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So, it looks like I may be able to take a day or 2 to go out adventuring around next weekendish. Weather looks like it could be half decent.
So I'm presently concocting some plans that I could go and do. I've got a few options in mind, bike based and also non- bike. I'll decide which to do closer to the time when I know what the weather is doing and how much time I've got.
Anyway
One option is to go up to the tweed valley. I've never been but it looks awesome. I'll almost certainly be riding alone so I'll be steady away, not wanting to ride anything excessively risky/ridiculously gnar
Any tips on what's best to go take a look at for starters? Obviously the Goldie gets a lot of press, but also is glentress, Yair, inners uplift etc...its all a bit overwhelming where to start really!
I'll be on an old fashioned pedal enduro bike. At the top end I might have maybe 1 full day and 2 half days either side to play with.
Also accommodation wise I'd prefer to camp, the more basic and wild- feeling the site, the better. Options look a bit limited though. Anywhere worth looking at other than glentress forest lodges? The caravan park in innerleithen looks like the opposite of what I want from camping TBH.
Might just have to b&b it i guess
Can't help sorry but I'll follow with interest. I haven't been up there for about 15 years and I'm dying to get back. Never been to the Golfie. Never done any of the rad looking Glentress EWS stuff.
I'm also on an old fashioned human powered bike. I've been tempted to rent an e-bike up there just to maximise riding time.
With my current fitness I'd get nothing done.
If you use Trailforks and stick to stuff that’s graded black rather than orange you’ll be fine, I’ve had a 130mm trail bike down most of it (slowly).
I'd probably do half a day at GT, full day at the Golfie and half a day at Inners. You can combine hills but that's easier once you get your bearings.
Yair is ace but I'd save it for a future trip. You also have Thornilee but hopefully a local will advise on feeling situation..
Loulabelles and the Traquair in Innerleithen are good for food. Italian in Peebles not bad either, GT cafe not great although recent new owners/staff. Place at the bottom better (GT Hotel?)
I don't do enduro so can't help there.
There os no getting away from it. Camping in and around the peebles inners area sucks absolute balls these days.
Forest lodges are good, either to camp/Van/pod. Nothing fancy but clean toilets, great showers and washing up facilities. There is a little drying room but never used it.
Not sure re felling Yair/Thornilee, Stu can undoubtedly tell tomorrow if other folk don't in the meantime.
Nice one thanks all - that gives me something to go on
Nice one thanks - that gives me something to go on for planning purposes
Delayed posting bug again 🙄
Stu is the man for a proper update but if I was you, and hadn't been, I would just head straight for the Golfie for your full day.
Its a simple enough place to navigate and there is bound to be people around to ask for advice. Different parts of the hills have a very different feel so pick trails on different sides.
You can't go far wrong with warming up on New York, then up to top for a Wolf then part way up to do Wardell Way. Round the old res to Big Baw then back round to Flat White or if you are feeling fit, the big hike to Feed The Pony or something on that side.
You'll be ready for a pint after that.
We are there again in October, can't wait 🙂
We once rented Levo SL's from Inners, thats not a bad option too.
Glentress uplift can get you a decent way up the hill but unless you want to session the newer trails the more interesting off-piste involves pedalling back as its nowhere near the uplift.
Amazing place!
I love the Golfie. incredible hand made trails all over the place, from simple to stupid. It depends on your goals/skills but I'd say there's something for most people, especially those that own an enduro bike.
A good day there if you have the legs can be 5,000 feet plus of winch and plummet with a nice gradient fire road back to the top. My first day there was 5,500 feet and 25 miles. Slept well after that!
Adrenaline Uplift is slick, quick turnaround and good trails that are fine on a trail/enduro bike. It's steep, rooty, rutty and quite confusing at times.
Glentress is great for a trail centre and you know what you'll get.
You could certainly tire yourself out there in two half and a full day. The challenge is where to split it. I can't see if they do half day uplift tickets, looks like full day only.
I was there when the XC world champs were at Glentress. Complete accident, and potentially bad planning, but we benefited from the free uplift laid on that weekend! I did 1/2 Inners, 1/2 Golfie for a massive 55 miles (OK quite a bit on the uplift) and 9,500 feet descending.
I'd be tempted to do something like this;
1/2 day - pedal up Golfie for a few runs, and get bearings. Wardell Way (definitely lower!), New York New York, Big Baw, and out via Flat White as a rough suggestion although I'm sure locals can string together a better loop!
Full Day - Inners Uplift, peel off mid afternoon and pedal over to do a couple more on Golfie. Personally I'd sacrifice uplift time for more Golfie, but I had to peel my mate off the uplift and drag him over there so it's personal preference.
1/2 day - Glentress for something more flowy.
Camping - there are a few spots where people van camp but don't think it's recommended. Camp site in Inners looked OK but was fully booked, Glentress lodges are nice and not far from town.
Left field - we couldn't get a free campsite in the area so ended up staying at Selkirk Leisure Centre! It was pretty nice - good clean facilities, flat pitches, only about 20 minute drive away. Town was oddly deserted though, like a ghost town!
Can you tell I want to go back?
Thanks.for the great info. Also great tip on the leisure centre - cheers! That didn't come up on any searches I've done.
Tibbie shield inn campsite about 30 mins away looks another possibility
Not much to add beyond the above. Inners camp site isn't one I'd rush to return to but it's flat and easy access to trails. Plenty of nice spots for food in Innerleithen.
Personally I don't bother with Glentress or the Inners uplift side. Both are fine, but not a scratch on Golfie, and there's plenty there to keep you occupied for a few days.
Looks like Stu has been in touch, so I'd just do as he suggests. His guidance is how I know my way around!
If you're over enduroed & its dry, I really like the Gypsy Glenn loop, good contrast to Golfie etc and goes directly from Peebles.
I'll be doing exactly this in a couple of weeks.
Arrive glentress in the pm, bit of a ride. Camp in van at the forest pods site. Ride to Golfie next day, ride, pint, back to van. Night on the pods site. Pack up, drive into innerleithen and go to inners side, ride the off piste stuff there that I've not done before, I've only done the red route there years ago. Head home.
The beauty of the glentress site is it's right there, you don't have to pack up in order to go riding. Mid week it should be practically empty, so the facilities will be ok, they've recently added a couple of portaloos which will be handy during peak times! The drying room is obviously dead handy at this time year. And you can eat at the riders retreat if you can't be arsed cooking 👌or ride into Peebles.
Personally I don't bother with Glentress or the Inners uplift side. Both are fine, but not a scratch on Golfie, and there's plenty there to keep you occupied for a few days
Despite my post trying to offer the OP a varied itinerary, I would definitely agree with the above and this would be my option too! I'd just pedal Golfie and explore. Locals are friendly and Trailforks is good.
Every time I see one of these threads I think we should have a STW at the Golfie day.
Unless tibbieshields has changed... I would strongly recommend reading the reviews.
You can camp in our garden for £25 per person per night. Will put in fairy lights to make it glamping.
Come with free dog ownership experience.
Stu is the man for a proper update but if I was you, and hadn't been, I would just head straight for the Golfie for your full day.
Its a simple enough place to navigate and there is bound to be people around to ask for advice. Different parts of the hills have a very different feel so pick trails on different sides.
You can't go far wrong with warming up on New York, then up to top for a Wolf then part way up to do Wardell Way. Round the old res to Big Baw then back round to Flat White or if you are feeling fit, the big hike to Feed The Pony or something on that side.
You'll be ready for a pint after that.
We are there again in October, can't wait 🙂
We once rented Levo SL's from Inners, thats not a bad option too.
Glentress uplift can get you a decent way up the hill but unless you want to session the newer trails the more interesting off-piste involves pedalling back as its nowhere near the uplift.
When you there mate? We're there 10th > 12th. Think we're doing Golfie all day Saturday... hired an ebike for the day 😀
Sorry if I missed it, but what is the situation with Thornielee now please?
I would suggest GT off-piste for that first half day OP, really great trails and a milder intro to the area.
The week after Dave, enjoy that e-bike 🙂
Not cheap to hire are they? 😲
@daveyboywonder we're there week after. Edit: ignore me, I missed Jay's reply!
@tops5 nope, £95 from memory but felt like a bargain everytime I flew up from the Golf Club or the bottom of Big Baw. Plus it was my first proper go on an eeb, so made for a decent test ride.
Glentress's offpistes are fantastic tbh, dare I say it mostly more fun than the golfie? Not better or worse, it's they just don't all go <straight down the bloody hill> so they last longer and you can ride more of em for the same amount of pedalling, and they're a little easier so you can relax more and play a bit more. And the new official trails down the bottom allow for very easy, very concentrated trail centre stuff if you want any of that- they're not the best in the world but they're so easy to lap, it's a great way of using up your last remaining leg at the end of a ride.
Golfie, don't do Feed The Pony. Wait. what? It's great! And yes it is but it's a total bollocks to get up to and then it kicks you out at the bottom of the hill and it's a bloody awkward ride to get back in. It's great but it's "low value". Even being pretty local I don't do it that often just because of that. Main hillside has enough for days of riding. Personally I'd do NYNY, Community Service, Lone Wolf, 3G or Repeat (not from the top, cut off at the cairn, it's not worth the extra climb to do the first bit). Everyone loves Flat White and it is ace, but it's just a wee bit unGolfish. And personally I far prefer Community, in fact I'd almost prefer to do Community just for that one amazing left hand corner with the stump, best left hander in the world?
I've started really liking Mocker into whatever it is after Mocker, Stabilisers? For an easier option.
one amazing left hand corner with the stump, best left hander in the world?
Rode that last month for the first time, left pedal caught the stump as I went round and I thought I was done for but rode it out 😀
Golfie, don't do Feed The Pony. Wait. what? It's great! And yes it is but it's a total bollocks to get up to
Id agree with this, I only do it if I'm on the ebike these days and it can still be hard work getting to the top if its damp/wet. I did notice the end/exit from No Content seemed to have disappeared/been turned into a small quarry last week when I was at the Golfie, the start looked the same as last time I rode it but didn't want to risk it and did FTP instead, do any locals on here know if its still possible to ride No Content?
And +1 for the off piste at Glentress, not as full on as the Golfie but 110% worth riding
When I head there in a week or two I'm planning on half day at inners after a Golfie day, what are the must do trails there?
When I head there in a week or two I'm planning on half day at inners after a Golfie day, what are the must do trails there?
Inners DH hill has 3 named tracks but there's so many other options criss crossing the hill its hard to know which track you're actually riding unless you're following someone who knows exactly where they're going. I like it personally but I'd only do uplifts there these days unless I was on the ebike (its around a 45 min push/ride to the top) where I pretty much always park at the DH tracks, ride over to the Golfie, do around 5 or 6 trails before feed the pony down to Walkerburn then back along the valley to Inners for a few DH laps to finish off
Inners is a wee bit tricky now because of felling and wind damage. And also still has the classic inners thing of "I have no idea what trail I am on now", it remains very hard to navigate if you want to get onto specific trails, it generally makes more sense just to relax a bit and "ride a trail, not too stressed which one", as long as you're confident enough to just sort of ride whatever's in front of you. TBH the most important thing is to figure out the basic shape of the hill- how to actually get around.
Triple Choc Drop > Spit Roast > Past Blast > Crestador works really well in the dh stuff though the top is at the harder end, or 39 Steps into Past Blast etc if you want it a little easier, both really good. I always feel like Matador is over too fast, it has the big signature drops though which are pretty ace (big enough to be impressive, small enough that I can still ride em without shitting myself). Cresta and Gold both work really well just as relatively simple, classic beat up inners dh,they are the simple option for sure.
On the less dh side of things, Quarry Enduro is usually ace though I've not ridden it in ages so take that with a pinch of salt, it's also very easy to lap/get back up. Alistair Lees is a good wee trail, lots of nicely awkward janky stuff, really different from golfy and rest of inners stuff but sadly had its bottom cut off and now it kind of ends just as it's getting going.
Green Wing and Angry Sheep are brilliant, they're not difficult but they just flow phenomenally. I get the middle bit of Angry Sheep completely right maybe one time in three but when it clicks it feels like suddenly you're a better rider doing an awesome instagram section, just weightless from corner to corner. And again super easy to get back up, just turn right and spin up the road.
Date Night is hilarious for just pure steeps. But Deerhunter is probably overall more fun to ride? Goes on longer, more things to do. Missing Link/Classic shows as closed on trailforks but I don't think it is, I love these but they do kick you right out at the wrong end of the forest, it's a drag to get back in. (ironically it leaves you closer to Glenbenna trails and almost as close to the Golfy as to the Inners car park, but you can go up the fire road at least and cut the corner)
In all honesty, another halfday at the golfy might make more sense. You're way less likely to get lost, that's for sure. You're not going to bitterly regret any choice mind you but just the ease of getting around is a big plus for the golfie.
any locals on here know if its still possible to ride No Content?
Yes it's all still there it just finishes at the quarry and you ride down the new road they've made.
No Content into Swagdady is a favourite ATM for me.
I don't mind the climb either on a manual bike as I'm getting close to being able to clean it.
Alistair Lees is a good wee trail, lots of nicely awkward janky stuff, really different from golfy and rest of inners stuff but sadly had its bottom cut off and now it kind of ends just as it's getting going.
There's a new trail from the fireroad that drops you all the way to the new walkers path.
It won't be there much longer though so best get there to ride it sharpish.
Forestry sign says it's being removed.
I don't mind the climb either on a manual bike as I'm getting close to being able to clean it.
Fair play on that, its a f****n steep old hill , and swag daddy is a good way to finish instead of FTP to the gate
There's a new trail from the fireroad that drops you all the way to the new walkers path.
It won't be there much longer though so best get there to ride it sharpish.
Forestry sign says it's being removed.
Aye, it's being shut because of how it crosses the official trail, pretty much a red line for them. But they seemed hopeful that something could be worked out. I wasn't clear if they'd accept a trail join rather than crossing, like the old alistair lees, I got the impression they don't like that much either tbh but the old merger never seemed to be a problem.
I can barely walk up the ftp climb never mind ride it 🙂
In all honesty, another halfday at the golfy might make more sense. You're way less likely to get lost, that's for sure.
Haha, I'll still give it a go! I know I could do multiple days at Golfie, but I might as well have a bit of a look at something new to me before I head home 🙂
Will see how much I can find in a couple of hours pootling about (I'm on an eeb)
The straight up climb parallel to FTP? Impressive!
Edit, wrong place!
The straight up climb parallel to FTP? Impressive!
Yeah the sticking point is the boggy spot on the last steep straight bit.
Had to push about 5 or 6 meters after that then get back on and make the top.
A mate can clean it and it pisses me off a little.😉
Mind you he gets paid to ride bikes. I just do it because I've not nothing else to do.😁
Ride/push up to FTP is fairly steep (and endless!). That said, last time I rode/walked it it seemed far less relentless than previous times and the descent is worth it - few descents I've ridden in the UK which are as knackering as FTP!
Si/Jay - enjoy!
This seems like as good a place to ask as any,
Is the golfie rideable through the week with the harvesting going on just now?
I bloody hope so, it'll be a Monday I want to ride there! 🤣
Is the golfie rideable through the week with the harvesting going on just now?
I Was up there on a Tuesday a couple of weeks ago, small section of the climb before flat white/ community service was fenced off and had to wait to be waved through by a banksman and the lower half of right side Clyde etc was closed below the walkers path.. Everything else was OK
With regards to Feed the Pony - I think it's well worth doing if you're doing a big day or riding Golfie for multiple days.
Agreed it's not the best in terms of bang for your buck, but tied in with Big Baw or Jawbone, it's a great way to end a ride with two big descents followed by cake and a cruise along the river back to the car park.
We are booked on the Inners uplift and have a vague idea of finishing our day by heading over to Trig Trail/Glenduro but it looks like a long way round the fireroads. Good idea or crap idea?
If good, can anyone advise on the best way to get there?
finishing our day by heading over to Trig Trail/Glenduro but it looks like a long way round the fireroads. Good idea or crap idea?
I've only done it once (on an ebike) and I'm not sure it's worth the climb personally if I was on a manual bike, trails are good but didn't look like they'd had much traffic and the top part was pretty narrow/ overgrown in places. The climb is long and gets steep near the top, I definitely couldn't ride a manual bike all the way up although there may be other options to the climb we did
Thanks Pothead, we will be mostly on manuals. I was wondering if we could gain the height with the uplift and follow fireroads round but looking at the map it could be a long way round.
I was wondering if we could gain the height with the uplift and follow fireroads round
I'm not local and could well be wrong but am pretty sure its 2 separate hills
I was wondering if we could gain the height with the uplift and follow fireroads round
I'm not local and could well be wrong but am pretty sure its 2 separate hills
Two seperate large hills, its about 5 miles to get from Angry sheep to the trails that run off the fire road at Glenbenna and 700ft climbing. Not doing that again in a hurry, might as well drop the inners hill and pedal along the road.
Failing that, if you do No Social/No Content/Feed the Pony, you can loop in Glenbenna on the way back to Inners.
Mugboo - When I'm on uplift day at Inners (which always seem to end really early), I like to finish by going up the push up and along the firebreak to Quarry Trail.
Which is probably my fave trail on that hill anyway.
As usual, thanks folks. We'll tag Glenduro onto the Golfie if we have the legs and do as Chakaping says and go find the Quarry trail.
Chakaping, was it you that gave me a Gywdir Mash-Up a while ago? If so, thanks, we enjoyed it 🙂
Really depends if you're an Enduro or Trail/XC type of person.
Glentress trail centre (I'd say this is mandatory for your 1st trip up there) - black and red trails, classic trail centre style, easy to navigate and fun. Cafe at the bottom. Consider a night loop of the red too. I'm looking forward to trying the off piste when we go up soon.
Golfie - Enduro style. Fire road up, descend on any of the trails mentioned above. Fire road up, descend, and repeat. Ok if you like repeatedly grinding up the same fire roads - consider ebike hire.
Gypsy Glen - classic xc route high up in the hills with a big long climb and a big long descent (take food with you).
Inners - been a looong time since I did this but there used to be a great red classic trail centre trail there with a big ass climb up to minch moor. Seems there's a load of off piste now too.
Yair - wouldn't bother on your 1st trip. Like the golfie but fewer trails.
Chakaping, was it you that gave me a Gywdir Mash-Up a while ago? If so, thanks, we enjoyed it
Ah yes, I think so. Glad you liked it 🙂
Yair - wouldn't bother on your 1st trip. Like the golfie but fewer trails.
Afaik most of Yair is being felled, not sure how much is still open atm but the trailbuilders put a post on Instagram a while ago saying they didn't expect much left of the trails afterwards, which is a shame as it was really good last time I rode there
Bookmarking this as there are four of us with e-bikes and we are thinking of booking a Forest Holidays accomodation next spring at Glentress. I’m assuming all the above route advice is doable from there?
There is a cycle trail along the valley so yes. A quick Google will tell you how many miles from Glentress to Inners. You could always leave your motors off on your way there.
@rockhopper70 yes it's certainly possible (I'll be doing it again next week) To tie this too the levo sl thread that's going on, this ride rinsed my battery about a mile or so from glentress on the return. I reckon I could've eeked a bit more out of it if it's been more careful
Bookmarking this as there are four of us with e-bikes and we are thinking of booking a Forest Holidays accomodation next spring at Glentress. I’m assuming all the above route advice is doable from there?
I've not checked but heard that the Forest Holidays places are stupid expensive. Loads of decent accommodation around Peebles/Inners + if you're in Peebles it means you can finish any ride up into Glentress with the trails off Janet's Brae. Perfect way to end a ride...
Forest Holidays are indeed silly money- many much better alternatives in Peebles itself. You'll be stuck up there unless you have a designated driver so evening choices will be poor. Riders Retreat and the Hydro are better value. There's also the MacDonald at Cardrona too which is kind of in between GT and the Golfie/Inners. Hydro and McDonald also have pool/gym facilities. Good number of pubs, restaurants and shops in Peebles too.
Forest Holidays development just feels a bit unfinished- the landscape rectification from the building works was just abandoned in many places.
And you'll likely need to wash your car everyday.
We are booked on the Inners uplift and have a vague idea of finishing our day by heading over to Trig Trail/Glenduro but it looks like a long way round the fireroads. Good idea or crap idea?
If good, can anyone advise on the best way to get there?
I don't know that hill all that well but to do the "commute" we've always used the Classic to get out of Inners then just spun along the tarmac and then up the forest road. I don't know about best but it's effective, it basically takes you right out of "inners hill" and to the bottom of Glenbenna.
Wee disclaimer, Missing Link and the Classic/Too Hard For EWS are all marked as closed on trailforks atm. I don't think they are but I haven't actually been down them for a while so, approach with caution.
Thanks Northwind.
I'm at glentress campsite now and gave no idea where the glentress off piste trails are. The heat map is manic and I can't really make much out. Any pointers or GPS of a decent GT off plate route?
I'm at glentress campsite now and gave no idea where the glentress off piste trails are. The heat map is manic and I can't really make much out. Any pointers or GPS of a decent GT off plate route?
You know how to get up to the mast? Once you're there, look roughly south. The start of B-Side will be on your right. Hammer Time and Mast of Zorro will be behind you, back down the muddy track a bit then into your left.
If you're using Trailforks, you might want to start with Careless Whisper, Thunderstruck and Huntsman - they're closer to you, but I'm not sure if the way there is disrupted by the Forest Lodges place (been a while since I've gone up that way).
There's obvs way more than that, but they're a decent start. Lots of pedalling involved in looping them though.
Excuse the typos, that should say decent GT off piste route.
Edit - thanks for the above. At least with some off piste names, I can begin to put something together
If you're still here on Wednesday/Thursday/Friday I'd be up for showing you any of the trails here in the valley.
I'm at glentress campsite right now as well!
Rode over to Golfie today, going to stop by inners tomorrow on my way home.
I'm in the blue van with the yellow awning, if you see me knocking about I can show you where the off piste stuff is on trail forks.
Highly recommend getting the app tbh, makes navigating ruined these places way easier! There's good coverage out on the trails and the gps is generally accurate 👌
@richardkennerley - the t6 and specialized bike? We were in the black trafic at the end.
Trailforks was great, rode the GT off.piste trails listed above and then.golfie the day after. Both big days and very enjoyable!
@singlespeedstu - have only just seen.your offer but unfortunately im.back in Sheffield now due to the weather. I'd definitely be keen.next time I'm up there though.
Yes that was me. I did a bit of GT off piste when I arrived, then Golfie on day 2. Did some trails I've not done before inc feed the pony (despite the warnings about the push up) but was happy to do it as part of a big day out. Did "only fools follow" which was really pushing my limits tbh, the initial drop in is bonkers but I'm still alive! And splash and dash which I've not done before. Would like to try avalanche but think that's probably beyond me and I ride alone so try to keep it fairly sensible.
Did inners the next day, angry sheep, green wing, trail with no name, Alister lees, upper quarry, cresta run and caddon bank.
AS and GW are great fun, like slightly softer versions of Golfie style trails, Upper cresta was a bit much, but the rest of it all the way to the bottom was absolutely mint, really enjoyed it. Not sure I'd cope with the other dh trails.
I'll have to start pushing out a little more, maybe thornielee next time. But a few times a year I get the chance to go in the van for 3 days riding and I feel like it's hard to beat doing GT and Golfie for bang for buck. Can park the van and get all that riding in with some decent facilities and no other driving needed.
Actually I might start another thread looking for other recommendations.....