cheers Mackem. Went to Bilbao last summer for a couple of days and loved it so I'd be up for a return trip

http://www.mb7.com/
http://www.cyclewild.co.uk/
http://www.aeadventure.com/
http://www.innerhaven.co.uk/
http://www.scottishmountainbikeguides.com/guided-holidays-scotland
http://www.wildcat-bike-tours.co.uk/
http://www.macsadventure.com/holidays/biking.php
http://www.trailbrakes.co.uk/output/home.asp
http://www.wildernessscotland.com/adventures.php?tripID=35
http://www.7stanes.com/
http://www.gallowaycycling.co.uk/

A few companies who offer holidays and/or guiding.

But I am sure the STW massive could offer local guiding if you could source transport.

eg I live in Dumfries and my speciality is a "tour de" Mabie and Dalbeatie.
I can also do routes in the Lowther hills above Sanquhar/Thornhill. These routes can/could be started from Drumlanrigg. Sure Rik would be only to happy to show you round his patch.
http://www.drumlanrig.com/default.asp?PageId=84
I also know my way around the Howgills and the Lakes.Not as well as some but have been riding down there for 15yrs or so.
Andy @ Biketreks may be able to sort you out with something, he has done guiding here and abroad for yrs;
http://www.biketreks.net/

http://www.bike-express.co.uk/
http://www.offroadadventures-online.com/
http://www.mtbthedales.org.uk/
http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/peak_to_peak.html
http://www.mountain-bike-cumbria.co.uk/
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/achs-5rneev

We have decided to go at the end of the Summer and probably going to base ourselves at Glentress. Thinking that Glentress house looks good – anyone able to recommend it? How close is it to Glentress? How easy is it to get to other trail centres & natural riding?

… this is a joke, isn't it?

mountain biking is basically illegal in Britain. it's a bit like Drug abuse in Switzerland; frowned upon and actively discouraged by the rest of society, but tolerated within a few small parks.

eckinspain
some of my 7Stanes pics+others;

http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l145/bigjohnskona/

All the 7Stanes centres are within an 1hr or 2 from GT
Innerliethen = 20mins
Ae = 1hr 15min
Mabie = 1hr 30min
Dalbeattie = 2hr 30min.
Drumlanrig = 1.30min
All times approx depending on traffic etc.
There are loads of natural trails in most of the forest, but you will need a local to find them for you.
There are loads of natural trails around GT/Inners/Ae/Mabie/Dalbeattie and Drumlanrig. OS78 Nithsdale is your friend for the Dumfries area.

Usually controversial but I would reckomend Dumfries as a base rather than the GT area, more "centred" for getting about imo.
Also within a couple of hrs from the Lakes. Keswick, Whinlatter + Borrowdale Bash eg.
http://www.mabiehousehotel.co.uk/
http://www.marthrown.com/index.htm
http://www.astonhotels.co.uk/hotels/dumfries
Loads more depending on budget and size of party.

Unless you just go to trail centres, you're best off getting locals to guide you, you'll never find anything 'good' otherwise.

HOWEVER….

Why on earth would you come here? Don't get me wrong I ride here several times a week, but this is basically just to get me ready for the two weeks a year when I can go to France / Canada / Italy. You'd be better off driving to Les Arcs and doing the single track there – it'll be better.

(Tho to be fair, Skye is very pretty on a bike, with good descents, unfortuately largely accessed via bog)

You'd be better off driving to Les Arcs and doing the single track there – it'll be better.

Not at all, just be the same ❗
Can`t beat the lush green hills of the UK.

Can`t beat the lush green hills of the UK.

Yes. You. Can.

I'd be up for a bit of swapage if the riding is of the general genre of my last post.

Thanks for the positive replies – I'm really looking forward to it now 😯

Anyway it looks like we have a slight change of plan. The original plan was to stay in Glentress for a week, but someone pointed out to me today that it will get a bit boring after a few days in the same small village and that we should move about a bit.

So, if we were to stay in Glentress for a couple of days riding, where should we go afterwards? I'm thinking we could go up to the North of Scotland where the scenery will be fantastic (and I think there's some riding, no?). Or we could go South to England (gasp!) and maybe go to the Lake District or something.

We'll be in the country for a week and the flights are to and from Edinburgh and can't be changed.

