[Closed] Southern Scottish XC routes - help needed

If you are staying in or near Dumfries and given the abilities of your group why go all the way to Kirry/GT/Inners when you have Mabie/Ae/Dalbeattie/Drumlanrig on the doorstep?

When are you coming down/up? I am local and could meet and give you some ideas for a "natural" ride. OS78 is the map you will need. I would be a bit nervous about taking your "beginners" out on what you describe as "awsome downhills" tho. How would a 3k rock strewn dh suit :twisted:. Need to work for that tho, bit of a hike`a bike. Doable by beginners assuming they are "sensible" ( students+sensible??? )

Thanks for the reply,

If you are staying in or near Dumfries and given the abilities of your group why go all the way to Kirry/GT/Inners when you have Mabie/Ae/Dalbeattie/Drumlanrig on the doorstep?

Lack of knowledge and the aforementioned trail centers are the only three anyone I ride with likes. We road at Ae for the Uni Champs and the xc track was flat and dull (DH track was hilarious though), did they just lay a bad track? What would you suggest?

We won't be up until end of October but experience tells me to organize early.

As for beginners and awesome down-hills, I can think of plenty that were "Fully sick" but at low speed would pose no problems to a beginner. However I understand this can be hard. For a Peak District example Chapel Gate would be perfect, it has single-track to the left and lots of lovely smashy/rocky/droppy stuff to the right. Perfect to suit all.

As for sensible - I have never met a sensible cyclist that enjoyed mountain biking.
As for beginners - we hope to have no total beginners by that stage in the term, but you can never be sure.

So yes 3Km of rock smashing, face sliding death sounds like it would make everyone smile like maniacs. Can it be linked into something that is a little more rideable so we aren't carrying bikes all ride? Or maybe there's some fast, muddy, rooty, skiddy, singletrack to be had?

Thanks for your help

Jonno

If you have dates I could tell you if I am working or not.

For the dh/natural stuff get a hold of OS78 and I will give you some co-ordinates to check out. Maybe have a look at OS get a map and look for Durisdeer,nr Thornhill, this is where the natural trail would start. There is a fair bit of riding in that area.

As for Ae, not sure what the suxc course was but doubt if it was the full Stanes trail.

Mabie. For those that stick to the waymarked trails it is pretty "easy". There is however, like most forests, a wealth of off-piste riding.

Same at Dalbeattie.

But you need a local to find the trail obviously.

A quick look at my shift sheet shows I am off 3 of the Oct weekends, but might be heading down the Peaks one of them.

Or maybe there's some fast, muddy, rooty, skiddy, singletrack to be had?

The Gypsy Glen in Peebles may be a good option - I'd do the shorter route going in through Cardrona forest, rather then the longer route. Route maps seem to be a bit sparse but ( http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/gypsy-glen-peebles)shows the longer route.

The descent into Peebles is fantastic and is suitable for going fast or for pootling along.

The Peebles to St Marys Loch route is a good 'un, plus you can come back via the SUW, all natural running.

Drumlanrig is very very good and much more natural then a 'trail centre'

agree with eemy & br, that is a cracking route but maybe a bit long for your group?

Thanks Trekster - I will have a word with the Diary keeper and establish when it is we would be heading down. I will get that map and have a look. I might come up with a small group and have a scout around pre-trip.

This Drumlanrig trail. Is it way marked or do I need local knowledge?

[url= http://www.drumlanrig.com/default.asp?PageId=15 ]Drum is waymarked[/url]

There is a route inc some Southern Upland Way which can be done starting at Drum, bit of an expedition tho.

I might come up with a small group and have a scout around pre-trip.

