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Need to decide in an hour or so where to head for a cruisy ride with very timid 9 and 6 year olds on islabikes. Green forest tracks are too boring for them now. Advice appreciated.
Can't answer your question exactly, but since you're time constrained I will give what little I can.
We found Mabie red very tame. Definitely not red. Probably fine for your average 9 year old.
Dalbeattie red not so much ( as I'm sure you'll know) much harder. Was a real challenge on small islabikes ( 24" if I've got my dates right)
So, assuming the blues follow the same trajectory.....
You are at the wrong side of D&G for good Blue Routes unfortunately both Kiroughtree and Glentrool have nicer blues.
Mabie's Blue route is about 80% fireroad. Its nice forest though and has a big play area near the car park
Dalbeattie has a bit more single track and a reasonable sized skills/taster loop at the start.
If you are doing a full route then Dalbeattie. If you are a bit braver or the kids are up to it then you could piece together a nicer route at Mabie by mixing the the red and blue.
I'd suggest, skip the first climb on the red and rejoin the red route from Post 21. Follow the red route across all of Descender Bender. Rejoin the Blue at post 35, follow the fireroad back round rejoin the red route for the final section "Rattle and Hum".
This misses the rougher bits of the red and includes the two best bits
Thanks both. Any online route maps? I'm from the ear of paper trail maps that had smileys and sad faces for ups and downs.
Found maps. In trouble with the wife for telling my food keen 9 year old that a taster loop is where local artisans set up stalls offering tasting of local delicacies.
Quick update in case of use to others. A last minute mechanical and trip to excellent Dumfries bike shop DG2 Wheels, meant we visited Mabie.
As warned, the blue is a classic case of death by fireroad, with just a short singletrack section.