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You are here: Home > Things to Do > Grizedale Forest & Visitor Centre

Grizedale Forest & Visitor Centre

Grizedale Visitor Centre
  • Grizedale Visitor Centre
  • Biking Trails
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Type:Visitor Centre

Grizedale, Hawkshead, Cumbria, LA22 0QJ

Add Grizedale Forest & Visitor Centre to your Itinerary

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Tel0300 067 4495

About

Grizedale Forest nestles in the heart of the Lake District between lakes Windermere and Coniston. Activities range from gentle walks to swinging through the trees on GoApe, enjoying a leisurely meal in the Grizedale Café to exhilarating mountain bike rides.

Our staff at the Visitor Centre can help you plan your visit. There are eight waymarked walking trails ranging from the easy access Ridding Wood Trail to the strenuous Silurian Way, with over 50 sculptures across the forest to discover. Cyclists can try the North Face single track mountain bike trail as well as other waymarked routes along forest roads.

The Grizedale Cafe serves tasty snacks and meals, with take-away option too.

The Go Ape high wire course is a unique aerial adventure.

Forestry England offers an extensive events program throughout the year, details of which are available on the website. We also offer self-led or led educational visits, these need to be arranged in advance of your visit by contacting Kate Jordan on kate.jordan@forestryengland.uk


Grizedale Sculpture

There are over 40 sculptures scattered throughout the forest. Many of the sculptures are hidden among the trees, in a place that inspired the artist and you have to search them out. The locations are shown on a map and new sculpture guide, available from the visitor centre and you can visit them on foot or by bike. New sculptures are added each year. Others are allowed to naturally decay back into the forest so the collection is changing all the time.


Grizedale Forest

Grizedale Forest is a haven for wildlife. It’s home to the only remaining indigenous woodland herd of red deer in England. as well as roe deer, buzzards, barn owls and red kites, from the Grizedale Red Kite reintroduction programme. Look out for all the forest wildlife on your walk or bike ride.

The Brant Wetlands near the Visitor Centre are a great place to see butterflies and dragonflies in the summer whilst the many tarns (small areas of water) scattered across the forest attract other species to drink such as fox and badger.

Opening Times

* Open every day except Christmas day. Check website for seasonal opening times. Go Ape closed December and January.

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Disabled access
  • Disabled toilets

Booking & Payment Details

  • Credit cards accepted (no fee)

Catering

  • On-site catering
  • On-site light refreshments
  • Picnic site

Children

  • Baby changing facilities
  • Children welcome

Groups

  • Education/study area
  • Facilities for educational visits
  • Facilities for groups

Meeting, Conference & Wedding Facilities

  • Facilities for conferencing
  • Facilities for corporate hospitality

Parking

  • Parking with charge

Property Facilities

  • Dogs Accepted
  • Gift shop
  • Postbox
  • Public toilets
  • Smoking not allowed

Site Features

  • Regional Tourist Board Member

Target Markets

  • Accepts groups
  • Coach parties accepted

Tripadvisor

Awards

  • Visit EnglandVistEngland VAQAS Gold VistEngland VAQAS Gold 2018
  • Visit BritainWe're Good to Go We're Good to Go 2020

Related

The YanThe Yan at Grizedale Forest, HawksheadThe Yan is a unique and dynamic new building for the Lake District, as inspirational as the woodland that surrounds it. It is a superb location for you, your group or organisation to get the most from time in beautiful Grizedale Forest.

Walking & Cycling Trails at Grizedale, HawksheadThere are 8 waymarked walks and 5 waymarked cycle trails, plus the North Face trail, in the Grizedale Forest Park. Further information is available from the visitor centre where maps for all the trails can be purchased.

North Face Trail, HawksheadThe North Face trail is a single track trail designed for experienced mountain bikers with better quality mountain bikes. Please be aware that this trail is not for tag-alongs or trailers bikes.

Map & Directions

Map Link

Click here to view map

Road Directions

Signposted from Hawkshead village. From the south, signed from the A590 at Haverthwaite (this is also the only route for coaches).Accessible by Public Transport: Windermere station is 10 miles away.

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