago and was underwhelmed
https://lakesmtb.co.uk/routes/drunken-duck/
I did Gisburn around 10 years ago and was underwhelmed
Gisburn is alright but not worth any more than an hour or two drive for IMO. There's a few good bits but the effort you've got to put in to get to them is arguably not worth it.
Not ridden Lee quarry for a few years so must have improved based on what others are saying.
Llandegla is where it's at for me, try and go as often as possible and never get bored of it. Once you've done the initial climb it's a perfect balance of up and down that can be ridden quite had in places and generally just really good fun.
Not ridden Lee quarry for a few years so must have improved based on what others are saying.
Llandegla is where it's at for me, try and go as often as possible and never get bored of it. Once you've done the initial climb it's a perfect balance of up and down that can be ridden quite had in places and generally just really good fun.
Raced Gisburn a few times and always thought it was kind of ok but nothing more. Remember riding it outside of races and the climbs up towards the craggs at the top were just a blown out 10ft wide mess.
Lee Quarry? I thought that place had been abandoned to the local yoofs on stolen crossers? It was knackered last time I rode it when it was still meant to be a proper place to ride (remember plans of having a bike shop and cafe at the bottom etc where the
s were permanently camped).
Lee Quarry? I thought that place had been abandoned to the local yoofs on stolen crossers? It was knackered last time I rode it when it was still meant to be a proper place to ride (remember plans of having a bike shop and cafe at the bottom etc where the
s were permanently camped).Aye last time I rode there I wad coming down a twisting descent to meet a crosser at full pelt coming up. I had a go at him and his mate who backed him up to stop me bking him and they threatened me etc. I didn't back off and they didn't get off their bikes funnily..
But it left me feeling peeved and not bothered to go back.. I didn't bother going back.
king him and they threatened me etc. I didn't back off and they didn't get off their bikes funnily.. But it left me feeling peeved and not bothered to go back.. I didn't bother going back.
Lee Quarry has been the preserve for stolen crossers since I first went there in the back of my Old Man’s Mini Pickup, where he was trialling. Probably about forty five years ago. The access road was better then, we used to park on the flat patch on the right, near the top. Wouldn’t fancy driving up there in a Mini Pickup these days.
gazza285 said:
Lee Quarry has been the preserve for stolen crossers since I first went there in the back of my Old Man’s Mini Pickup, where he was trialling. Probably about forty five years ago. The access road was better then, we used to park on the flat patch on the right, near the top. Wouldn’t fancy driving up there in a Mini Pickup these days.
The idea for an MTB trail centre there was a good one and to be fair, it was ok for a pedal with some really good fun bits but it was keeping out the cross bikes that was always going to be a problem. Heard of a fair bit of conflict...Went there once on my way from Yorkshire to lakes for some mtb. To be honest it wasn’t anything better than everything in my local area and on my doorstep. If anything it was over really quickly. I get you could lap round I suppose. Loads of people on e bikes: ffs there’s barely much pitch to any of it so god knows what they need them for, if at all.
I’m not some balancing, beam wobbling stunt rider, so of course the bits to cock about on are lost on me.
Maybe if yr somewhere flat, in a city , a good day out.
I’m not some balancing, beam wobbling stunt rider, so of course the bits to cock about on are lost on me.
Maybe if yr somewhere flat, in a city , a good day out.
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