What would people's recommendations be? Obviously if these recommendations come with offers of guiding us round the best local trails then all the better (beer, tea and cake will be provided for those guiding obviously!)

only need a couple of days rounds GT – all of GT can be done in a day, and inners only really has one signed route – the selkirk merida route might be good to take them round though…

if flights are just from edinburgh, then i'd head north, hit laggan, devils staircase and ciaran (sp) path route (utterly amazing), and some of skye perhaps.

that'd probably fill the week tbh

GT
merida marathon (uses some of inners anyway)
laggan
devlis staircase
skye

5 rides, 2 trail center, 2 natural and one bit of both. some really technical stuff, some big rides, not too many bogs and some great views.

perfect i reckon.

eck forgot to say my folks live in dumfries, can camp at theirs 😀

cheers Fontmoss!

Highlands biking info here;
Highlands biking

and; the Neeps

If you decide to go down the Lakes simonfbarnes of this parish has loadsa routes here;click on routes list

For more Lakes info and classic route maps for a few ££s contact;
Andy
KMB
whinlatter
wheelbase
Keswick, the nearest if the Lakes trails is about 2hrs from GT/Peebles.

A quick update for anyone who's interested – we are currently in Innerleithen. Did Inners yesterday (a massive thankyou to hels from here for guiding/babysitting and then helping us find some lost walkers) and we did Glentress today.
It's the first time for any of us at a trail centre and we din't know exactly what to expect but it's been absolutely fantastic! Went up Minch Moor yesterday in driving wind and rain and today in Glentress was amazing – sunshine all day, fantastic routes, great bacon sandwich from The Hub.
The Spanish guys are in some kind of heaven – they had no idea these places existed and they are running around like kids at Christmas!
Off to Aviemore tomorrow for some real riding out in the mountains so we'll see how that goes.
Really really impressed with everything so far. Reminds me of a ski resort where everyone in the town is focussed on one activity, and super super friendly.

Welcome to Scotland – mtb heaven.

Aviemore – try Cafe Mambo on main street for pre or post ride food, beer and free wifi to post some pics 🙂

Nice one eckinspain, you're completely wrong about the trees and singletrack (near) Madrid, though – there's loads if you know where to look…

sniff, I'm sorry to say that Cafe Mambo is no more 🙁

Back in Madrid now after 4 great days in Nethy Bridge – great routes from Nethy Bridge through Ryvoan Pass, Glenmore, Cairngorm, Badaguish…

The bunkhouse was a bit basic compared to the luxury accomodation in Innerleithen but it was nice to have everyone in the same place and having dinner together. Also the basketball net and table tennis kept people entertained.

Decent bikes and good service from basecamp (though not as good as the bikes we got from The Hub which were very very good) – one tyre was in a pretty bad state and we had to buy a replacement half-way through the ride.

Incredible weather – 4 days of warm sunshine, no wind, no rain! The spaniards think Scottish weather is always like this and I had to keep reminding them that we were amazingly lucky.

Managed to sneak a day off to see the family and was very impressed by the food (Ord Ban for lunch and The Mountview Hotel for dinner).

The Spanish are already looking forward to a return trip next year – we'll see!

The Spanish are already looking forward to a return trip next year – we'll see!

Oooh give us a shout, always up for a visit to fornparts.

Did some lovely singletrack near Navacerrada this morning, nicely linked up the rocky downhill bits. No need to go that far for the stuff!

Dont suppose the Madrid based STWers fancy a route exchange program, you show me round the trails down there, i'll take you on a few in Pais Vasco.

Sounds reasonable Mackem, when you heading down here?

Probably January, but there's a few long weekends between now and Christmas so might be down sooner, need to organise something.

sounds like a great idea Mackem.

Let us know when you're around

Looks likely I'm moving to Madrid early next year 🙁

I'll need someone to show me around. 😉

Why the sad face flamejob? And what are you doing out here?

Looks likely I'm moving to Madrid early next year

Great! We lost a Madrid STWer last year so it'll be good to boost the numbers again. Let me know if you need help with anything.

One of these days we really are going to have to have a proper group ride, I reckon! Sometime after Festibike, for example?

Sad face because we will be moving from Malaga maybe. I have a mountain 10 mins from my central city apartment; and a beach.

Isn't Festibike in May?

Sad face because we will be moving from Malaga maybe. I have a mountain 10 mins from my central city apartment; and a beach.

Ah, fair enough. No beach here! I do however have mountains 10min from my front door, which is nice.

Isn't Festibike in May?

Nope, 17-18-19 September, in two weeks.