Reviews for Altura Trail - Whinlatter Forest

Keswick CA12 5TW

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1993biker's profile image

Review by: 1993biker on 16 August 2009

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Summary:
Good trails just dont go in the wet

Review:
Just hit up the altura trail south and north loop but it started raining i wouldnt recomend this trail if it rained the day before but overall the trial is good, the uphill sections are killers and you definately need a 21-24speed bike because i struggled lots on my 8speed. Could do with improving but is good for a summers day out with a couple of small jumps and drops to hit aswell as boardwalks and many other technical things.

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spit_polished_helmet's profile image

Review by: spit_polished_helmet on 2 August 2009

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Summary:
support the local trail

Review:
try to do either the north or south once a week and enjoy either, im not fit and i smoke 20 a day but once ive got my finger out and done a few weeks riding i start to find it easier every time afterwards, the people who have said about these climbs should maybe try biking around a bmx track or some thing flat like a tescos car park, compared to seven staines these are pish easy, maybe i get out of breath but the descents on either side are rewarding enough for me

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evilllll's profile image

Review by: evilllll on 18 July 2009

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Summary:
NICE TRAIL BUT EASY

Review:
VERY GOOD TRAIL BUT YOU HAVE TO CLIMB CONSTANTLY UNTIL A SMALL DESCENT. ALSO THE DOWNHILL IS TOO EASY

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catkinso's profile image

Review by: catkinso on 24 June 2009

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Summary:
Awsome - New section worth every penny

Review:
Arrived and found great secure parking, handy bike shop on site. Before I start though ride level is important me and gf were both on big 160mm travel rigs so were looking for some knarl.

We got it, tried north Red loop first, this was fast slowey but flatish start followed by some hefty climbing some techy(ish) but some fire road. Traverse along the top of mountain undulates quite a bit, and they have left a lot of trail trash like root, tree stumps rock in the trail. This makes thie the more techy of the 3 courses. final section is fast wide jumpy, pump travers with some 2/3ft tables tops and some nice 4/5ft berms, there were even a couple of rythm secectins! Only about 8k long I think but a great trail.

Started south loop by doinf the blue, which bikeshop(ask them for directions) told us links into south loop red. The blue was smooth wide fast and had berms and tables. A great track for that alone, pretty short blue run, but great fun. Then a huge climb of mixed switchbacks and fireroad up to the top, hell of a view. Then its down all the way. Again big berms, large tables (too windy to pump off unfortunately) then you down and safe. Just watch the last boardwalks, they are not chicken wired and I ended up surfin my face down it which was crap.

There are a few places too where they have a black min brea off these are normally 4 foot pluss drop offs etc. all very doable, apart from the first one in the wet (off camber rock at the lip, not funny).

This place was great, rode Griz the day before and no comparisson. If you like it techy, but you also like it fast, and a bit jumpy then this is a great place to ride. We did two days here, and loved it. Most of time had the forks locked down to 130mm travel so I would say any standard trail bikle can have great fun. The 160mm rigs were a bit over kill I would say, unless you were doing the drop offs in the black sections, and then only cos landings were flat.

Rated 8 Only because it could do with being a bit longer, about 17k all in but defo a good days jaunt out.

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John_Barwood's profile image

Review by: John_Barwood on 15 June 2009

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Summary:
Great Jumps in Trail - Worth Visiting Again

Review:
Rode 1st time 09/06/09.

The trail is split into a North & South loop (10km & 9km respectively). I'd say the North seems longer than the South. This offers great flexibility as you can ride your favourite combination of trails (more if you include the blue).

The North starts mostly with climbing (some fire road, some singletrack) which give great views of the area. Once at the top you you do a bit of up & down singletrack before hitting the final descent. There's a great section of jumps in it, which mean you get reward for all the climbing. It is worth noting that it does get quite a bit more slippery in the wet (I rode it both damp & dry - dry was much better).

The South climb is easier than the North, but is mostly out in the open, so might not be so great on a windy day. The descent is broken into two parts, the second of which involves alot of jumps including two lots of three tabletops in a row, which are great fun.

It's well worth a visit & much better than the poor North Face trail in Grizedale.

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