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Hi all , I want to plan a long weekend of MTB in Scotland . I would be flying in say on a Thursday Night and return Sunday night or Monday. Would probably want circular routes from a hostel, but would be happy to ride between hostels /hotels to do another circular route the next day, if you get me. I don't want to MTB with my bag!. Where must I go / where is it possible to go?
Thanks!
Glentress 30 miles from airport.
Extend to Tweed valley. Lots of routes. OS map and Strava will help.
The airport is very close to the city centre. Pentland Hills are nearest. Search for Scotroutes' map.
If wanting a bit more but still using the city centre as a base: over the Pentlands (or easier via the road) to Glentress.
If you want to ride to the Tweed Valley off road from Edinburgh, have a look at following the latter part of the Capital Trail route in reverse:
https://fearlessandunique.wordpress.com/capital-trail/
But no one would fly to Scotland for a MTB weekend and just ride the pentlands especially as its august.
Thanks so far. I don't really want to stay in the city centre I think. I like he look of Glentress and Tweed Valley
Fife is just over the Bridge, the Lomonds have lots of great trails.
Apologies for the shameless plug but my brother's Ruin is now on airbnb.
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/6025108
In that case, (hopefully you can cycle with your bag to) Kailzie Bunkhouse near Glentress. Do Glentress, Inners, and the natural trails around Tweed Valley, Golfie, etc
Are you into doing it all yourself? There's a million edinburgh people on here, maybe a lift down to the borders could be arranged? I can't promise, depends on dates but maybe
My answer depends on what kind of riding you are after, where you've been before, and how you'd be willing to get about.
As suggested above, the Tweed valley is the obvious choice, but if you had access to a car (hire/borrow/tag along), and decent timing with the weather you could get into some real mountains too.
RE getting around with bikes/ gear...
You could use trains to get you and your bike to some good areas going north, but timing these and flights is pretty tricky. Plus you'd need to ride into town to get on the train in the first place. In a couple of months the new borders railway should make trips to the Tweed Valley easier with regular train from Edinburgh to Galashiels (from there it's a decent little ride through the hills to Yair and then up river towards most of the other well known tracks in the area). Before then though a car would help you ride with most flexibility. There was a bike bus to Glentress, but I'm not sure if it's still going or of its details. Without a car (or train/ bike bus) then the capital trail in reverse would be good. Edinburgh to Glentress/ Innerleithen is a decent ride though so would eat up a lot of your weekend just getting there and back.
So, obvious suggestion no.1: Tweed Valley
Thursday – Arrive, drive to Peebles/ Innerleithen, maybe an evening spin depending on times
Friday – Based around Glentress. A mix of trail centre/ other tracks, and maybe crossing over to do the Gypsy Glen if the conditions are good.
Saturday – Based around Innerleithen. A mix of the trail centre, marked downhill and enduro tracks to taste using both sides of the river.
Sunday – A tour of the valley. For instance Innerleithen climb, Southern Upland Way to 3 brethren, best bits of Yair, and finishing back in Innerleithen with as much as you have time/ energy for.
Monday – travel to airport, Flight home
Other bases to consider would be one of the towns on the edge of the Cairngorms or Kinlochleven (if access to good weather and transport is possible - trains might work for the former though timings are tricky). Both are more complex but accessible for a long weekend from Edinburgh. Plenty of suggestions for these if you fancy more highland/ mountains.
IIRC you're in/near gbg right? I might be up for a bit of an “exchange” if you fancy it. Trade some local knowledge/ assistance/ pointing you in the right direction or whatever for something similar in your neck of the woods sometime.
Wow lots of information thanks.
I will invite some friends from the UK, but may well do it alone .Riding would be all mountain , I'd bring my full sus. Will probably do the trip in spring , late March 2016. Am very happy to cycle with a rucksack on my back between accomodation.
I guess I want to do the 'must do' routes but have to be realistic with finding trails and so on.
jamiep I'll take a look at that accommodation and trip plan. Northwind thanks for your offer , I'll perhaps put a message on here nearer the time.
Bajscykel that's a fantastic itinerary thanks so much . I'll investigate and probably get back to you. Yes I'm in GBG and would be very happy to host or exchange information or whatever . Current tip would be to drive up to Hafjell in Norway it's amazing!
All mountain you say?
If I were looking to ride 'mountains' I'd go north rather than south. Pitlochry would make a great base. Train from Edinburgh, there's a Youth Hostel in town and trails on the edge of it.
I don't know what the term is now. Enduro? I don't want to do cross country , I also don't want to do black downhill runs (although some lifer assisted stuff would be cool) . All hill? Trail riding?
Given suggestion of late March, and non-xc riding, I'd say that if you need to plan ahead then Tweed Valley offers best variety of riding that is likely to be mostly rideable at that time of year.
Higher stuff further north will hopefully be too snowy (though west coast lower areas like many of the tracks around Kinlochleven and Torridon this is unlikely). Other accessible/ ower/ rideable stuff further north may fall towards the "xc" end of the spectrum, but I dunno how to judge. Certainly lift assisted stuff at Nevis and Glencoe will be geared up for the ski season.
If you were local, I'd advise to make plans up in the week before to suit the best conditions. Given that isn't the case then then a rough plan involving the Borders probably is a good way of hedging your bets.
Ah, hadn't really thought of the snow !
If you are used to proper mountains the stuff in Scotland is really just big hills, just to set your expectations. The only lift assisted stuff is Fort William and Glencoe, and if you don't want to ride big DH tracks that would take less than a day.
But the hills are great ! Especially in the Borders as referenced.
Transport infrastructure also isn't great north of the Edinburgh/Glasgow central belt.
Waymarking of trails is also non-existent outside of the trail centres.
I work near Edinburgh airport and live in the Tweed Valley. If the timing is right you might be able to cadge a lift, post up here.