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going up to Scotland in the summer and looking to camp in the borders somewhere. The wife likes the odd trail centre ride, but isn't the most confidant rider in the world.
Which one of the centres might be suitable? Shes ridden the Marin trail a good few times, and we did penmachno (which wasn't great as it was blowing a gale and sheeting down!)
Ta
Have stayed here http://www.barnsoulfarm.co.uk/bothies.html many times in the wooden bothies and found it superb, ask for Archie the owner.
From there great access to Mabie / Dalbeatie / Ae bit further Kirro
I would say the appropriate route at any of those would be great.
Hope this helps
if she's done the marin and of the stanes red routes would be fine for her
"Have stayed here http://www.barnsoulfarm.co.uk/bothies.html many times in the wooden bothies and found it superb, ask for Archie the owner.
From there great access to Mabie / Dalbeatie / Ae bit further Kirro
I would say the appropriate route at any of those would be great.
Hope this helps "
That's about the best advice you'll need- great place to stay and 3 trails suitable for someone not that confident (apart from Ae which is just terrible). Dalbeattie and Kirro are fantastic trails, Mabie less so but may be more suitable.
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l145/bigjohnskona/?start=40
Have a look at my pics if you like. Some local knowledge stuff from Mabie & Dalbeattie in there as well.
Me, I am biased, living in Dumfries as I do. Therfore agree with whats already been said about Mabie/Dalbeattie/Kirry. I like Ae tho, might be a bit harder going but that adds to the charm imo.
What else other than biking do you and the SO want to when not biking?
Camping, why?
There are so many Pods and chalets going these days it seems daft imo.
http://www.gorsebank.com/
http://www.7stanes.com/mabie-house-pods-i601628.html
http://www.marthrown.com/index.htm
http://www.kippfordholidaypark.co.uk/
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=2406
http://www.ukparks.com/park_details_top.asp?parkid=1942
http://www.gillespie-leisure.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=98&Itemid=184
Anything else 😆
Thank you all for that!
Trekster, didn't even know those pods existed! I'll look into that!
We are actually going all the way up to Carradale for my parents wedding anniversary so we're breaking the journey!
Was planning on some riding and walking.
I'll do some more digging!
We have camped in moffat before. The town has everything you need and its right next to the supermarket. Theres a caravan and camping club campsite there but i will say, the place is totally anal about everything tho. They enforced the 5mph speed limit on site vigorously, they made me move my tent about 1m due to fire regulations and they wouldnt let us camp Car-tent-tent-car, it had to be car-tent-car-tent if you get what i mean. On the plus side, its cheap and soooooo clean. You'd eat yer dinner off the bogs! The copper piping was proper gleaming! The showers are excellent, spacious and always hot. I reccomend it, just dont crack open too many buckfasts in view on the campsite.
What drapes says + this at Beattock;
http://www.visitsouthernscotland.co.uk/caravan-and-camping-c1421.html
You are only 1/2hr from Dumfries, Ae and Mabie. You can walk/bike some of the Southern Upland Way and ride from Moffat/Beattock via an all purpose(forest road)to Ae(and Dumfries)=22mls(44 there & back) OS78 is your friend 😉
You will only be 1hr from GT/Inners and 1.1/2hr from Kirry. Mind your speed on the A75 🙄
I really like Mabie, didn't like Dalbeattie at all.
Plenty of variety in the Tweed Valley too, with trails for all levels of confidence at Glentress, and a bit more tecchie at Innerleithen just down the road. Check out www.visittweedvalley.co.uk for lots of mtb accommodation options from pods to hotels. 😀
Glentress is absolutely the best choice if you've got mixed levels of skill/confidence, the red is a blast and is designed to be approachable- good visibility, lots of thought given not just to how hard it is but how hard it looks. But the blue's damn good in places too. And both trails could be pretty much designed as trainers/confidence boosters. So much choice, sure it's not the most technical or difficult, but it has some brilliant riding and anyone from a total beginner to a hardened veteran could have a good day there. Sometimes on the same trails 😉
I love the place... Prefer the red/black at Kirroughtree and Drumlanrig for a single ride but GT just has so much going on.
As Northwind says.
Best to get there early or mid week. It is as North and Di say much fun, but then everyone and their kids, grannies and dogs knows this now. Choice of car parking to, you can motor up the hill, practice in the skills area, freewheel down, have a coffee+cake and then bike back up. The new climbs make the climbing relatively easy now compared to a few yrs ago.
Once you know your way around mixing up the black+red+blue can be fun.
Just make your choice and go, simples as that really, you will enjoy wherever you go.
I'd base myself arounf GT/Inners, plenty of trails there for a good weekend.
So has the Dumfries area You/they have GT & Inners
I/we have Ae, Mabie and Dalbeattie with Kirry only an hr away.
GT/Inners being 1.1/2hrs up the road 😆