[Closed] Not been asked for a while - Dalbeattie or Ae

If you've done both, then I'm not really sure what you're asking, there's nothing new at either?.

Ae has some brilliant off piste stuff up around the DH track, that would be my choice as I'm no a [i]huge[/i] fan of the trail centre. I do like Dalbeattie though, used to ride there all the time as I enjoy riding rocky stuff and going back to try different lines etc.. There is some off piste stuff there too, though it's more XC, all in the Moyle hill area ie the first hill.

Come to think of it, I've not ridden there for a good 2 years either...

Edit - if you get a decent clear spell of weather, get up super early and get up the Merrick for sunrise, awesome views from up there and not a bad descent either.

Where are you actually staying? Dumfries-ish?

If you just want the trail centre, imo Dalbeattie is a lot better than Ae. TBF I doubt I'll ever do the Ae red again, there's bits I really like but not enough. But Ae also has the DH and lots of fantastic, easily accessed offpiste stuff so if you're feeling #enduro it really is a different ballgame, some really great stuff to explore. It also gets plus marks from me just for being a much nicer forest.

(there's some really nice offpiste at dalbeattie too but it's not so easy to find or build into a lap)

There is some off piste stuff there too, though it's more XC, all in the Moyle hill area ie the first hill

There's also lots of natural singletrack opposite Dalbeattie forest at barnbarroch, around the mark hill area above Kippford - that's worth a play.

I like Dalbeattie, but it's my weekend local riding place so I'm biased.

Aye, I need to get back down to Dalbeattie, and the wee cafe make sit a good option now too.

Got good memories of riding with lots of folks that have sadly stopped riding now...

Staying just outside Lochmaben so not far from Dumfries at all.

I suppose I'm half asking because I wondered if anything had changed at Ae since 2014 and half because I wanted to hear other people's stories in the old internet echo chamber.

I quite like Dalbeattie, but it's been so long since I've been to Ae I don't know if what I remember is accurate. I remember it as being so rough it was impossible to get any speed up to clear any of the jumps and the only smooth bit was the new bmx section where it was diverted. But that could potentially be ruined by now, it would be at Cannock anyway

Would you not be better nipping into Ae on the way back from Drumlanrig, if you have 4 hours to play with you could potentially do both on the same morning?

Ae doesn't get enough traffic a la Cannock to ruin any sections, apart from the old 'edge' but that was because it was poorly built, not due to traffic.

If one was riding rigid, then ae would be rough, but can't imagine anyone not getting enough speed up on a hardtail tbh...

As Gary says, could easily manage both in a day (stop off at the excellent Thomas Tosh cafe in Thornhill for cake) or you could do Drum and mabie in a morning too.

you could do Drum and mabie in a morning too.

You could but Dalbeattie & Mabie in the same day would make more sense in terms of driving, but would be tricky to do both in 4 hours including driving and faffing.

That's not a bad idea. Plenty of daylight to burn at the moment, according to google it'd be an hour and a half driving. so I'd have 2.5 hours for riding if I was out the door at 4.30

Edit - that was referring to Drumlanrig then Ae, Dalbeattie knackers me, wouldn't enjoy Mabie after that. And I love Mabie.

Not sure it would take that long to do the driving but I guess you need to factor in putting bike on/in car etc and general pre ride prep.

Yeah that was google's estimation, but I reckon I could do it quicker.

Drumlanrig red took me 1h 05m last year, black is what 20 mins on top?

Ae Red took an hour and 20 mins in 2014, I reckon I'm fitter now, but would be tired from doing Drumlanrig.

I'll have to get my calculator out later 😆

I've not been up to Mabie for a couple of weeks, but the last time I was there the end of the Red had had a really hard time of it with the recent felling works.

The Elevator descent was all completely shut off.

It's still a great trail, and you could use it as an excuse to do some exploring I suppose, just worth a check-ahead in case there are still closures/diversions in place.

Ae's still a fit man's playground, rough as in places, but it's growing on me lots the fitter I get - I don't think *anything's* changed at Dalbeattie in the last couple of years?!

I don't think *anything's* changed at Dalbeattie in the last couple of years?!

No recent changes, no. Although I haven't ridden the full red for a while as I've been doing it on the cx bike recently.

Dont go to bed and go ride Kirroughtree.
HTH

Or...something a bit more natural?
There are loops out of Durisdeer and Mennock (or Wanlockhead)that are hardtail-friendly and easy to navigate. Both start near Drumlanrig and offer big climbs and big views.

Looks like The Elevator will still be shut when I go, does that mean the bad step is closed too? Not that it's a huge problem, I don't go often enough to know where I am anyway, I'm completely lost after the bench at the top of the first hill.

Vmgscot speaks wise words. Google wanlockhead gold rush route for a cracking day, I love the descent down the Enterkin burn.

Didn't manage Drumlanrig and Ae in a day, rode the full black and ran out of time. Bloody good fun though

Going to Ae in the morning weather depending, then it's a toss up between Mabie and Dalbeattie later in the week. Or both.