A few friends and I are planning on going away for a weekend of biking at the end of November. Probably likley to be trail centres. We went up to glentress and innerleithen a few months ago. Was either thinking of going back and doing some of the other 7 stanes or maybe down to Afan. What do people think?
I'm biased as I'm just back from Kirroughtree and I always like the last trail I rode best. But it's absolutely brilliant, and nice and local for Drumlanrig too. Unfortunately it's located about 50 miles from the middle of nowhere.
I`m also biased, I live just outside Dumfries 😀
Why not the Lake District? It is just a big trail centre 😀
See here; [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/knights-of-niche-week-away-pics ]Stanes[/url]
alan @ sierra......very tempting 😯 but saving for Canada next year
[url] http://www.sierracycling.com [/url].
We are just 20 minutes from the airport. Arrive Friday morning before midday and leave Monday evening, meaning 4 full day sunny guided rides for just 210 Euros. Includes free bar and snacks all weekend. Cheaper than a wet weekend in Wales.
Northwind we drove up from Sussex to ride it this weekend too = Kirroughtree is everything the rumours say "sell the wife, sell the kids and ride it before you die..."
Trekster - I live in Lancaster and generally ride in the lakes 1 or 2 times a week, and agree that it is a pretty fun place to ride. Its nice just to go somewhere a bit different now and again, thats why I was thinking scotland or wales.
Kirroughtree is indeed awesome. Dalbeattie, Mabie and Ae are well worth a go as well. Could base yourself near Dumfries somewhere.
This place is nice and pretty cheap - http://www.greenhead-holidays.co.uk/
mrh86 - you're in Lancaster eh? Me too, fancy hooking up for a bike ride sometime?
Trekster - I live in Lancaster and generally ride in the lakes 1 or 2 times a week, and agree that it is a pretty fun place to ride. Its nice just to go somewhere a bit different now and again, thats why I was thinking scotland or wales.
Come up and see me then 🙂
From Dumfries Mabie, Ae, Dalbeattie and Drumlanrig are 1/2-3/4hr drives.
Kirry is a 1hr drive and if you then feel the need for a GT fix it is only 1.1/2hrs away.
If you could make it I am off the 21/22nd and could do you a Mabie/Dalbeattie "special" 😉
Dumfries Mabie, Ae, Dalbeattie, Kirry is what we are doing THIS WEEKEND, should be good!
Grumm - yea sure. I don't know the lakes that well though, and have just been going with bogtrotters. That link for the holiday place in scotland looks promising. email me: martyn(at)mrh86(dot)co(dot)uk and we can sort a ride out at some point.
Trekster - Funnily enough thats the weekend we are planning on going. How much of an epic ride is your Mabie/Dalbeattie special?
Sorry. Did`nt mean it as Mabie/Dalbeattie as one ride 😳
can be done but it is 40+mls ❗
What I meant to say was that Mabie has its cheeky trails as does Dalbeattie.
If the coastal path is added to Dalbeattie+some cheeky trails you have an all day ride.
We played about in Mabie for about 4hrs last Tues without hardly touching main trails and missing out some cheeky bits ❗
Does mean riding the same bits of trail a couple of times, but worth it...
Ah right. Dont think 40 miles is really on the cards. Just booked a place to stay for that weekend in november. (the link provided by grumm above). Sould be good. I think we will be doing 2 days of riding, saturday and sunday. What do you reccommend trekster?
As above?
Although Kirry could/should be a must if you are in the area, 1hr drive from Dumfries. Go early and get back in time for a trip round Mabie.
Only joking 😉 Can be done but if you go to Kirry and do the black then thats usually enough for 1 day if you want to enjoy the next imo.
If you did that on the Sat I could join you for a Sunday dawdle round Mabie with a few extra bits to keep things interesting 😆
I am laready booked out for the weekend before hand so getting a pass for 2 weeknds out biking could be difficult
[url= http://www.fanylionracing.com/calendar/ridedetails.php?nxtrideID=72 ]14th and 15th Nov[/url]
Will also be riding the stw 1st Nov at Kirkby Stephen
I can vouch for Treksters local guiding skillz.
Some great local stuff in them there woods. 😀
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/4020668922/in/photostream/ ]Local trail [/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/4020633778/in/photostream/ ] For local people [/url]
Like the look of kirroughtree on the sat and the sunday ride sounds like a good idea. I'll have a chat to my mates and see what they think. Whats your emaal address trekster? or email me: martyn(at)mrh86(dot)co(dot)uk Cheers
If you're looking at 2 days with one day's riding being kirroughtree black, you're going to need to be in reasonable shape to do anything much the next day, especially if you do mcmoab- that ripped the legs off me... Then it's followed by a climb, and then an ascent, and a generally upwards traverse, and finally some climbing 
It's a brilliant place but it's hard work so do plan for that. I'm not any great paragon of fitness mind but I think most people will find it a big ride.
What we did worked well- we planned to do drumlanrig on the second day (I can't recommend drumlanrig too highly, it's brilliant, more like the world's best local loop than a normal trail centre feel) but as it was pretty wet we figured it'd be skitey death on the roots so we did kirroughtree red instead. Worked very well, it gave us a decent ride on slightly familiar trails so we could have a proper play. And you can still throw in bits of black should you wish.
I've not ridden all the other trails mentioned but I couldn't have been happier with our 2-day kirroughtree ride, I think too often on a riding trip you only do things once and the first ride's often a bit tentative- you don't know how far you have to ride or how much climbing, and you don't know where to hold back and be careful, and where to have a play. Second time round I got much more of a feel for it and really started to make the most of it.
Drat ❗
Just remembered I will be at Center Parcs that weekend...doh 🙄
As Northwind says, Kirry can be a big ride for some folk. I always suggest people take it easy till after McMoab/Heartbreak Hill because Talnoutry is one of the best bits of singletrack anywhere 😀
😳Explosion In a Spaghetti Factory - Member
I can vouch for Treksters local guiding skillz.
Explosion In a Spaghetti Factory - Member
Local trailFor local people
Hope you don`t mind I have nicked the vid for myragley.com site. Cheers. JH
Trekster's extra trails are excellent, I am still learning them and haven't tried the Dalbeattie stuff yet either.
Good Vid of JH
Kirroughtree is a great trail the section back to the road after Heartbreak Hill is up there with one of the best bits of Singletrack it's brilliant.
Hope you don`t mind I have nicked the vid for myragley.com site. Cheers. JH
No problem at all mate.
It's here - http://myragley.com/a-wee-vid
Feel free to email us any more Ragley images for the site on myragley@ragleybikes.com
Bit of a comedy bit that ❗
Need to practice more and stay upright 🙄
Only 2nd ride on the pig but first through the woods, twas good 😀 Will be better once I can afford some decent forks
Cheers Brant, was nt sure how many pics/spam you wanted.