Gisburn Forest is a significant wooded area located within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Lancashire, England. Characterized by extensive woodlands, challenging hills, and the scenic Stocks Reservoir, the region offers a diverse landscape for outdoor pursuits. It is recognized as Lancashire's largest wooded area, providing varied terrain suitable for several sports like hiking, mountain biking, touring cycling, road cycling, and more.
Gisburn Forest provides a wide array of activities…
80
Routes
4.2
(320)
Average rating
4649
People visited

4.8
(104)
1,490
riders
19.0km
01:45
270m
270m
Easy mountain bike ride.

4.7
(28)
591
riders
14.0km
01:19
220m
220m
Easy mountain bike ride.

4.9
(35)
344
riders
11.0km
01:00
150m
150m
Easy mountain bike ride.

4.3
(6)
126
riders
14.1km
01:20
230m
230m
Easy mountain bike ride.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Already have an account?

4.7
(67)
512
hikers
14.3km
03:52
190m
190m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly walkable paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.6
(13)
68
hikers
4.76km
01:18
70m
70m
Easy hike. Easily walkable paths.

2.0
(2)
7
hikers
9.35km
02:32
130m
130m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly walkable paths. Sure-footedness required.

5.0
(5)
33
hikers
3.88km
01:04
60m
60m
Easy hike. Easily walkable paths.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Already have an account?

4.9
(7)
25
riders
10.8km
01:02
150m
150m
Easy gravel ride. Mostly paved surfaces.

4.8
(4)
63
riders
64.5km
04:14
1,100m
1,100m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

4.3
(4)
19
riders
17.1km
01:24
420m
420m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

4.7
(3)
25
riders
26.3km
01:59
550m
550m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Already have an account?

4.73km
00:32
70m
70m
Easy run. Mostly paved surfaces.

10
runners
6.75km
00:44
80m
80m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

6
runners
15.2km
01:38
220m
220m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

5
runners
4.63km
00:30
70m
70m
Easy run. Mostly paved surfaces.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Already have an account?

4.0
(2)
280
riders
10.6km
01:03
180m
180m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

139
riders
10.0km
00:59
140m
140m
Easy bike ride. Mostly paved surfaces.

24
riders
13.1km
01:17
180m
180m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.

4.7
(3)
26
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Already have an account?

4.8
(6)
128
riders
59.7km
03:25
1,090m
1,090m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

53
riders
Easy road ride. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
43
riders
55.2km
02:43
710m
710m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(2)
26
riders
42.4km
02:40
640m
640m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Already have an account?
Gisburn Forest offers a variety of outdoor activities including Hiking, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, Road cycling, Gravel biking, and Jogging. The region features more than 15 routes catering to different interests and skill levels. For detailed information, consult the Hiking around Gisburn Forest or MTB Trails around Gisburn Forest guides.
Yes, Gisburn Forest provides several easy hiking options, including an accessible five-mile (8 km) trail from the cafe. The Birch Hills walk also offers an easy path through mixed woodland. For more options, explore the Easy hikes around Gisburn Forest guide.
Gisburn Forest is known for its mountain biking, featuring award-winning trails that include demanding climbs and exhilarating downhills. The forest boasts 10 miles (16 km) of trails with diverse sections like roots, rock sections, and optional black-graded challenges. Riders can find detailed information in the MTB Trails around Gisburn Forest guide.
Gisburn Forest offers family-friendly walking routes, including the Birch Hills walk which provides an easy path through woodlands with views over Stocks Reservoir. An accessible five-mile (8 km) easy-access trail is also available from the cafe. More options can be found in the Family-friendly hikes around Gisburn Forest guide.
Gisburn Forest surrounds Stocks Reservoir, a significant natural landmark offering waterside sections for walks. The area also features extensive woodlands, challenging hills, and Whelpstone Crag, which provides outstanding views. Gisburn Forest is also an accredited Dark Sky Discovery Site.
Gisburn Forest is a popular destination, with more than 56,000 visitors having shared their experiences on komoot. The routes in the region have an average rating of 4.54 out of 5 stars, based on over 6,000 ratings.
Yes, Gisburn Forest offers an accessible five-mile (8 km) easy-access trail starting from the cafe. All-terrain mobility scooters (Trampers) can also be hired, making the forest enjoyable for individuals with varying mobility levels.
Gisburn Forest provides routes for Touring cycling, Road cycling, and Gravel biking, allowing cyclists to enjoy the surrounding landscapes. Guides such as Cycling around Gisburn Forest and Road Cycling Routes around Gisburn Forest offer detailed information.
Gisburn Forest is generally dog-friendly, with many trails suitable for walks with dogs. Visitors are advised to keep dogs under control, especially in areas with wildlife or livestock, and to follow local signage regarding dog policies.
Komoot offers several guides for Gisburn Forest, including Hiking around Gisburn Forest, MTB Trails around Gisburn Forest, and Cycling around Gisburn Forest. There are also guides for easy hikes, family-friendly routes, and gravel biking.
The official website for Gisburn Forest is part of the Forestry England site: www.forestryengland.uk/gisburn-forest-and-stocks. For general inquiries, the contact phone number is +443000674495.

