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As per title really.
A group of us are heading out to Innerleithen next month. Hoping to do some riding at glentress on the Saturday followed by inners XC loop on the Sunday. Is the trail fully open or accessible enough that we can get round as the last I heard it was still closed due to storm damage?
There are sections still closed due to storm damage. Plora Craig is wiped out and part of the opening climb before you get to the quarry.
Even the sections which are open are now pretty overgrown. Expect your arms to get a good flaying from the encroaching pine trees which have shot up this summer.
I love the trail but it's falling into disrepair.
Mostly open, as above.
Some closed at GT too, the black after the mast, Hush-hush, Mild Peril.
Same at Golfie, mostly open but Waterworld, Walkerburn etc all gone.
I've never been to Glentress and was planning a trip in October - is there enough open for it to be worth it?
Yeah It's pretty much all open , Even some of the blocked off piste trails can be accessed now. Loads open , If it's dry'ish look for some of the newer trails on the west side than the old red trail which is pretty knackered in places.
I’ve never been to Glentress and was planning a trip in October – is there enough open for it to be worth it?
Yes definitely.
The good bits of the black:
Ewok Wall
DoubleX
The Bich
Ponduro
I think the red and blue are both fully open or not far off it.
Off Piste
Trail Fairy Plan
Hammertime
Mast of Zorro
The Hunestman
Thunderstruck
Careless Whisper
Hochimin
Zoom or Bust
Daves
The Fort
All open and very worth riding.
Hush-hush, Mild Peril.
Hush-Hush has a new entrance and is fully rideable as is Brown Trout.
Mild Peril is now marked as part of the black XC route.
Lots of stuff that's still showing as closed on Trailforks is open.
Edit to add to militantmandys list.
Cocknostril is also open.
Mud N Roots and Steep Loam have never been closed.
Thanks for the replies so far. I’ve only ever done the red and blue at glentress and none of us have visited in about 10 years. I remember enjoying inners but would we be better doing the black at glentress instead of inners xc then?
@singlespeedstu that's good news about Hush-Hush, assume the new entrance is obvious? Also, do you know if Jail Break is open again, I assume not?
@fathomer.
Yea it's pretty easy to find.
Go to the end of the fallen trees and it's there.
Just past where the old entrance used to be.
Goes straight down then turn right on the flat bit then left again as you get back to the blockage.
Not sure on Jailbreak, was closed last time i looked but heard someone mention a new entrance.
Not a favourite of mine so didn't pay much attention.
When are you up?
I could meet up for a ride if you fancy it?
@militantmandy many thanks, sounds like although it might not be at its best, theres still plenty to keep me entertained as a first time visitor for a day or two!
@freddiest I don't want to put you off Inners, definitely go for it, but it's only good for a couple of hours tops if sticking to the redroute. That's no problem though as the car park day tickets are now interchangeable between there and Glentress, so you can do a black up red down to make more of a day of it.
If you're used to blue/red official trails then some of the earlier suggestions e.g Brown Trout Golfie etc will possibly be not much fun.
Blargh it's not called Hush Hush, it's Five Year Plan <fighting a lost fight> And Trailfairy Plan is B Side. Though I'll admit that's a shit name.
Inners red, generally the thing to do is add in Angry Sheep and/or Green Wing. They're a fairly quick spin up the fireroad and really easy to find, and drop you off right back where you started.
Also appreciative of the info: am passing Glentress in a week and thought I’d visit for the first time in, I don’t know, 20 years. I’m expecting that it’s changed a lot (and will cost a bit more).
@singlespeedstu thanks for the info, sure we'll find it.
Me and the Mrs are the Valley from the 20th but not sure on plans yet. Will give you a shout if I can fit a ride in.
(and will cost a bit more)
Still costs nothing except parking! If you really want you can park on the main road or in Peebles and ride up Janet's Brae.
I remember enjoying inners but would we be better doing the black at glentress instead of inners xc then?
Depends a bit on what you're comfortable with. There's loads at Inners that isn't the XC route as well, but it's definitely not XC and will involve doing the same climb a few times, which may not be what you're after. I guess the nice thing about GT is that you can build a loop taking in various trails and climbs, unlike Inner DH or Golfie where you're more or less just repeating the same couple of climbs over and over.
A good, post Arwen loop at GT might be something like:
Up to mast
Trailfairy Plan (quite full on, maybe swap for Zorro)
Left at bottom, along to push up at corner
Thunderstruck
Careless Whisper
Back to freeride
Pass bottom of Spooky climb, along to Mud and Roots
Steep Loam
Up the climb
Ewok Wall
Double X
Bitch
Ponduro