bikesR4riding » Scotland

Trails: The Witch’s Trails, Scotland

Paul D — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:07:55 +0000

Legend has it that the Witch of Leanachan (“lee-nach-an”) fled to the hills of Aonach Mor in the 1800s. Keeping her spooky spirit alive, the world-famous Witch’s Trails continue to bewitch mountain bikers. There are 45km of trail to tackle.

Leanachan Forest also has plenty of unwaymarked forest road for you to explore. All the forest roads are indicated on the trail map.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Trails: The Moray Monster, Scotland

Paul D — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 06:04:22 +0000

With 30km of fun-packed singletrack mountain bike routes, there’s something here to feed the monster in everyone!

Whether you’re totally new to off-road mountain biking, or a seriously expert rider looking for big thrills, there’s a trail here that’s just right for you, from an easy green-graded track to severe black-grade trails and orange-graded downhill and Northshore sections.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Trails: Newcastleton, 7Stanes, Scotland

Paul D — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:01:28 +0000

Close to the Scotland-England border, Newcastleton has trails for all levels. There is plenty of fun to be had here on routes shorter than at most of the other 7stanes.

The trails
The 0.4km Green skills trail – all on singletrack – is reached via a road climb from the trail head and is worth a quick blast whatever your riding level.

For those looking to stretch their legs a little more, the recently-upgraded 6km Caddrouns Blue trail is just the ticket. With 50% of the route on singletrack (built with less experienced riders firmly in mind), it’s a fun introduction to real mountain biking. The slightly longer Linns trail (8km) is a scenic route which sticks to forest roads.

For more thrills, a 10.5km red route whizzes through the trees on fast, narrow singletrack for nearly 3km near the start, crossing bridges and boardwalks, and the final exhilarating descent from Swarf Hill will have you going round for a second lap.

If that’s not enough, the orange-graded (bike park) North Shore trail should hit the spot. You’ll find This challenge for advanced riders is to the south of the skills trail.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Trails: Mabie, 7Stanes, Scotland

Paul D — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 02:00:32 +0000

Mabie forest, the original mountain biking venue in the South West of Scotland, lies just a few miles south of Dumfries and caters for beginners right through to the most expert of riders.

With a skills area, café, bike hire and shop on site, it is definitely not to missed.

The trails
The green-graded Big Views and the blue-graded Woodhead loops are a great introduction to mountain biking and Mabie’s striking surroundings. Mostly on forest roads, with a few sections of easy singletrack, there are plenty of ups and downs, but the gradients are not too steep.

The 23km Purple Trail – Lochbank Loop is a mixture forest road and some b-class public road (hence its forest road and similar grading). Making the most of the hills, the route has its fair share of climbing, but just like the Big Views Loop the rewards are there. Enjoy the peaceful roads through the forest and revel in the views that you come across.

The skills area lies a short distance from the cafe near the trail head. If you are a new or intermediate rider, its blue- and red-graded features are ideal for practising your skills before riding the trails or prior to moving up a trail grade. The area includes a fantastic 300m freeride line with plenty of sections for you to practise your jumping technique.

The red-graded Phoenix Trail is a classic mountain bike route – great riding through mixed woodland and wonderful scenery. This 17km ride has testing climbs, fast descents, berms and water splashes. If you like fast, flowing, twisty trails with a few rocky, rooty sections and some jumps, this is your mountain bike heaven.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Trails: Learnie Red Rock, Scotland

Paul D — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:57:07 +0000

The Red Rock trails at Learnie: 16km of trails for all skill levels, combined with some of the best views from any mountain bike trails, anywhere!

There are green, blue, and black graded trails, with a bike park and a dirt jump area (both graded orange). Even our green grade singletrack is not ‘billiard table’ smooth – it gives a sufficient challenge for those wanting more than just forest road-type mountain biking.

For full details,visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Trails: Laggan Wolftrax, Scotland

Paul D — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:52:46 +0000

Run with the pack at Laggan Wolftrax and enjoy nearly 35km of the most up-to-date, year-round singletrack available in the country.

