[Closed] Good singletrack near Edinburgh, Scotland

Not too sure whether you are looking for stuff similar to the Beast or W2 (if so the waymarked stuff at the 7 stanes, based in Tweed valley would be an obvious suggestion) or if you're after good singletrack (I wouldn't describe any of these as singletrack).

For stuff similar to Afan etc then the waymarked routes of the 7 stanes are great (Glentress, Innerleithen, Ae, Mabie, Dalbeattie [edit] and Drumlanrig - not a 7 stane but great). Most of these centres also have plenty of unmarked singletrack and surrounding hills and forests with even more decent routes if you aren't after trail centre riding. Loads of threads on here and elsewhere if you are after specific recommendations for accommodation/ other routes.

Around Edinburgh itself singletrack is at a premium, but there are some good bits if conditions are right in the Pentlands and some nice bits in and around the city itself if you can get a local to show you. The hills of the borders, D&G, bits of S highlands are all also within easy reach but from the OP it sounds like you are after trail centres close to Edinburgh and the biggest/longest/ greatest density is around the 7 stanes.

Interesting... what would you describe The Beast & W2 as? I guess by singletrack you mean un-marked trails / paths?

The problem with proper singletrack is, unless you live in the proximity, it's really hard to navigate and hook up long rides! Incidentally, best I've ever done was Portail de Fully in Switzerland. Can you suggest anything like this?

7 Stanes looks like a good bet and is pretty close to Edinburgh.

Are there any marked routes in the Pentland Hills?

Thanks for your advice

Glentress is the obvious one, it's quite similiar to CYB in that there's huge amounts of trails- the red route is excellent but not that long, you can chuck in sections of (or the entire of) the black route as well.

The pentlands can be a lovely place to ride but local knowledge really helps, it's taken me ages to put together loops that I really like and even then there's usually ropey bits.

Interesting... what would you describe The Beast & W2 as? I guess by singletrack you mean un-marked trails / paths?

For me, singletrack is a track that is narrower than your bars. Most trail centre stuff I'd just call a track. Not that loads of trail centre routes aren't really good fun.

Are there any marked routes in the Pentland Hills?

In the sense that there are paths marked with finger posts and marked on the map, yes, but the best riding is off these - and best with local advice on conditions etc.

If you're after long rides then around glentress and innerleithen xc routes there are lots of bits and pieces that can be linked - giving easy to follow and long routes that intersperse trail centre bits with open drove roads, hill tracks and so on. For example, you might start in Peebles, ride up Janet's Brae to do a mix of tracks in Glentress, follow the old railway line to Cardrona, some marked/ unmarked tracks in Cardrona Forest, along to Traquair, follow the Southern Upland Way and XC red route to the top of the Minch Moor, down Innerleithen tracks (marked/unmarked) to the car park, spin back to Cardrona on the back road, up to the top of the forest and out and down the "gypsy glen" descent back to Peebles. That's a pretty decent day out for most, but is easily extended with more riding out towards the three brethren and Yair along the Southern Upland Way for example, or more descents in Innerleithen or extra stuff in Glentress... There's plenty out there that will be described and mapped online and it's easy to follow with a map or gps if you have one.

Or just do lots of trail centre routes back to back - which is great especially if the weather isn't too kind.

Thanks, that seems like pretty sound advice.

Definitely hit the trail centre in Glentress and try and make friends with some locals for the remaining few days. Looks like it should be a lot of fun!

Cheers for your help...