[Closed] Best city in Scotland for MTB

What kind of biking do you do? What kind of 'city' do you like? We have very busy and big ones (Glasgow and Edinburgh) and reasonably quiet ones (Stirling and Perth)...

What kind of biking do you do?

Wilder stuff rather than trail centres, but not averse to the tamer trail centres (not really into DH)

What kind of 'city' do you like?

I like cities where I can live equidistant between a sushi place and a national park.

EDIT: re biking, Torridon is pretty much my favourite place evar,

For Sushi and National Park, that would be Glasgow. Perth/Stirling would suit the 'wilder' stuff - not many trail centres here on the doorstep (and a bit closer to 'wilder' than Glasgow).

For Sushi and National Park, that would be Glasgow.

Why G and not E?

For Torridon it would have to be Inverness

I moved to glasgow for a year in 1999 and i am still here ! I love visiting Edinburgh but it can be a bit touristy in places and generally think glasgow is a better place to live and offers pretty much anything you could ask for from a city from parks museums restaurants etc , housing is a bit cheaper than edinburgh to . Saying that if i had to move to edinburgh tomorrow it wouldn't bother me .
as for mtbing they are both pretty good , Edinburgh has the pentlands and is closer to the tweed valley but its not exactly far from glasgow either , glasgow has good riding from the north of the city and easy access to loch lomond .
There is a lot of great riding around perth but i have no idea how easy it is to get sushi there .
I was in comrie yesterday and would love to live there but it is definitely not a city and you cant get sushi

For Torridon it would have to be Inverness

Yeah, I meant that as illustrative for the type of riding I like, rather than wanting to be near Torridon specifically. I imagine (hope?) that there are more places a bit like Torridon that I don't know (yet).

Glasgow is closer to a National Park...

There is a lot of great riding around perth but i have no idea how easy it is to get sushi there .

Perth is definitely on the list. The sushi is also illustrative, I.e. is it the sort of city where you imagine sushi would be available or would you be surprised if there was a single Japanese person who live there?

I live near/work in Perth. I really like it here but it's not exactly cosmopolitan. I think of it more like a big village, which suits me.

Dundee is nearby and is great for food/coffee/culture if that's what you're after.

I should add that I don't drive - I can but I don't own a car and would prefer to keep it that way - so bike or public transit friendly cities are more appealing

There is now a company offering sushi delivery in Inverness. My life is complete.

Dundee is nearby and is great for food/coffee/culture if that's what you're after.

First time I've ever heard Dundee and culture in the same sentence...

[i]Perth is definitely on the list. The sushi is also illustrative, I.e. is it the sort of city where you imagine sushi would be available or would you be surprised if there was a single Japanese person who live there? [/i]

I'd have thought that would limit you to Glasgow, Edinburgh or Aberdeen.

In most of Scotland go in an Indian/Chinese/etc and you'll mostly find that many of the staff aren't of the 'ethnic' look.

http://www.ourscottishborders.com/invest/facts/demographics

White = 98.71%

Always thought Stirling and the surrounding villages would make a great MTB base. Local stuff is v good, and you're that bit nearer to the highlands for serious days out. Don't know what the town is like to live in - some of the nearby areas are v well-appointed if that's your style.

Edinburgh is good because you've got the Pentlands right on your doorstep - not the most exciting riding, tbh, but it's a fine landscape, quite a large area to explore, and it's a 50 min ride from the centre of town. Few UK cities can offer this.
Then there's the Tweed valley a short drive south which is exceptional riding for the UK.
Only drawback is that you're a bit removed from the real hairy-arsed Highland stuff. It becomes a full day-out, rather than an easy 45 min drive, say.

Without driving, I suspect south is out by train as I don't think a train stops near the 'main' trail centres (although no idea where that new train line goes so that statement may be wrong).
I love Stirling but I'm not suggesting it as it'll be biased!
Glasgow sounds more what you are after, I think it also has better rail links to the stuff you want to ride (but less on your immediate doorstep - Stirling for that).

