THE ALTURA TRAIL, WHINLATTER, LAKE DISTRICT
TRAIL STATS
Distance
- 19km (12 miles) for both loops
Time
- 1hr 30mins to 3hrs
Grading
- Red with optional black add-on
WHY RIDE HERE?
- Stunning views and all-weather surfaces make this an ideal destination at any time of year
RAD...
- The red loop is split in two, with the trail centre in the middle - perfect for a lunch stop or for less fit riders
- It can be ridden in all weathers, as we proved with our snowy escapade!
- Great facilities
BAD...
- Parking is expensive
- Limited number of trails
- Bike wash was broken on our visit
As we drive up the mountain pass towards Whinlatter Forest, it looks more like the Alps than the Lake District in March. The trees hang heavy with snow and white peaks stand proud beyond. This is my first visit to Whinlatter, and pretty far from what I pictured. As we roll into the Forestry England car park, we're eager to establish whether any of the trails are actually ridable.
We amble up the hill towards Cyclewise, the on-site bike shop, to get the lowdown on the conditions and take a sneak peek down the north loop of the Altura trail. I'm relieved to see the route looking more than doable. The guys at the shop confirm my suspicion: "Yeah, the trails are open, they're just icy!" It looks like we're on, then!
White out
This story is from the May 2023 edition of Mountain Biking UK.
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This story is from the May 2023 edition of Mountain Biking UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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