The North Face Mountain Bike Trail, Grizedale Forest

The North West of England's latest purpose built mountain bike trail has been opened by Sue Thomas, the former National Champion.  The North Face Mountain Bike Trail, set in the midst of the Lake District today, includes 9 new sections of sinuous singletrack, to form a 10-mile circuit through the popular and picturesque Grizedale Forest.

The new trail offers something for keen family mountain bikers as well as the enthusiasts. Riders can test their skills on sections with names such as Topsy Turvy, the Zander Zone, the Boar Roar and Oh Deer!. There are adrenalising sections of singletrack descent, leg burning uphills, as well as tricky  sections through meadows.

Sue Thomas (right) was on hand to open The North Face Mountain Bike Trail. She said: "Increasing numbers of people are taking up mountain biking. So it's fantastic that the Lake District now has a purpose built trail where mountain bikers can develop their skills or simply go out and have fun. The North Face Mountain Bike Trail really is a thrilling ride for bikers with a number of exciting features that will get the heart pumping."

The trail was designed by Dafydd Davies and Russell Burton who have built some of the most successful singletrack mountain bike trails in Wales and this is reflected in the thrills and spills on offer.

The new trail, a £167,000 investment, has been made possible by The North Face Mountain Bike Trail Partnership. The partners are The North Face, Rural Regeneration Cumbria and The Forestry Commission.

Graeme Prest from the Forestry Commission said: "The North Face Mountain Bike Trail is an important development for Grizedale and the Lake District. About a quarter of the people who visit the Forest go cycling and this will provide an exciting new route for them to try out.  We are delighted with the support we have had from The North Face and Rural Regeneration Cumbria that has made this new route possible."

Keith Byrne,  of The North Face, said: "With the growing popularity of mountain biking in Britain there has been a real need for a top quality purpose built track in the Lake District. So we have been really pleased to sponsor this new trail.

The Forestry Commission is running a national campaign this year - Active Woods - to promote the vast range of health and fitness opportunities offered by Britain's woodlands. As well as mountain biking, Grizedale Forest also offers opportunities for walking and horse riding.

Grizedale Forest is close to Hawkshead and Lake Windemere. For further information about the new trail, including a map of the route, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland

Bikes can be hired in the Forest from Grizedale Mountain Bikes. For further details visit www.grizedalemountainbike.co.uk