Inverness.
Cairn Gorm N.P., NW Highlands, Hebrides, Golspie, Learnie and good local trails.

Inverness - Great for biking of any sort......not so good for being a city.
I live in there (here!), great place to live, lots of mtb from the door, plenty more in the not too distant surrounds, great road biking too if you're into that, but really not a "city" in terms of night life, social scene, that kind of thing.

Inverness. ... really not a "city" in terms of night life, social scene, that kind of thing.

I was living in Inverness for about 2 months last "summer". I loved it for the biking, walking, etc, and cycling around the city was pretty decent, but I don't think I could live there. No offence.

Stirling. Better still causewayhead or bridge of allan which are just beside . Lovely area and right on the m9 so glasgow / edinburgh/ dundee under an hour outwith rush hour so great for work. Some of the best biking in the uk is with 2 hours and the local stuff is awesome. You tube dumyat or north third/n3 for an idea... (Maybe a bit biased as i live in Causewayhead) ps bite east does good jap food and waitrose is in the centre if thats your thing.

The best answer I can think of here is Inverness. There is way more than the Cairngorms too... Black Isle and other parts of R&C, loads of good wild riding everywhere. It has a nice feel to it and some ace restaurants.

Stirling's good, some nice natural (well worn footpaths and sheep tracks) riding and a good train line. Good schools (if that's relevant) and some nice neighbourhoods too.

Glasgow gives you better access to the trossachs, a good xc base at Mugdock, closer to Ae, and trains to Stirling, Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Blair Atholl which all give tyou great biking.

Edinburgh also has trains to the above, doorstep Pentlands, not sure there's public transport to the tweed valley, but you make friends and get lifts, that's how it works. I personally find Edinburgh busy with worse traffic than Glasgow and always get stressed out when I go there. It's super touristy and you're more likely to meet more english people than scots.

If I was moving with biking being the MAIN priority, I'd set up in Inverness. There's good riding all around.

PS This is where we were riding today; it's rideable from Stirling town centre. [URL= http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/glasgowdan/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0456-01_zpshmc661fh.jpe g" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/glasgowdan/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0456-01_zpshmc661fh.jpe g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

I think you'd need to own a car if you wanted to live in Inverness or Aberdeen and access the best trails. Is car ownership a definite no?

For me:
Edinburgh: the best city for living in, but not so sure about local trail options without a car (as in, I just don't know)
Inverness: I love the city. In the summer the place comes alive as a tourist attraction. You do need a car though to access the best trails.
Aberdeen: (near where I live) The city is not the best. Grey and needs some TLC in parts. Don't get me started on the local council's lack of foresight/investment/planning. But if you only want a city on your doorstep for work and occasional shopping trips/nights out, then live in the surrounding area (I live in Banchory). You can get into work by bus (although I wouldn't recommend it) or cycle in. Then you have some lovely local trails on your doorstep. But I would still own a car, because you'd be missing out on loads.

Honestly if you're going to live in Scotland and MTB , you're going to have to drive, so much of the good riding is inaccessible using public transport, or public transport is just impractical.
There are great rides from a lot of the cities above, but you will be quite limited.
My choice would be Perth, good riding from city centre, easy rail link to Dunkeld, Aviemore and down to Stirling.
You will love it up here though.

To reiterate others comments Perth has quite a bit of riding from the city and quick trains to Dunkeld, Dundee and Stirling for more riding options. It has everything you need but doesn't have a great city atmosphere as it is a bit run down and tiny (and I live in Dundee....) . A car would be a help though to get to some of the better or bigger riding or to get around some of the gaps in the train time table.

There used to be a bikebus between Edinburgh and Glentress at weekends..I caught it by the meadows a few times

Honestly if you're going to live in Scotland and MTB , you're going to have to drive, so much of the good riding is inaccessible using public transport, or public transport is just impractical.

