Eldest FlyingOx Jr has finally been bitten by the MTB bug but he's still very much a beginner. I've taken him on the local trails (Kemback Woods, Fife) but he's not keen on the roots, or the climbs, and prefers the smooth swoopy stuff at the bottom.
He's asked me to take him mountain biking "like you do dad" and my immediate thought was Glentress, but I was wondering if somewhere like Comrie Croft or Carron Valley might be better? Or maybe the travellator at Cairngorm? We could factor in an overnight camp if it's far enough away as well. Any suggestions for a 10yo beginner with a decent enough bike?
Comrie blue from the tree line would be good, not as smooth as glentress but a more welcoming atmosphere, etc. Lower red is all rolling too and the pump track full of kids is always good for getting them voting the more advanced ones. The climb at comrie can be offputting, but we use a tow or just push (5yo).
Yeah, I guess that the Cairngorm uplift might make a difference in terms of the numbers of runs he could do in a day and being able to session particular features. It's a bit spendy I guess but certainly offers something a bit different.
Calendar Estate trails, Falkirk
I had a good day with my boy a few years ago when his confidence was pretty low on a bike at glentress where we just did berm baby berm over and over again .
Callendar estate trails near Falkirk are also really kid/ beginner friendly with a pump track and greens and blues which are pretty flat but have some nice flow to them .
Comrie is a great kid friendly day - lower blue, pump / practice / skills area, old 4x etc
Canader estate as already recommended, theres actually two seperate areas, Lionthorn and Canada Wood. Both are good and can be ridden between but Canada Wood is a lot bigger with the full range of trails from Green, Blue (amazing ridden on a cx bike at speed), red and an orange jump park. Well worth multiple visits.
Glenlivet and Tarland (near Ballater) are meant to be good, my 10 year old rode Glenlivet at the weekend with his cycling club and was buzzing about it after.
My son's favourite part of Comrie Croft is the pump track/skills section at the bottom. Last time we were there, he spent hours on it and was exhausted after. you can grab a coffee and watch from the side. 🤙
<p>Lochore Meadows has a reasonably level XC loop that’s beginner friendly.</p>
I learned to MTB in the pentlands outside Edinburgh.
Low on technical stuff, high on massive open scenery ( for a city boy) and moorland
I assume you're Fife based? There are man made trails at Loch Ore that my kids enjoy. There's not a lot gradient as you can imagine but definitely some decent little berm-y twisty bits. Trail map
Comrie Croft, Beecraigs and Canada Woods are the other ones that jump out without travelling too far from central scotland.
Yeah, Fife based. I guess there's Tentsmuir forest too but that appears to be a bit of a tick-fest at the moment.
I think I'll give Canada Wood a shot and then head up to Comrie. Cheers all.
@TheFlyingOx, definitely worth a visit to Callendar Estates. Maybe not this Sunday though: local junior bike club's having club champs on the top trails (Auchingean Trail on the trail map - everything else remains open though).
Trails are ideal for what you're looking for. I coach groups of 8-12yr olds there and there's a good variety of stuff. Easy enough to exit at the top of Auchingean Trails and link across to Kilbean Woods which is a really nice loop - and there's a very useful local cafe/ice-cream place just beyond there, which can be reached from either the bottom of Kilbean Woods or via the 'Easter Strip' trail from the top of Kilbean Woods red.
amazing ridden on a cx bike at speed
Indeed. I wouldn't say I was at speed but I'm often riding those trails on a gravel bike, including this morning.
+1 for Falkirk. Then Comrie for a lads weekend camping and racing each other down the dual track blue.
I hear the Inveraray/Minard area is nice this time of year.
Any good trails nearby? Could have a fun day out and make some cash at the same time 😉
Trails are ideal for what you’re looking for. I coach groups of 8-12yr olds there and there’s a good variety of stuff. Easy enough to exit at the top of Auchingean Trails and link across to Kilbean Woods which is a really nice loop – and there’s a very useful local cafe/ice-cream place just beyond there, which can be reached from either the bottom of Kilbean Woods or via the ‘Easter Strip’ trail from the top of Kilbean Woods red.
Thanks for this! Hadn't noticed Kilbean before, so just planned a great wee Calendar > Kilbean > Milk Barn > Calendar loop. Much more of an adventure than just riding and going to the Milk Barn after
Glentress isn't that far from Fife. Some of it is pretty well worn these days but there is a lot of graded trails that should be fun (and the all-important cafe at the bottom).
Otherwise, if you fancy a trip, Glenlivet has a lot to offer these days and Tarland Trails is excellent. Could make a nice weekend trip north.
I hear the Inveraray/Minard area is nice this time of year.
Any good trails nearby? Could have a fun day out and make some cash at the same time 😉
Genuine LOLs
@TheFlyingOx - give me a shout when you are going to Canada Wood, if free, happy to meet up and ride round with you. Probably that is enough to avoid it, but I reckon it will be ideal for your kid as a wee starter to move to things like Comrie (although it is a step up by a fair way).
In addition to what has already been recommended and whilst not one for a boys night away, but perfect for a part day session, would be worth a trip over the Tay to Dundee’s Templeton Tangle in Templeton Woods. Short blue loop with rollers, berms etc and a well graded gentle ‘climb’ back up. Great fun as a total introduction, but will lose appeal once Comrie etc has been enjoyed!
Templeton is good for an outing, particularly if you combine it with the local natural stuff that has fireroad climbs. Things like the watertower trail that are right next to it should be on strava/trailforks, if not let me know and I can point you in the right direction, I'm only about 2 miles down the road!)