Attractions and Places To See around Gisburn Forest - Top 20

Gisburn Forest is rich in natural beauty. You can visit Catrigg Force Waterfall, a hidden gem in a secluded woodland gorge. The prominent Stocks Reservoir is a significant site for wildfowl and offers excellent birdwatching opportunities, with views from the Birch Hills walk. The forest itself provides stunning views over the Bowland Fells, and Attermire Scar offers a dramatic landscape of rocky high points and limestone caves.

Yes, Gisburn Forest offers several family-friendly options. The Room on the Broom Trail is particularly popular with families, providing an interactive experience. The easy Birch Hills walk is suitable for all ages and includes wildlife hides. Additionally, Catrigg Force Waterfall is listed as a family-friendly highlight, offering a picturesque destination for a short walk.

Gisburn Forest is renowned for its award-winning mountain biking trails, catering to various skill levels. Popular options include the "Bottoms Beck trail" (blue graded with green sections), "Hope Line," and "Leap of Faith" for downhill enthusiasts. "The 8" trail features sections like "Home Baked" and "Whelp Stone Crag," with optional black-grade features like "Hully Gully." A "Skills Loop" is also available for practicing techniques. For more detailed routes, you can explore MTB Trails around Gisburn Forest.

Gisburn Forest features numerous waymarked walking trails. Options include the easy "Birch Hills walk" with wildlife hides and views over Stocks Reservoir, the "Dale Head Ramble," "Eggberry trail," and the "Stocks Circular path." These trails offer opportunities for wildlife watching and enjoying the tranquil woodland glades. You can find more walking routes in the Hiking around Gisburn Forest guide.

While Gisburn Forest is primarily a natural area, you can find historical points of interest nearby. The creation of Stocks Reservoir submerged the village of Stocks, and a date stone from one of its farmsteads can be seen in Tosside. Approximately 6 miles away, you can visit the remains of Sawley Abbey, a Cistercian Abbey founded in 1148. Closer to the forest, Austwick Beck Ford and Clapper Bridge offers a picturesque ancient crossing.

Yes, Gisburn Forest is an accredited Dark Sky Discovery Site. It is recognized for its exceptionally dark night skies, making it an ideal location for stargazing and observing the Milky Way. Regular stargazing events are often held here.

For impressive views, consider visiting Attermire Scar, which offers a jagged collection of rocky high points above Settle. The Cross of Greet Climb from Slaidburn provides rewarding vistas after a challenging ascent. Additionally, the Salter Fell Road offers stunning moorland scenery, and the Birch Hills walk provides excellent views over Stocks Reservoir.

The Gisburn Forest Hub serves as a central point for visitors, offering parking, a café, and toilets. Most walking and biking trails commence from this Hub. There is also the Cocklet Hill Car Park and Picnic Site, and the Old Vicarage Garden Picnic Area along the Birch Hills walk, providing pleasant spots for breaks.

Yes, there are several easy hiking routes. The "Birch Hills walk" within Gisburn Forest is an easy path with wildlife hides. You can also explore the Easy hikes around Gisburn Forest guide, which includes routes like the "Bolton by Bowland loop" and the "Stocks Hide (Stocks Reservoir) loop from Easington," both rated as easy.

Stocks Reservoir is an important site for wildfowl, especially during winter when around 30 different species visit, including red-throated divers and whooper swans. Birdwatchers might also spot birds of prey such as ospreys, peregrine falcons, Hen Harriers, and Short-Eared Owls.

Visitors particularly enjoy the diverse natural landscapes, from secluded woodland gorges like Catrigg Force Waterfall to the open fells and ancient crossings. The challenging yet rewarding climbs like Cross of Greet are popular with cyclists, while the geological features and caves of Attermire Scar fascinate hikers. The tranquility and sense of remoteness on trails like Salter Fell Road are also highly appreciated.

Yes, Gisburn Forest offers circular walking routes. The "Stocks Circular path" is one such option that allows you to explore the area and return to your starting point. You can also find various circular routes within the Hiking around Gisburn Forest guide, such as the "Stocks Reservoir loop."