[Closed] Glentress Empty?

Random weekday in April sounds like you’d expect it to be empty?

It's not half term in Scotland which will explain most of it, and it being Thursday explains the rest.

or something else going on?

Yes. work and school 🙂

Aaa, thought it was still Easter holidays / half term. That explains it.

Edinburgh and Midlothian schools are still on holiday.

Enjoyro on Saturday?? Would that be an impact??

They're all hiding until you go away ;o)

I went three weeks ago on Saturday with my son. Rode the blue from the bottom car parks but thought it was very quiet, despite great weather.

I was there Monday, Buzzards Nest carpark was almost full. I've never found the bottom carpark all that appealing since the revamp. Park at the Buzzards, it's half the distance to the top of Spooky Wood and there's plenty to link up from there.

I was there on Sunday for the first time in years and surprised how quiet the bottom carpark was. Huge number of campervans at Buzzards Nest carpark, many of which were clearly there for more than the single permitted night.

Trails generally quiet which was a relief to me given it was my kid's first introduction to the trails there.

I think people are feeling the pinch with prices. I was at the Welsh cost a couple of days back on a beautiful day

Was expecting it to be rammed but it was very quiet

I think it’s a mixture of fuel prices and COVID

I was there on Sunday.

It was unusually quiet but it was Easter Sunday.

Last time I went a couple of months ago there were still lots of trail closures (the official stuff) following storms back in November. That's maybe dampening enthusiasm. Have they reopened yet?

Have they reopened yet?

https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/forest-parks/tweed-valley-forest-park/glentress#bike - basically, some routes more than others. Almost all the red is open, most of the blue, but the interesting (for kids) bit on the green is closed and a chunk of the black (Boundary trail, Deliverence and Redemption) are totalled.

urgh, it’s only just occurred to me how much of a kicking those trails would’ve got 🙁 Gutted that 5 Year Plan is gone

Great when quiet. Free bench. [img] [/img]

We had a night in the van there last Saturday then two in the campsite (Easter weekend). Buzzards nest was busy on the Sunday morning and it was great to see so many families on bikes. The campsite seemed pretty full too.

I've been meaning to get up there for a couple of years with my lad to take him on the blue and it didn't disappoint, if only there were more trails like that.

I got up early on the Sunday and rode Trail Fairy, The Huntsman and Careless Whisper before breakfast and had a little sesh at the Golfie with a mate on the Monday.

Chatting with customers at work yesterday though and most people who went away over the BH said that it was quiter than they expected everywhere.

I've given up calling

it, sometimes i go and its busy and sometimes its dead.

its just takes a couple of groups coming in different cars to make it seem busy.

Park at the Buzzards, it’s half the distance to the top of Spooky Wood and there’s plenty to link up from there.

I always tink this weird, the first climb is the best climb in the place.

 

We were there yesterday, very few people out on the waymarked trails and Didn't see anyone else on the off piste stuff 😊

If we are in the area we never bother going to Glentress. Far better riding elsewhere in the Valley and the red and black trails havent changed in 20 yers

As a lapsed trail fairy that statement is just wrong. Bold but wrong.

chrismac
Full Member

If we are in the area we never bother going to Glentress. Far better riding elsewhere in the Valley and the red and black trails havent changed in 20 yers

Are you including every trail in the forest there or just the waymarked stuff?

If we are in the area we never bother going to Glentress.

I live in the area and there's plenty of good trails to ride there just the same as there are all over the valley and surrounding area.

GT usually turns out to be my favourite day up there, thanks to Thunderstruck, Jailbreak etc.

Waymarked official routes. Im sure they have been maintained but not added too. The off piste stuff is way more fun

If I am solo will head to GT to play on some of the offpiste blacks. They are fun on a LLS HT and easy to loop. Other steeper trails in the valley will probably group ride then can push it a little.

Cool running, pie run, mushroom pie?

Fuel price must be having an affect? Went to BPW from North Yorks the other week and it was ace + busy but the cost to fill my mates camper there and back made my eyes bleed! A trip of any distance is not a cheap trip atm.

I think the storms have definitely made a difference- partly because so much was shut for so long so people will have looked elsewhere, and partly because even though there's still loads of good riding, it's not got the same level of random choice that made GT so good for repeat visits, with half the black shut. And I don't think the newer offpistes are in the collective memory as well as 5YP and the like- they're bloody excellent though!

(have to say I just did the red the other day because I hadn't done "just the red" forever and it was riding bloody well)

chrismac
Full Member

the red and black trails havent changed in 20 yers

Stephen's right, this is bobbins.

Plenty of bike-ists at the Traquair Arms today having a pint

The whole valley has been quite quiet lately. I'm in Innerleithen most weekends, and have seen sunny days where there's been very few vehicles parked for the Golfie, and the main FLS car park has been largely empty.
Even my post-work spins at GT, I don't think I've seen more than 3 other vehicles in the car park all winter. Some nights there's been no other vehicles.

I think it's a combination of things.
People have less money to spend due to general living costs, so people are staying at/nearer home.
Weather hasn't really been that great. There has been a few dry spells, but there's not been much in the way of warmth. Seems to be every dry spell for the past month, it's been accompanied by chilling northerly wind.
Limited trails open, so I think people who are riding, are riding elsewhere, as there are only so many times you can ride a limited number of trails before you get bored.

Although for those who are riding in the valley, don't rely on Trailforks. I know several trails that are open, yet still marked as shut.

Been up at llandegla this afternoon and it was very very quiet

You could submit a trail report to flag they are open again...

We have noticed for the last few months that there are alot less riders on the trails in the Peak. Easter weekend with great weather and the trails were empty. Plenty of road bikes about.
Can only think that it's the price of everything going up that's making them think twice on recreational expenses

Glentress red has changed, theyve sanitised it a touch.

It's the black that hasn't changed in ages, but a lot of the off-piste come off the black.

Blue has improved, which I believe was the forest commission remit to make the trails more accessible for all the trail centres.