Please note: There will be parking restrictions on weekdays at Glentress until Christmas
. The
Buzzards Nest Car Park, The
Red Squirrel car park and the
access road to these will be
CLOSED to vehicles
MONDAY - FRIDAY from 13th November to Wed 24th December. The 7stanes and Osprey car parks at the trailhead will be fully open to vehicles as normal.
All mountain bike trails and forest walks will remain open during this period but visitors are asked to be alert for construction traffic on the forest roads and give way where necessary.
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, with 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 quite different from its better-known sister - away from the hustle and bustle, it's a venue for the more experienced rider.
You'll find details of the trails and facilities on offer at both sites below.
Glentress - the trails
For the beginner, the Skills Area has differently graded sections to help you get started. If you’re looking to go a little further, the Green Route offers real mountain biking, but with none of the scary stuff found on the harder trails.
With cracking sections of singletrack, the Blue Route is a great trail for riders with some previous experience and a bit more fitness – the hidden gem of Glentress?
The Red Route boasts some fine singletrack climbs as well as massive, fast descents with jumps and berms in good measure.
For an epic ride, try the black-graded V trail. It starts from the valley bottom, climbs to Dunslair Heights (600m) and is testing, steep and often on the gnarly side. Elevated North Shore wooden sections and rocky chutes add yet more challenge, and the final descent has a real sting in the tail.
Packed full of advanced level features, the Freeride Park is an ideal spot for riders looking to push their skill levels, style it up, learn new tricks or just hang out and ride with friends. The Essentials trail in the park has been built with novice freeriders firmly in mind, although the park itself is graded 'extreme'.
Glentress - facilities
Parking
Glentress has several parking options and you can choose where to park depending on where you want to start and finish your ride. The trail head is at the Osprey car park (see the trail map for details). See details of how to get to Glentress by car.
Glentress parking charges: Day rates are £3 for a car/motorbike and £6 for a van/minibus. Short stays (up to 1hr) to visit the café/bikeshop etc. are now £1. Money from parking charges goes back into trail maintenance.
Toilets, shower and changing facilities
There are showers, toilets and changing facilities by the Osprey car park. Showers cost £1 for 5 minutes.
Cafe / food and drink
The popular Hub cafe is right beside the trail head.
Bike shop and bike hire
On-site bike hire is available from the Hub bike shop by the trail head. Note that advanced booking is essential. Bike hire is also available in Peebles and in Innerleithen village.
Innerleithen - the trails
Innerleithen is renowned for its downhill routes. There are currently four of them - all Bike Park Extreme grade.
The red-graded (with black-graded options) Traquair XC route also starts and ends here. The long climb to the top of the Minch Moor (570m) leads to a fast descent, the rock garden at Plora Craig and a great freeride finish.
Innerleithen - facilities
Parking
Car parking is available at the trail head. See details of how to get to Innerleithen by car.
Bike hire
Alpine Bikes in Innerleithen Village hires bikes.
Uplift
Uplift services are run regularly at Innerleithen by 'Uplift Scotland'. Booking essential. Contact David 'Tally' Tallontine on 07709 144 299, via email on tally@uplift.scotland.com or see www.upliftscotland.com for more details and booking. Uplift dates are also published with the Innerleithen details on the trail conditions page.
Other facilities
Nearby Innerleithen village has a range of facilities for before and after your ride.
The Tweed Valley Bike Patrol
Looking to give something back to mountain biking? The Tweed Valley Bike Patrol is an exciting volunteering opportunity at Britain’s favourite mountain biking venue, providing visitors to Glentress forest with the advantages of local knowledge, bike repair skills and emergency assistance from a team of skilled riders.
Find out more about the Tweed Valley Bike Patrol and how to volunteer.
Glentress Trailfairies
If you've ever fancied trying your hand at trailbuilding, or want to help maintain the trails you ride at Glentress, check out details of the Glentress Trailfairies, the volunteer trailbuilding group at Glentress.
The Glentress stane
See what are the 7stanes? for details of the Glentress sculpted stane.