Mountain Biking at Glentress and Innerleithen
We are proud to be members of the Tweed Valley Mountain Bike Hospitality Scheme. Members with this award provide accommodation with additional facilities, such as secure bike store and bike cleaning facilities.
For those who enjoy mountain biking, Innerleithen caters for everyone, with choices from the simplest of cycle routes to the toughest international standard mountain bike courses (downhill and cross-country). Just 5 miles away Glentress Forest has established itself as a mecca for mountain bikers of all experience and ages.
Innerleithen Mountain Biking
Innerleithen has a 15 year history of extreme DH trails. Traquair forest has long been the no.1 DH trail centre in Scotland. There is a maze of trails at Innerleithen descending off ‘The Plora’ down to the town below, from ‘freeride’ trails with big jumps to root and rock fests. Innerleithen is a world-class venue for DH mountain biking.
The Innerleithen XC trail was built in the first phase of the project; a few years after 7stanes developments began in its sister forest, Glentress, down the road. The long XC course is a ‘big up – big down’ affair, reaching the summit of the Minch Moor high above the valley via some flowing singletrack climbs. The newly built shelter on top of the Minch gives you amazing 360 degree views of the Tweed, Ettrick and Yarrow valleys. Then you begin its famous descent, culminating in the infamous ‘Cadon Bank’ trail which flows beautifully, but only if you are confident. It really is a ‘men-from-boys’ descent and rewards confidence with a serious thrill-ride. There are few descents in Scotland to rival this experience.
Glentress Mountain Biking
For 5 years Glentress has lead the way in purpose built mountain biking trails. There really is no other venue like Glentress in Britain, and that’s the reason it is consistently voted the best dedicated centre in the UK. Glentress has it all, for all abilities, and the centre never rests. There is always some form of trailbuilding going on at Glentress. Whether it is more natural singletrack from volunteer groups, or lengthening the blue graded runs. Glentress has a massive scene connected with it and feeds off this scene to grow bigger and better. Soon the forest itself will have to grow to cope with the sheer quantity of trails!