Just heading up to visit the area for the first time and was hoping for some advice on riding, eating out, things to do etc.
There’s myself, wife and daughters aged 9 and 6 and we all have bikes with us. Glentress is obviously on the cards but not sure on riding outside of that. We’re staying in Innerleithen in an air bnb for a week.
Any advice appreciated.
Oh and also, have choice of DHF or Shorty front. What would you have on?
There's a nice bike path from Innerleithen to Peebles that goes along the river
Park at the Buzzards nest car park. The best riding for the younger or less experienced is near there. Finish by riding down to the cafe, you can then ride back up for the car. If you don't have much time to get out.on. your own then go check out Angry Sheep and Green Wing at Inners. Otherwise make sure you pop up to Edinburgh for at least one day. And the Polish map of Scotland is worth a quick look.
Polish map ties in nicely with the horseshoe at eddlestone. I'd reccommend the venison blackpudding and currant pie.
Great coffee in no.1 in innerleithen. Or in Nashy's if you ride the bikepath which you should.
X62 bus service is great between inners peebles and edinburgh or the otherway to gala.
Quick walk along bank from peebles passing beneath neidpath castle and return via old railway bridge and if you are brave enough THE TUNNEL (you need a torch)
If you fancy exploring further. Grey mares tail is a great walk just make sure you go ALL the way to the top of the main path. You'll know when you get there. You can tie that into moffat for the sweetshop of dreams Moffat Toffee. Gameshope bothy is also a nice walk if you are brave enough the linns are swimmable...
Don't bother with the Peel cafe at GT.
Go to the Glentress Hotel just next to the entrance from the main road.
It's quieter. The food is much better and the service far better than the Peel.
Thanks, some great advice there.
We have already got a night away in Edinburgh planned for Monday.
Happy to use the car to visit other places. Just had a quick look at grey mares tail and looks great so may well do that.
Will check out the other suggestions too.
Thanks again
I'd second all the advice issued above and add that your DHF will probably be plenty on the front.
Are you planning to get out on your own for a bit? What sort of riding do you prefer?
I’d like to get out on my own if possible. Apart from the Monday/Tuesday in Edinburgh we’ve got little in the way of firm plans. As for riding, like a bit of everything really. Went to Comrie last year and loved the blue and red there, so anything like that really?
The blues at Glentress are pretty similar in feel to Comrie Blue, especially the newer sections like Berm Baby Berm. Other great flow trails to consider are Flat White at the Golfie, and as mentioned above, Angry Sheep at Innerleithen.
Can't immediately think of much similar to the red trails at Comrie, i.e. exposed bedrock and little rocky chutes. However, some of the mellower off-piste stuff might provide a similar level of challenge? The unwaymarked trails at Glentress provide a good intro, with the stuff at the Golfie and Inners being generally tougher. Have a look at Mast of Zorro, Hush-Hush, Broon Troot and Dave's Trail (Trailfairy Plan and Ponduro also great; bit more techy). Trailforks is your friend, but the GT bike shop staff should be happy to scribble on a map to help you link them up.
Classic Red & Blue Glentress - Up to mast, Carl's Lane down to Spooky then Super G, Hit Squad Hill, Pie Run, Magic Mushroom, and then back up for Berm Baby Berm and the blue descent down to the Peel. Good grub at GT hotel.
Off-piste-ish, but not too challenging? About 350m of descending: Up to mast, Carl's Lane, Truon Chinh, Ho Chi Minh, Zoom or Bust, down to Dave's Trail finish with Happy Ending then along to Forsyth's in town for a Mac-n-cheese pie! Can make your way back to GT along the Tweed, or climb back up Janet's (Jenny's) Brae to Buzzard's car park for a bit more descending (or climbing).
Just wanted to say thanks again for the advice. We had a great week and managed to fit in much of the recommendations above.
With the family we explored the area - really liked Melrose and Peebles in particular and Edinburgh was great of course. Enjoyed a beach trip to North Berwick too. Did the grey mares tail hike to loch skeen. Pretty stunning. Kids did well and were rewarded with the Moffat toffee trip! Visited the polish map of Scotland but couldn’t get in to the horseshoe inn as fully booked.
As for the riding, did the blue and red at Glentress and enjoyed both. Also rode at Innerleithen. Did the red xc climb but cut across a forest road and picked up angry sheep and green wing. Enjoyed both but particularly angry sheep. They were a good suggestion as they were about my comfort level. There looked to be some pretty full on lines there. It’s a steep hill!
Loved the area and we had pretty good weather. Some stunning autumnal scenery. Had some interesting ‘could we live here’ conversations!
Angry sheep is just sublime, glad you liked it, and had a great time by the sound of it.
Loved the area and we had pretty good weather. Some stunning autumnal scenery. Had some interesting ‘could we live here’ conversations!
Glad you enjoyed! The answer is yes, yes you could. Its surprisingly easy to live here.
The loch skene walk is a belter when you turn that last corner isn't it?
