Grizedale Forest Walks and Cycling
This huge forest in the Lake District has several way-marked cycling and walking trails to enjoy. There are six way-marked mountain bike trails of varying lengths and difficulty. These include a moderate (blue) 2 mile trail which visits the Goosey Foot and Juniper Tarns. The Hawkshead Moor Trail is graded red and visits the western side of the valley, overlooking Coniston Water. For an exciting rollercoaster ride try The North Face Mountain Bike Trail. The singletrack trail offers an adrenelising descent through oak woodlands and conifer forest.
Walkers can enjoy 8 super, way-marked trails. These include the moderate Bogle Crag Trail which runs for 2.5 miles and features numerous sculptures along the way. The Silurian Way is a longer, more challenging walk which visits the summit of Carron Crag, the highest point in the forest. The walks offer great views of the Lake District mountains and lakes such as Coniston Water, Windermere and Esthwaite Water.
There's a great visitor centre at the start of this circular route where you can hire bikes and find out more information on all the cycling and walking trails in the forest.
At the northern end of the forest you can extend your walking at the popular Tarn Hows.
Postcode
LA22 0QJ - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsPlease click here for more information
Grizedale Forest Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Grizedale Forest Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Grizedale Forest OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Grizedale Forest Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The forest has a nice on site cafe where you can pick up some refreshments after your exercise. They have a decent range of snacks, meals, sandwiches and treats. There's also a raised outdoor seating area with good views over the forest. It's the perfect place to relax after your walk.
You could also head into nearby Hawkshead and try the 17th century Sun Inn. They do really good food including an excellent fish and chips. It's a friendly place and can be easily found in the village on Main Street with a postcode of LA22 0NT for your sat navs. The inn also provides good quality accommodation and is very dog friendly if you have your pet with you.
Dog Walking
With its miles of wide trails the forest is an ideal place to take your dog for a walk. There can be a few cyclists about so it's best to keep an eye on them when they are around. There's also deer, rabbits and foxes in the forest so you'll need to have recall control when off the lead. The on site cafe mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Photos
"Taking a Wall for a Walk" - Grizedale Forest. A sculpture by Andy Goldsworthy, which has been damaged by felling. There are also a number of other sculptures by various artists throughout the forest.
Moor Top Car Park, Grizedale Forest. One of several car parks within this large forest managed as a recreational amenity by the Forestry Commission. This one is just off the minor road to Hawkshead about 2km north of the Grizedale Visitor Centre.
Only one Fish Left". A sculpture by Karl Ciesluk in Grizedale Tarn.
Ancient Forester, by David Kemp. This splendid wooden sculpture guards the car park at the Visitor Centre. The forest of Grizedale is a well-established "art in the environment" centre, commissioning artists for the past 25 years. You can discover the sculptures by following numerous trails through the forest of various lengths and difficulty
Unusual Wood sculpture
Remains of Grizedale Hall. The last remnants of Grizedale Hall, a glorious building in the heart of the Grizedale Forest, used as a German prisoner of war camp during World War 2, and setting for the POW film "The One That Got Away" starring Hardy Kruger.