[Closed] Scotland Trip - Worth the drive to Nevis/Glen Coe

They're both really good- but the uplifts are both weather dependent and it's getting late in the year so you'd have to give thought as to what to do if the lifts aren't running. (Glencoe I think is a bit less likely to have a wind closure, but a lot more likely to be completely bloody miserable) So you'd definitely need to think if you'd still be happy if you ended up having to do a day in the lower forest (which has some really good riding, so it's no disaster) or maybe changing plans and heading to Laggan or Kinlochleven or something.

(I haven't ridden the new glencoe red, the black is pretty savage though)

It sounds like you've got a lot more to extract from the tweed valley tbh, maybe head down to Thornielee for a really different feel to innerleithen and GT?

Always. One of the nicest parts of the country.

Yes, IMO it's worth the drive, but not in winter.
I'd stay a little further south & head to Dunkeld, you could easily spend a few days there on good, steep trails & not repeat much.

I could maybe show you round some of the Tweed Valley trails next week.
Drop us a PM if you want showing round.

No , head north and try Ballo , dunkeld , pitlochry or Aberfeldy . Then head to deeside for Ballater and then Aboyne. Way better then FB and Glencoe.

but not in winter.

It is actually the best time, so long as you have good gear ,wrap up well and have plenty of hot food.

Because there's no midges 😉

It sounds like you’ve got a lot more to extract from the tweed valley tbh

This. It sounds like you haven’t identical the “off piste” at Glentress for starters? If the ground is relatively dry then Gyspy Glen is a cracking extra loop. Then you’ve got a ton of trails on the Golfie, Thornielee and Yair (assuming you like things fairly steep)

It was really shite yesterday...

I would go, but I would plan the full 4 days next year elsewhere. Go to an area and explore, both the marked trails and natural routes.

+1 on wrap up and embrace the weather without midges or as many tourists.

No , head north and try Ballo , dunkeld , pitlochry or Aberfeldy

This or stay in the valley for the other hills.

Absolutely worth the drive

Also bear in mind that the World Cup course at FtWilliam is now closed - yesterday was last day.

All three tracks are still open at Nevis Range, yesterday was not the last day.

Are you booked all 4 nights in Innerleithen? It’s a long drive west for a single days riding.
I’d day it’s only worth the extra trip if you are planning staying a night.

Defo check before you go to Fort Bill
My mate went up on the day during last week and was refused as the Gondola was off due to high wind
Would be a pisser to drive from Inners to Fort Bill and found out it’s closed off

All three tracks are still open at Nevis Range, yesterday was not the last day.

Yet thier website says it was closing for season yesterday....

Dunkeld. Lovely town and loads of great trails. Friendly bike shop will give you a hand with a route, or pick one from trail forks.
Half the distance of ft bill

matt_outandabout
Full Member

Yet thier website says it was closing for season yesterday….

I don't see it? It's still got a thing about some closures in September

I'll go and find it - I was driving at the time eldest had a moment when he thought it was closing that morning...mrs_oab checked it and assured him it was open yesterday, but that was last day.

The last day for bike uplift isn’t usually set in stone. We went up last Wednesday and while the gondola was running they weren’t taking bikes, but they told us then that they would be this week and maybe next if the weather was ok.

Have done Fort Bill and really enjoyed it, need to go back and try the blue now. Never been to the trails at Glen Coe yet. However, both places would be a 3+ hour drive from inners, if your staying there I wouldn't like the drive back after a big day on those hills. I would be tempted to have a different trip if you planned on doing them. Personally I think I would do one or the other. Also sounds like there is a lot in the tweed valley you still haven't explored, as mentioned above. How about one day glentress off piste, one day inners uplift, one (or two day(s) golfie and one day thornielee or yair or cademuir (or if the weather holds up something like gypsy Glen to get you out in the hills/ local scenery)

Hey! Thank you all so much, I really appreciate the replies, nice one.

We’re just heading up this morning, I think we’ll likely stick to the tweed valley by the sounds of it - Unless we get lucky and have a clear weather forecast for a day and then take a gamble and head to the uplift (although at the moment it looks pretty grim on the forecast). Cheers! J

Thanks all again. We ended up staying up at Inners and Golfie. Had an eventful first day at Inners, mate asks me in the car park if I have a tube, I say ‘naaaahhhhim tubeless, can’t remember the last time I had a puncture’…. Famous last words and ended up carrying the bike down from the top of inners to find an LBS. Then later that day, light fading, go back for one last ride down Gold Run at inners and see a lad come off really quite badly into a tree on Matador. He was took a real nasty knock (multiple injuries, blood on the lung, spleen, broken bones etc), spent a good hour or two rest of the evening with him in the dark using bike lights to help ambulance up and ended up helping stretcher him down with mountain rescue, right place right time! Luckily we caught up with him yesterday and he’ll mend up.

The other three days were just on Golfie, very wet and muddy but amazing trails, had an absolute blast!

Oof, nasty one, just as well you were there! Sounds like a grand trip.

Closing date for Nevis Range confirmed for 7th November btw- not useful for you but maybe for other people reading. But they've had bike track closures due to ice already so it gets iffier and iffier as the season closes.

Oooft, well done for assisting.

 for one last ride down

^ there is the cause however. 😉