New cycle trail now open in Whinlatter Forest

Last week saw the opening of a new 10km mountain bike trail around Whinlatter Forest in the Lake District. The trail is called the Gorse Cycle Trail.

Credit: Whinlatter Forest

Sticking mostly to well-surfaced forest roads, the new 10km trail takes you to the best parts of the forest. With stunning vistas across the Lake District, it’s one not to be missed.

Perfect for those with gravel bikes, mountain bikes, mountain e-bikes and hybrid bikes, there’s a whole new part of the forest to explore. There are long gradual climbs and descents all the way – being England’s only mountain forest, there isn’t much flat ground to be found!

Quoted on the Cumbria Crack website, Paul Brown from the Forestry Commission: “It’s fantastic to provide a new cycle route at Whinlatter for the ever-expanding cycling community, particularly as gravel and e-bikes become more popular. You can reach more quiet areas of the forest, with amazing views across the Lakes. This is a great addition to our much-enjoyed mountain bike routes in the forest.”

Craig from Cyclewise, Whinlatter’s on-site bike shop, said: “This new trail opens up the forest to a much wider cycling ordinance, we are proud to work with forestry getting more people to enjoy this fantastic forest."