I have to disagree. It would be perfectly possible to ride enough good stuff that you'd never need a car. E.g. If based in Edinburgh, there is good local stuff for an hour or two of riding. Bridge of Allan is an hour on a train, and the gives you the Ochils for full day rides. Aviemore is a little over a couple of hours on the train giving you the cairngorms. Balloch is possible by train giving you L lomond, and the whole of the West Highland line to fortwilliam. That's all without trying... I think it would be a couple of years at least before a typical rider was bored enough of those to justify a car for something else. Hiring a car for the odd torridon, skye etc trip where public transport doesn't do is probably cheaper than owning one for the 51 wks a year where you ride relatively local...

There is a temptation with a car to drive for three hours and ignore your doorstep.

All good stuff thanks. What are loch Lomond/ Trossachs like for riding?

Not much round loch lomond but ben lomond itself is an epic ride. Trossachs has loads of natural steep off piste. The thing to get your head round is you can ride anywhere with our access laws so any hill could be a goldmine.

Perth/Stirling have probably got the edge for biking but I don't consider them proper cities (might as well be in Brechin).

Ed/Glasgow have got the edge for culture and as mentioned good biking is accessible.

Dundee is maybe the truest compromise. Wasn't it city of culture a few years ago?

.

Agreed, Stirling isn't a city...just a large town.

Just looking at the train lines that come out of Glasgow. They do seem to go to the more exciting places. Even the Hebrides looks middlingly accessible by train/boat if making a long weekend of it.

Perth is definitely looking very enticing too. I could probably (with work) spend a year in each.

Out of the proper cities (Edinburgh, Glasgow,Aberdeen) it would be Edinburgh for me. The other cities are closer to large towns.The transport links are better in Glasgow and Edinburgh but Edinburgh has the edge for riding direct from the city with traffic free routes to the hills within 30mins riding from centre. The Pentlands might not be the radest trails but they have plenty of variety to keep you entertained for midweek riding. The climate is also significantly drier than Glasgow. The tweed Valley is close for what is probably the most concentrated collection of trails in the uk. You will need a lift for these though. Personally I live at the edge of the Pentlands and can ride to work via 500m high hills if I chose or stick to the road and be in town in 30mins on the Rd. There are not many cities in the uk where you can do that.

Has Dundee changed? I lived there for a year 96-97, on the Perth road, and I had my biked nicked twice, car broken into twice, and even as a massive Jessie I've never got involved in or seen as many fights before or since.

****ing awful place. Even the 'bypass' is shit.

Literally anywhere else is awesome. I really really really want to move to Peebles. No yet, but within a few years we will be there.

The thing to get your head round is you can ride anywhere with our access laws so any hill could be a goldmine.

Yeah, I've done a fair bit of riding in Scotland on paths that I reckon wouldn't be legit if they were in England, so this is a big plus for me. Out of curiousity, are walkers usually fairly understanding / accepting of mountain bikers? I've never encountered a problem yet but I am very smiley.

stevemuzzy - Member
Not much round loch lomond but ben lomond itself is an epic ride. Trossachs has loads of natural steep off piste. The thing to get your head round is you can ride anywhere with our access laws so any hill could be a goldmine.

Can't agree with this - there are a load of sneaky downhill and enduro trails at loch lomond side, not to mention the riding around arrochar, cobbler, kilpatrick hills, and much more. The trossachs off piste isn't offpiste because there isn't a piste, and the lines aren't natural. And last time I did Ben Lomond I was out for 2hr 15 mins from leaving the car park, summitting and returning to the car park, so not epic, but it certainly feels like it when you see the scale of the views, and the size of the descent!

What glasgowdan said. Was about to post similar myself.

The trossachs off piste isn't offpiste because there isn't a piste, and the lines aren't natural.

Sorry, I don't understand this sentence. Do you mean that the lines aren't natural because there are no lines?

They aren't natural because a bunch of guys, including me, have made them.