Set in the outstanding natural highland beauty of Strathmashie Forest, Wolftrax provides a green-graded beginners’ trail, the thrills of a big-and-bermy Bike Park, a fast red-graded route packed with features and a black-graded trail that’s possibly the most technical of its type in Scotland.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Trails: Kyle of Sutherland, Scotland

Paul D — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:34:18 +0000

With stunning views over the Kyle of Sutherland, the inner Dornoch Firth and Bonar Bridge, the Kyle of Sutherland Mountain Bike Trails offer 17 km of trail for a range of skills.

There are blue, red and black graded trails combining in-forest riding, technical features and forest roads.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Trails: Kirroughtree, 7Stanes, Scotland

Paul D — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:30:33 +0000

Kirroughtree, home to some of the best technical singletrack in the country is also a favourite family venue with a wide range of trails, seasonal café and a great kids’ play area.

The Trails
The green-graded Bargaly Wood trail uses a mix of minor public roads, wide tracks and one short section of easy singletrack to take you around the scenic Bargaly Glen.

When you’re ready for the next step up the trail riding ladder, try the 2 km blue-graded Taster Loop. You can also practice your technique in the skills area, which has blue, red and black- graded options.

More challenges await on the Larg Hill blue route, with long sections of narrow, flowing singletrack ending in a superb plunge through magnificent woodland. The optional Doon Hill extension adds 4km and some great views.

After a moderate start, The red-graded Twister trail gets more demanding, with rock step-ups, drops, berms and jumpable sections, all on the tight and twisting trail that’s typical of Kirroughtree.

To top it all, the black-grade Black Craigs route ups the ante, adding 14km of challenging riding on to the red route. For many the highlight is ‘McMoab’ – huge slabs and ridges of exposed granite, linked by boulder causeways. Skill and bags of nerve required…

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Trails: Innerleithen, Scotland

Paul D — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 03:24:25 +0000

All trails at Innerleithen are designed for the experienced mountain biker. The easiest trail at Innerleithen is the Black graded Traquair cross-country route. It is also a Mecca for downhill mountain bikers, with 4 downhill trails, all with different characters. Innerleithen is really a venue for the thrill seeking cyclist only.

For full details, visit www.scottishmountainbike.com

Trails: Highland Wildcat Trails, Golspie, Scotland

Paul D — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 02:20:17 +0000

Superb trails built into the hillsides over looking Golspie and the North Sea. A privately operated mountain bike centre with superbly built trails. Well worth the trip north. A small £4 donation per rider is required.

For full details, visit www.scottishmountainbike.com

Trails: Glentrool, 7Stanes, Scotland

Paul D — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:16:03 +0000

In contrast to the big country circuit, there are two green-graded routes at Glentrool: The Glen and the Palgowan.

The Glen is a short (6km) trail which shares the easy singletrack of the first half of the blue route, takes you around the Palnagashel Glen and descends on forest roads back to the visitor centre.

The Palgowan is longer. Starting on the same singletrack as The Glen route, it takes you north on forest roads and a farm track to Palgowan before returning via a climb and long descent around Glencaird Hill. A short cut along the minor public road back to Glentrool Village is available if you want to miss out the climb.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Trails: Kirkhill, Scotland

Paul D — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:29:07 +0000

A favorite location for Aberdeen’s local riders; Kirkhill is small but has plans to expand. Kirkhill has a Fun Park and a cross country trail through the forest. A great place to stop off and cycle if you are passing through the area.

For full details, visit www.scottishmountainbike.com

Trails: Glentress and Innerleithen, 7Stanes, Scotland

Paul D — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:15:45 +0000

Glentress and Innerleithen in the Tweed Valley have a massive reputation for some of the best mountain biking in the UK and beyond.

Glentress is probably the best biking centre in Britain, winning several awards. It has brilliant trails of all grades, a top-notch café, a bike shop with bike hire, changing and showering facilities, and a great atmosphere.

Innerleithen, situated just a few miles south east of Glentress, is home to some of the UK’s finest downhill and freeride trails, as well as a cracking red-graded XC route.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Trails: Fort William Downhill, Scotland

Paul D — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:53:52 +0000

The 3km Downhill run at the Nevis Range – Fort William, is accessed by a Gondola Cable Car, which lifts riders and bikes to over 200ft above sea level. Open from May until September and only, from 11am to 3pm. Contact the Nevis Range if you’re travelling a long distance as the track is sometimes used for competitions or closed for maintenance. Only recommended for skilled riders, and helmets are compulsory. Full body armour and a full face helmet is recommended.

