7stanes Glentress

Where do you start with Glentress? It is Scotland’s biggest and most popular mountain bike centre, and the unofficial hub of the sport of mountain biking in Scotland. It is, in short, a phenomenon and the flagship 7stanes centre.

At weekends the car parks fill up, the café buzzes with people and the hire bikes shift faster than you can say, ‘Any mediums left?’ (The trick is to book in advance…). Why is this so? Because the custom-built trails – there is an enviable network of approximately 70 kilometres of dedicated single-track, being added to and improved on all the time – are top drawer. But also because the atmosphere, assisted by the Hub café with its fine coffees, wholesome soups and carb loaded homemade cakes, is friendly, welcoming and fun.  And the curious thing is that it doesn’t seem to matter how busy the café and car parks are, there is always ample room on the trails. You tend to pass other riders, and have them pass you, but logjams are rare.

Forestry Commission Scotland originally developed the 7stanes project at Mabie Forest in Dumfries & Galloway but the development of the trails at Glentress began with the popular red route, built by the trail building guru Pete Laing, way back in 2000. And it is still very popular, particularly the new fun park-style section at the top of the hill. Known as Spooky Wood, it packs some 18 jumps, 17 tabletops, 4 rock drops and twelve 180-degree bermed bends into its 1.6kms. In short, it is brilliant. The beauty of the red route for many is that it involves a long uphill, with the single-track zigzagging through the forest, but all this is followed by the ultimate reward: an exhilaratingly long downhill ride, all the way back to the Hub. It is the route that converted many to the thrills of mountain biking, and it continues to deliver.

The blue route, meanwhile, is a fantastic option for those with less experience. It is only marginally shorter and still provides a serious physical test, as well as the thrills of bermed corners, jumps and tabletops, but while the red is loose and rocky in places, the blue trails have a good, solid surface, making them easy to ride.

Opened in 2007, the 4.5km green route is a cracking wee trail for first time mountain bikers, families or those who haven't been on a bike in a while. Although short, the real beauty of this route is that over half of it is on purpose-built (beginner friendly) green-grade single-track. The Skills Area, near the Buzzard's Nest car park, is also great for newcomers, young or old. It's 1.5kms long and contains many of the features found out on the longer routes. Each feature - from jumps to drop-offs to rock gardens and little sections of raised timber trail - also has an interpretation panel, which explains what the feature is and offers tips on how to ride it successfully.

The black route is at the other end of the scale. From the long, gruelling climb to the mast, to the rocky trails that make up much of the 29kms, to the exhausting Deliverance Loop that drains any remaining energy around two-thirds of the way round, is an epic and technically demanding route.

Three feature-packed trails in the popular Freeride Park next to the Buzzards Nest car park provide an ideal spot for riders looking to style it up and progress their skill levels even further (and maybe scare themselves too!).

Mountain bike instruction is available at Glentress, with classes hels for all levels of ability, and a popular Kids Club runs on Saturdays.

Another highly popular offering at Glentress is night riding. High powered lights can be hired from the Hub – but again, book in advance. Night riding has become almost a sport in itself; organised sessions are held on Wednesday evenings throughout the winter, with a hot meal in the Hub at the end of it. Check out their own website for more details www.thehubintheforest.co.uk

Work continues to improve Glentress, with ongoing tweaks to the existing trails, new sections of single-track for the blue and red routes planned and an ambitious and well-equipped new visitor centre scheduled to open in 2009.

Other Info

Routes
Green - 4.5kms
Blue – 13kms (or 8kms)
Red – 19kms
Black – 29kms
Orange - freeride park 3 trails
There is also a skills area located near the Buzzards Nest car park.

Bike Shops/Hire:
The Hub in the Forest 01721 721736
Border Bike Sport 01721 723423
Glentress Bike Hire 01721 729756

Getting There

From Peebles follow A72 to Innerleithen, after 1.5 miles Glentress car park is on left. The bike park is next to the Buzzards Nest car park.

Distance from:
Peebles - 1.5 miles
Edinburgh - 24 miles
Glasgow - 66 miles
Newcastle - 90 miles

Website

• www.7stanes.gov.uk