If you had used a sheep or deer instead of a shovel, would they be natural?

I have the solution to your not wanting to own a car - the Scottish Government is a supporter of car clubs and electric vehicles. You join the car club and then can book out a car online (or on an app) and use a card key to get into it and drive off. Basically great for occasional use but without the responsibilities of owning a car.

From memory Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen have decent fleets. We took an electric van into the Cairngorms from Aberdeen last summer - which was fun. The Scottish Gvt is also massively into trains and the newly opened Borders railway is busy and popular.

[url= http://www.carplus.org.uk ]Find your nearest car club car[/url]

I love Scotland. Noone has offered me a job there though 🙁

I'd have to choose the city with the best transport links/access to other areas, as I'd hate the idea of riding the same stuff all the time, even if it was the best biking in the country.

Dundee is nearby and is great for food/coffee/culture if that's what you're after.

First time I've ever heard Dundee and culture in the same sentence...

As per the mrs, we'd never really associated Yorkshire with sushi. Did Huddersfield or Northallerton change that much - I've not been back for a while..

Loads of riding all over the place in Scotland, occasionally it is very rural - way more distant from the bright lights than Yorkshire - distances in the car are frequently measured in hours, not miles. For what appears to be a completely immersive culture of mtb head to the tweed valley for a starter - for an interesting insight into assorted cultures then glasgow - a decent jump off point for all sorts of stuff.

That car club thing is a brilliant idea, never heard of it before...

Trossachs has loads of natural steep off piste.

Ignore the pedant in the house, the rest of us knew what you meant.

I'll also add that I live just outside Edinburgh, to the south, which I love. But having spent the day at Birnam and Dunkeld I reckon I could be just as happy somewhere near Perth.

As per the mrs, we'd never really associated Yorkshire with sushi. Did Huddersfield or Northallerton change that much - I've not been back for a while..

I picked that because I happened to have sushi the night before from one of the three sushi places (that I know of) in the city centre, which is about the same distance from my house as the edge of a national park. Don't think I've ever been to Northallerton. Huddersfield is much the same as I've always known it, although I don't know it well.

They aren't natural because a bunch of guys, including me, have made them.

Are they easy to find?

I have the solution to your not wanting to own a car - the Scottish Government is a supporter of car clubs and electric vehicles.

Do you think Nicola Sturgeon would mind if I put a bike rack on the back of one of the cars and then (later) put my muddy self inside the car?

Are they easy to find?

*cough*Strava*cough*

The Edinburgh one has vans in the price list.

Opusone,

Nicola won't care as they are run by a private venture (the Edinburgh one was recently bought by enterprise). If you leave the car in a state you'll get a bill, but a bit of common sense (or an old sheet) and you'll be fine. It's expensive for more than a day,though.

The Co-wheels vans in Aberdeen are all boarded out with ply so bikes are welcome. [url= http://www.co-wheels.org.uk/locations ]Locations[/url]

The other good thing is you can be a member in one place and pick up a car in others (eg be a London member of [url= https://www.citycarclub.co.uk/ ]City Car Club[/url], get a train to Edinburgh and book and pick up a car there).

There is discussion of putting bike racks on cars too - but none that I know of yet. Tarps and ikea bags for muddy gear... it can be done. Or there's the van option.

i think its fair to say that the mot scottish cities have major stuff to offer a mountain biker looking at a city base. my vote is for edinburgh because, as others have mentioned you got the pentlands on your doorstep. and the lammermuirs and moorfoors for exploring. glen tress and inners a quick drive south and an hour north/west you are in the highlands. its very easy to cycle out the city and be somewhere remote within an hour. cycling infrastructure is getting there as well.

the other thing to factor is all the other city stuff going on in edinburgh itself. having lived in aberdeen and glasgow as well as edinburgh it wins on all fronts. glasgow was horrible in terms of cycling out the city and aberdeen had some beautiful trails if a little limited.

