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I think I know the answer to this one, but just in case the choice is as obvious as it first looks...
I'm driving in to Glentress for a few days soon and I'm going to stop off at either Ae or Newcastleton on the way for a lap. Which is the STWer trail centre of preference?
Ae has a lot more going for it tbh but if you’re heading south again afterwards then Newcastleton is worth it for a wee blast: good flowy fun that’s ideal if you’re a bit knackered from the previous day.
We had a spin round Newcastleton last Sunday. Nice forest. Big chunks of fire road and a short diversion but also some bits of great flowy stuff. There is a new bit of "flow trail" that probably has the cleverest little berm transitions we've ever ridden.
About 2/3 the way round you'll come back to that fun bit to then repeat a few times. We're a fast xc race family - 160mm full sus maybe not so much fun.
If you're following a trail centre route, go to Mabie instead.
If you're doing off piste and using trailforks, Ae has more variety.
What chaka said. Drumlanrig has a bunch of closures still, I think, or I'd recommend that too.
Ae trail centre has some really good riding but it's incredibly spread out, long long sections where really you're just commuting to the next good bit. I tend to ride it every couple of years and it mostly just reminds me why i haven't ridden it for a couple of years. But, add in the offpiste and dh and it's suddenly fantastic.
@Northwind - Drumlanrig mostly open again apart from a chunk from where the red descent down to the river crosses the minor road. That section is still being rebuilt. However, what used to be the old final Black section back to the castle is regraded and reworked as red now so no more drag along the road back to the castle.
Ah good news, might have to make a wee visit- haven't been there in ages.
Excellent news about drumlanrig, I’m up there in a few weeks. Fingers crossed for the weather, it’s a lethal in the half wet.
No comparison, Shirley? Ae every time for me.
I must be one of the few people if not the only one that wasn't that impressed with the off piste at Ae. It was very muddy when we went and I seem to remember them being pretty short. But when Inners is on your doorstep you can get a bit spoilt.
I'm not a massive fan of Ae in the wet, in fact some of the newly improved tracks are still too soft to ride when wet, but it does have some decent length tracks.
TTTT and teatime into Fraser's are both great, quarry trail has worn down to a firmer surface now. New craigshiels descent is excellent.
Whatever you do, don't do the blue at Ae. Omg, it's deathly! 95% fireroad. I did it on my birthday too. Worst birthday ever!
I really like newcastleton but then I just go from top to bottom on the new stuff several times without dragging round the rest. Bring a jump bike and play on hawick pumptrack on the way through.
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