Vid from forge197; http://www.youtube.com/user/forge197#p/u/3/UVBZETeAHes

Descent into Dirisdeer;
http://www.youtube.com/user/forge197#p/u/2/FanHz7T_9EU

"Jezkidd - Member

Drumlanrig is very very good and much more natural then a 'trail centre'"

It's not natural, and it IS a trail centre 😕 Though you're right in that it's very very good.

schoolboy - Member

"We road at Ae for the Uni Champs and the xc track was flat and dull (DH track was hilarious though), did they just lay a bad track? What would you suggest"

I'd suggest avoiding Ae, it's got some good bits but it's also got a lot of rotten bits. A real shame, but with the quality of riding around there's no point to Ae unless you're downhilling IMO. Mabie is lovely but short, should suit all riders though, and it has a comedy northshore trail for the brave. Drumlanrig is fantastic, Kirroughtree is stunning though it's really the black that makes it what it is, so it's not a great trail for less skilled riders IMO.

Fraid I don't know any natural riding round there, doubt I ever will, I'll just end up at KT Mabie or Drumlanrig every time I'm there 😉

If you want to cater to a really mixed group though, nothing matches Glentress/Innerleithen, there's something there for absolutely everyone, and it's very accessible to boot.

If you want to cater to a really mixed group though, nothing matches Glentress/Innerleithen, there's something there for absolutely everyone, and it's very accessible to boot.

Having done GT to death and hating the 1st part of Inners I would rather ride nearer home or the Lakes than go there these days. Not been for at least a year. Agree though if you have never been it is fun. Tend to make up my own route with all the good bits of blue/red/black.

About time we had a day out Northwind 😀 ❓

The 1st part of innerleithen, do you mean the climb? Or the traversy bit before the quarry? I don't think innerleithen really starts til after the summit The rest is just accumulating gravity credits. But that first descent, love it...

Think there's a fair chance we've ridden past each other at some point

The suxc course at Ae was pretty flat, but Ae is not set out for a 11km xc loop. It basically went from the field at the bottom of the d'hill course, out the green/blue along side the river, then up towards the five road ends (steep blue road descent in reverse) then into Gubhill and Rabs Slippy One in reverse, then back to the field. So yeah, it was fairly flat. The red trail at Ae however is many things, flat it ain't!! It also isn't suited to novice trail riders. Ae is a real marmite course, you either love it or hate it. I love it personally, needs to be ridden at speed and with some commitment to get the best out of it though!

If your in Dumfries then Mabie is your best option, plus there is the skills park to mess about in as well. Either that or take Trekster up on his offer, get some local knowledge, always helps!

Trekster, this is FCRanger in my "civvy's" by the way!

Stay here - its ace: http://www.marthrownofmabie.com/

Then ride Mabie Saturday, ride Drumlanrig Sunday - job done! Last thing you want to do with a big group is travel any more than you have too! 😆

Northwind - Member
The 1st part of innerleithen, do you mean the climb? Or the traversy bit before the quarry? I don't think innerleithen really starts til after the summit The rest is just accumulating gravity credits. But that first descent, love it...

Think there's a fair chance we've ridden past each other at some point

Probably 😉

If your in Dumfries then Mabie is your best option, plus there is the skills park to mess about in as well. Either that or take Trekster up on his offer, get some local knowledge, always helps!

Trekster, this is FCRanger in my "civvy's" by the way!

Daft students+skills park = a ride in a helicopter for someone ❗ 🙄

what stu says 😆

[url= http://www.7stanes.com/mabie-c28.html ]Or Mabie pods[/url]

Have a look at Craik Forest.

The route around it looks/was really good, and there is a website which has an extended local route around it.

Marthrown of Mabie is one of my favourite places to stay. Sadly it won't house 50 students. We have to house the roadies as well you see.

Northwind - Member

Daft students+skills park = a ride in a helicopter for someone

Students don't break, we bounce. Its the ex-students that break things, they have lost their elasticity.

Inners is my idea of a perfect ride. Get ALL of the climbing done and then go Whhiiiiiizzzzeeeeeeee all the way back down.

Thanks for all the help. I'm still in organisational discussions but I will get back to Trekster soon.

For accomodation you could try Craigshields Outdoor Centre, up the forest road from Ae shop/cafe. It is operated by the Dfs area scout council, has a cottage and a big barn loft conversion. For those that want to/overspill can camp.

Lots of good road rides from there.
DCC ride out on a Sat & Sun morning from Dfs.
http://www.dumfriescc.btik.com/

mail me for contact details.

http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3796