edinburgh

i think its fair to say that the mot scottish cities have major stuff to offer a mountain biker looking at a city base. my vote is for edinburgh because, as others have mentioned you got the pentlands on your doorstep. and the lammermuirs and moorfoors for exploring. glen tress and inners a quick drive south and an hour north/west you are in the highlands. its very easy to cycle out the city and be somewhere remote within an hour. cycling infrastructure is getting there as well.

the other thing to factor is all the other city stuff going on in edinburgh itself. having lived in aberdeen and glasgow as well as edinburgh it wins on all fronts. glasgow was horrible in terms of cycling out the city and aberdeen had some beautiful trails if a little limited.

edinburgh

+1 for this summary. Stirling, IMO, probably has the best riding on its doorstep of all the Scottish urban centres. Dundee has it's charms and is potentially on the up. Inverness would be cool as a base but it is a long way from anywhere and probably lags on the cosmopolitan stakes.

there are a load of sneaky downhill and enduro trails at loch lomond side

is intruiged. Will need to do some looking into that for when I'm over in Helensburgh

[i]Dundee has it's charms and is potentially on the up.[/i]

Lots of places across the UK are [b]potentially on the up[/b]...

Based on often visiting an office of ours just north of Dundee it doesn't come across as somewhere with good biking 'straight out of the door'.

Doesn't look like you can go wrong does it?
Glasgow is by far the biggest city, but if you get sent there, don't worry, there's plenty of good trails within riding distance, and some decent expeditions using a train as well. You'll be fine.

I live in Edinburgh and can be riding in the hills in 20 mins ride from the flat door, I think there's some great riding there, it just isn't enduro or good for bragging about how gnar you are. Tweed valley 45 mins or so, which is nice. Glasgow puts you closer to 'proper' mountains perhaps, Ben Lomond is an awesome after-work ride. Stirling has great riding on the door step too. Inverness is close to where I grew up and can't be beaten for the range of mountains and biking available nearby, the town centre is slowly dying though, in terms of your sushi lifestyle.

Without a car there'll always be some kind of compromise though.

I live in Edinburgh and can be riding in the hills in 20 mins ride from the flat door,

This is also true for where I live in Yorkshire and I've always thought that I was a bit spoiled to have great riding on the doorstep and an art house cinema within walking distance. I guess there are other good places.

There's *some* MTB in Dundee but not as good as Edinburgh, Perth or Inverness for that by a long stretch. I wouldn't ecommend it to the OP.

As I've said, it's surprisingly good for city stuff though (it has been on the up ever since Wellcome built a huge centre there).

Stirling's not a bad shout if you're happy to get the train South for more cultured stuff. The riding there is probably the best 'city' riding I've done in Scotland.

I think most Scottish 'cities' have good riding on their doorstep. One comment 'glasgow was horrible in terms of cycling out the city' tbh I don't think it is too bad. eg You can ride from the City Centre to the West Highland Way without having to ride on a road.

If you're the wanting the best riding you'll probably need to drive.

Glasgow and Edinburgh for city experience. The rest are just big towns.

Glasgow is a better shout if you were looking for a location that is well placed for getting to good biking - tweed valley, Stirling, aviemore only a couple of hours, north lakes even less than that etc...

But.... I wouldn't move there if I planned to ride from the city, yes you can get to the WHW from the city centre, but it's not exactly the fun part of the way, and Mugdock is not bad, pretty much like any big towns local woodland.

Move to Bridge of Allan and make yer own sushi.

You can't argue with the riding from Bridge of Allan. Stirling town centre looked a bit run down last time I visited. Shame really.

Yeah cycling out of Glasgow is OK. And cycling in Glasgow is better than Edinburgh, wider streets and less hills and cobbles.

Also from Glasgow, you can easily get to the west coast and islands. One short train, a short ferry, a hilly cycle and another short ferry and you're on Islay 😀

Edit: one more short ferry may be required but tarbet is nice.