Planning a trip from the US to the UK in the spring (late April), including a week in Scotland. Would like to spend a day or two mountain biking and wondered what part of Scotland has the best trails and the availability of rental mountain bikes might be (too much of a hassle to try and ship my bike)? In general, what kind of riding conditions in Scotland. Spent some time in Paisley during the winter many years ago, but wasn't biking then, so didn't pay attention. I am used to riding in the desert/mountain southwest here in New Mexico, so certainly don't expect to find the dry, hard-rock conditions we have here.

What sort of mountainbiking – for trail centres and logistical ease then Glentress / Innerliethan might be a good bet – bike hire on sirte and a good range of artificial trails/
http://www.thehubintheforest.co.uk/

Want to go further afield / into teh highlands? Bothy bikes in avimore does bike hire and can advise on routes out into the mountains
http://www.bothybikes.co.uk/

Edit – as for conditions – Scotland has weather not climate. You can have anything at any time of year so you need sunscreen, wolly hats and waterproofs just in case.

We have "right to roam" which means we can go just about anywhere so long ass we are responsible about it

Most of the 7 stanes centres in the South will have hire bikes or if you want more of a map/adventure try some of the bike shops in Aviemore or do both kinds of riding at Laggan. Really depends on whether you want to try and find your own way around or just follow some arrows.

Dumfriesshire has the highest density of trail centres with easy bike rental of quality bikes and lots of well maintained and feature packed trails so that might be best if you're planning to get a few days easy riding in. However there are some amazing trails in the Scottish mountains which wouldn't be as easy but would certainly be more memorable. Try Torridon for some classic Scottish scenery and enjoyable trails.

I would have said Torridon too, but hiring bikes and then getting there would really cut into your riding time. Depending on where youa re coming from Glentress is less than an hour from Edinburgh and Dumfries is probably not much more than that from Glasgow.

Thanks for the suggestions. We haven't booked reservations yet, so that gives me some good ideas and we can tie where we stay with good riding locations. I like the idea of exploring and am used to riding mountain terrain–prefer that to the "follow the arrows" routine.

http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/
http://www.7stanes.com/
http://www.ae7.co.uk/
http://www.bikingheaven.com/
http://www.thebreakpad.com/
http://www.cycle-centre.com/
http://www.drumlanrig.com/default.asp?PageId=84
http://www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk/

busydog – Member
Thanks for the suggestions. We haven't booked reservations yet, so that gives me some good ideas and we can tie where we stay with good riding locations. I like the idea of exploring and am used to riding mountain terrain–prefer that to the "follow the arrows" routine.

Give me a shout when you are over and I may be able to take you into the "mountains" of D&G.

have a browse; http://s95.photobucket.com/home/bigjohnskona/allalbums

Trekster
Thanks for the great links and photos. Looks like some really great riding to be had. Some of the terrain in your Photobucket albums is not unlike a couple of our mountain ranges to the west of where I live. Biggest difference is you have so much more water in general than we do. Our forests look very much the same treewise, but the running rivers/streams are much fewer and farther between. Much like here, looks like plenty of rocky sections on which to bounce in a moment of carelessness.

Ae Bike Shop for bike hire in the south of Scotland, just outside Dumfries at Ae Forest.

To a great extent I guess it depends what else you want to do in Scotland. There is good riding all over scotland. Old drove routes and the rolling hills of the borders area, the grandeur of the mountains around Avimore, the wild and remote feeling of Torridon……

If you are going to go out into the mountains away from the waymarked trails you need to be confident in your ability to navigate and be warned that sometimes you will end up dragging your bike thru bogs as the path disappears.

The trail centres are good indeed and do make the logistics of hiring bikes and navigation very much easier.

A pic

Great picture.
Makes good sense. No matter how confident one is of his/her abilities, as we all know, mountain biking is full of instant disaster caused by a moment's inattention. I think checking in at trail centers or local bike shops is probably the best way to get good information and not end up dragging one's bike through a bog. No bogs in New Mexico/USA, but the ever-present threat of getting lost/injured without enough water or just generally being unprepared. The local/state/federal authorities do get a bit irritable at having to dispatch a rescue team and/or a helicopter to rescue someone.
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, links and photos.

Get up to Ballater, try this place http://www.habitat-at-ballater.com/ and this site http://www.9zerofreewheelers.co.uk. 8)