Reviews for Altura Trail - Whinlatter Forest

Summary:
A lot of wet slippery areas along with a lot of frustrating non flowing sections with an anti-climax at the end!

Review:
It was a toss up between Whinlatter or Llandegla and as we had not been here before and I had read some good reviews we decided to give it a go and was looking forward to it.

The weather was perfect and it had not rained for days and the drive up the M6 was clear. When we pulled up first impressions were very good, visitors centre staff very helpful, good facilities, the pay and display very cleverly priced though to achieve maximum profit.

Anyway we tackled the North Loop first as this was supposed to be the best, I had recently switch to SPD's but after the first section I was on my arse twice due to the slippery rocks and on my way back to the bike shop covered in clay spending 17 quid on a pair of cheap flats (I will put that down to inexperience using the SPD's).

With my new flats and new found confidence we set off again but could not seem to get into it. I don't mind climbing so the steep single track accents didn't bother me too much, very nice views at the top if you’re into that sort of thing. There were a couple of good downhill sections through the woods but this was outweighed by the sections that never seemed to flow very well along with all the wet roots, smooth slippery wet mud covered rocks and loose slate.

Also a couple of times without warning at speed you are thrown into a very steep technical section on a bend and on wet smooth rock with no chance of changing your mind, I just hoped for the best and luckily just made it through unscathed, BE WARNED.

From what I can remember the North Loop took us around 1 and a quarter hours to complete and not overly impressed with it we decided to try out the South Loop. For us we enjoyed this one slightly more.

Overall I think it was a bit dangerous with all the wet sections, exposed wet roots, loose debris, slippery wet smooth rocks and not forgetting the sticky mud, seeing as it had not rained for days I think they need to look at the drainage in some areas.

This place is not a patch on Llandegla of Coed y Brenin, won’t be going back and wished we had gone to Llandegla!

Summary:
Great trails in a great setting

Review:
The Whinlatter trails consist of two loops, a North and a South loop. Both loops are now fully open. The ‘North loop’ gateway is beyond the bike shop at the end of the car park and the ‘South Loop’ gateway is on the road opposite the entrance to the car park itself.

Both are excellent and different in character. The North Loop is quite technical but never so technical that you lose your sense of fun when going round. Most of the climbs are on fire road which I have no great objection to as it allows you to savour the views of Bassenthwaite and Skiddaw which really open up as you gain height. On a sunny spring afternoon it definitely was good to be alive. The track when it points downhill is a joy too. The roots and drop offs as you wind through the Forest is just right, challenging without ever getting massively technical. Then, all too soon, you reach the turn that marks the last km or so to the car park. This last section is a fast whooping descent over jumps and berms that deposits you back at the car park full of adrenaline and with a massive smile.

The South Loop is less technical but a real peach in my view. Most of the climbing is on singletrack which requires some attention but you will find yourself stealing glances at the view on the way up. You top out with great views of Derwent Water and Cat Bells which makes you want to linger and gather your breath if nothing else. The top bit of the descent is a pretty good reward for the climb but the best is yet to come. After crossing a fireroad and taking a choice of shore features (a 3 or 4 foot drop off from a stump or a steepish ramp you can roll over) the last 2 km or so of descent is just a joy. Again it is fast and peppered with berms and jumps. Most of it is covered with loose slate so you need your wits about you but it is a very classy descent.

One last word of advice: When I went it would be hard for the trails to be any drier so I went with my tyres on a pretty high pressure. The South Loop descent was in places pretty skittery as a result, especially on the slate. After letting a lot of air out of my tyres I did the last descent twice more and was a lot more stable. So my tip would be even with the risk of pinch flats to run your tyres on the low side.

Summary:
Very good

Review:
I don't normally do the man made stuff often, but this trail is good fun with some great descents and views.

Yes the climbs on the north trail especially last a while, but the descents as a result go on and on.

Those that went when it was only half finished should return as the newer north section is by far the best bit

Summary:
Stunning views

Review:
I don't understand some of the comments in the above reviews. The Altura trail is advertised as putting the mountian back into mountain biking. Theres going to be lots of climbing if your riding in the Lakes.

I rode the trail a few months ago before the full trail was opened. There seemed a lot of climbing on fire tracks rather than single track, but this isn;t the final trail. The singletrack was nice and sweet especially some of the climbing sections which give some good technical riding and climbing that will test your skills. The final downhill has some interesting features and is fast in places.
I thought it a challenging trail and can't wait to try it now the full 19k's is open.

Summary:
this trail is great

Review:
i went there last weekend, and sessiond the new south section, the mountains were slippy, because of the ice and snow, but that made it more thrilling. the long uphill climb is worth it, the down hill is soo flowing. the track is in a figure of 8, so we all skiped the top section the second time round. the down hill is seperated/cut in half with a forest track, which sorta spoils it alittle bit, because you loose the flow, but it makes it easy to get to the best part, the final down hill. it has sets of table tops then burms then yet more tabletops. finishes off with a calmer wooded section and a twoway wooded track.
north route:- there is an easy push up path for the not so patient, which leads to the down hill. its scary, on a near verticle hillside, it is calved into the hill side, but it does have some quality terrain features such as steep berms, and jumps, just one tip for that part, use your brakes, i came off one of the berms going too fast and plumeted down the hill. scary stuff.
overall, this is a great ride, id recomend it. keep it pencils.