For full details, visit www.scottishmountainbike.com

Trails: Drumlanrig, Scotland

Paul D — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:46:10 +0000

Drumlanrig is home to the Scottish Cross Country Mountain Bike Championships. All the trails are very natural in feel with plenty of roots and mud in the wet, through beautiful broadleaf woodland. the car park has the beautiful back drop of Drumlanrig Castle.

For full details, visit www.scottishmountainbike.com

Trails: Dalbeattie, 7Stanes, Scotland

Paul D — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:42:32 +0000

There’s a broad range of trails on offer and it’s the granite rock that defines the riding here. While the green-graded Ironhash trail offers easy biking mostly on forest roads, the blue-graded Moyle Hill route will have your tyres crossing short sections of rough rock and narrow trail – but the riding is fun rather than difficult.

On the red-graded Hardrock trail things go up a gear, and the surface becomes both rougher and rockier, with several notably challenging stretches. It’s the black-graded sections, however – The Slab, the Terrible Twins and Volunteer Ridge – that get people talking and the heart racing.

Recent trail building has increased the amount of singletrack in the routes and, at the trail head, a skills area with differently-graded loops gives a taste of Dalbeattie riding for those new to the area or to mountain biking. The skills trails total 1.5km in length and are on 100% singletrack.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Trails: Carron Valley Mountain Bike Trails, Scotland

Paul D — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:29:29 +0000

Fast, fun and purpose built for year round use – the Carron Valley Mountain Bike Trails are guaranteed to entice you back for more!

The natural beauty of the area, combined with panoramic views, offers “big country” biking in the heart of Scotland within easy reach of the major cities.

The 10.5km of red-graded trails have something for everyone. Linked trail sections provide the option of a short, fun route, or something longer and more challenging on singletrack and forest road.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Trails: Balnain Bike Park, Scotland

Paul D — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:08:37 +0000

Balnain Bike Park is muscle-stretching, lung-bursting fun. It’s the cycling equivalent of a skateboard park, just as testing of your skills and every bit as energetic.

Runs and jumps, North Shore, singletrack, skinnies, the fun box, aerial structures such as the seesaw that rotates as you pass over it: use them to the limit for a real adrenaline rush!

The park also has a skills development area. It’s a great way to try out some of the manoeuvres you’ll need before putting them to the test.

Aside from the skills development area, the park is for experienced mountain bikers and is graded double black. See the trail grades page for a full description of this grade.

For full details, visit http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/

Trails: The Ae 7Stanes, Scotland

Paul D — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:58:51 +0000

Ae’s green- and blue-graded trails are ideal for entry level riders and families, while its red-graded and downhill routes are for the more experienced rider.

An entry level mountain bike trail, the Green Route is aimed mainly at families with young children. It’s a 9km loop which runs up the Ae valley to a lovely viewpoint overlooking the Water of Ae. A beautiful place to stop and picnic with lots of rocks around the river.

The Blue Route shares much of its route with the Green trail – the difference is a 4.5km section on forest road, giving a trail length of 13.5km in all. It’s suitable for those families looking to take in a little bit more of the forest than just the short green-graded valley route.

The red-graded Ae Line – Scottish Power Renewables Trail is a challenging, high quality ride through quiet coniferous forest. This route has an aggressive freeride style to it with some large and sometimes intimidating trail features in addition to very steep climbs and descents.

Ridden at speed, things get very exciting, but if you are more cautious you can keep your wheels on the ground all the way round. For many, the highlight of the route is the final descent of Omega Man, with its multiplicity of jumps.

The 1.6km Ae Downhill route provides a bigger challenge. Graded ‘Bike Park/ Extreme’, its seriously gnarly rocky sections, slippery roots and huge drops will satisfy the most demanding of riders. If that’s not enough, try The Shredder, similarly graded, which starts next to the DH track.

For full details, visit http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry