You know that bit of woodland near your house? The one you fantasize about buying and building your own trails in? Sweet little twisty singletrack with some nadgy turns, some sweeping berms and the odd natural jump. Where the trails are breaking bump free, climbs flash by without breaking a sweat and there’s not an E-bike in sight?

That’s Drumlanrig.

Paid a passing visit on Saturday and had an absolute whale of a time, cackling manically every time I was thrown sideways by a sniper root (every 20m or so). The guys there (Rick, of Bike Shed fame?, et al) have done a cracking job, so I’d highly recommend if you’re passing and fancy some natural stuff without digging the maps out. Completely different vibe to the 7 Staines.

Sounds like Swinley, but in the north.

Sounds like Swinley, but in the north.

Ha ha ha, ha ha, ha. Got to be a joke, surely?

Aye, though it was awesome before Rik was there, hasn’t really changed much at all…

my closest ‘trail centre’ and certainly my favourite !

Haven’t been for years, not since they decided to build a descent out of clay. You had to pedal down it, but it would be ok once it had dried out, so I was told. Apart from that it was great.

It’s a fabulous place, I seem to get there most years on the way to or from a work appointment.

Funnily lots of folk hate it – ‘no flow’ and ‘big consequences’.

It’s all about the tech and skilz, not about the ultimate speed and roosts.

I love it too. Going up in August and praying for fry weather. The roots are sketchy AF even in the slightly damp.

It’ll be my first time there on a full suss this time which will be nice.

By contrast, I didn’t like it at all. I love a bit of tech, but I wouldn’t call it tech so much as I might just call it uncomfortable 😅

It’s very sort of old-school xc and you’ll love it if that’s your thing, but I found it a bit annoying if I’m honest. Not saying it should be all berms and sick doubles, not at all, but yeah, too noodley in an annoying way.

Beautiful place though and fabulous grounds. Maybe I’ll head back there one day and see if I had clouded first impressions.

there’s not an E-bike in sight?

hate to burst yer bubble, but my bro was there the other week! 😆

Every time I go there I finish back at the car park and think “well that was quick, what half and hour?” only to find out its more like 3 hours. It’s completely absorbing riding. Love it.

hate to burst yer bubble, but my bro was there the other week! 😆

Aye, a few of my mates ride it on their ebikes regularly, a very bizarre comment.

And it’s not ‘momma’ round this way OP, it’s ‘yer maw’ thank you very much!.

It was made flippantly, wasn’t expecting any #bighitters to rock up.

Regardless, I enjoyed it, which is the main theme of the post. It was refreshing.

Was down at Kirkcudbright at the weekend. Was thinking of going there instead of heading to mabie. Kinda wished I had went to drumlanrig, didn’t really enjoy mabie at all

If you;ve not been to Comrie Croft, do that too, it’s the Drumlanrig of the East. (I think Rik was involved but IIRC just for their skills area, which is pretty decent too)

stevenmenmuir

Member

Haven’t been for years, not since they decided to build a descent out of clay. You had to pedal down it, but it would be ok once it had dried out, so I was told.

It’s alright now- I think they might have retopped it, not sure. But yeah it was a total disaster.

Ahem. Comrie is further west than Drumlanrig….. 🤣

Yeah, been meaning to get to Comrie Croft after seeing some vids with Cathro up there. This time we were just nipping up to Glasgow so didn’t have chance. It’s on the list.

Nobeerinthefridge

Subscriber

Ahem. Comrie is further west than Drumlanrig….. 🤣

So it is! Insert some self-justifying waffle about geopolitics here but actually I am really surprised

Aye, I was surprised too, I know what you meant, sometimes I just have too much time on my hands….

Perchy will be along in a minute telling us wishaw is on the west coast…🤣

So it is! Insert some self-justifying waffle about geopolitics here but actually I am really surprised

Partly to do with how the UK is orientated on many maps Vs its true orientation. Edinburgh is further west than Bristol.

Well, I love the trails at Drumlanrig also. They are only 20 mins or so from me so I ride them plenty – wet, icy, snowy, in fact every type of Scottish summer weather. I have only been riding there since 2007 so I think I missed the ‘clay’ issue?

IIRC the clay section was the rebuilt descent towards the end of the red/black that ultimately took you down to the wee step down at the river? It used to be nice n flowy, even had a few un-drumlanrig like berms, then it was reshaped to make it a bit slower, and was like slurry for a while. I think it’s called slip n slide?… Or mibbe mini me?.

I’m in the haterz camp – but that’s because I lack the skillz to deal with slippery roots.

I quite like it, but tbh, as the OP says, it’s really just a longer version of your local woodland, so rarely drive the 50 mins it takes to get there.

Perchy will be along in a minute telling us wishaw is on the west coast…🤣

Wishaw is further west than Torquay.

Just sayin’

I remember riding it on a grand tour of the Stanes a few of us did years back. It reminded us all of the fact that we’d driven the better part of 300 miles to ride around the Chilterns.

Put me in the “not a fan” fan club as it just felt like the riding we did week in week out.

Thumbs up from me, as mentioned decidedly untrail centre which was a good thing even though I like trail centres. The wee bermy bit was a bit meh though, didn’t fit with the rest of the place. Always a favourite for retrobike rides and I liked it for ‘training’ for things like 10utb, good for knocking out a few laps. In fact if I ever threaten to mountain bike again I’d probably head down there.

delete – no idea why my post turned up in this thread

Took a wee wander down on saturday (on the ebike no less! 😆 ).

Not been in years, but it’s a fabulous trail, was gloriously dry and not a “slippy” root in sight, blasted round(well as much as I can)!

Do agree the bit with the jumps seems a bit out of character, but it’s short so all good.

I think the first meandering half in the tree’s are the best bits by far.

It’s also noticeable that a reasonable suspension fork, that works, is better than a shanner that doesn’t work very well! 😆 Who’d a thunk that!

We’re going down for the September weekend, seems the best place to go where everyone gets to enjoy themselves. Not as hilly as Glentress or Comrie which was a consideration.

I don’t remember much of it other than it raining the last time I was there which seems about right.

Went 10 years ago and loved – glad to see it hasn’t changed 🙂
Agree – best ‘trail centre’ Iv been to

I didn’t go in August in the end, it pissed it down all week and I didn’t want to not enjoy it. I went to Ae instead, I don’t mind not enjoying that.

SK – head into thornhill, Thomas Tosh for cake, it’s right guid.