Glentress Forest
TRAVEL GUIDE
Welcome to GLENTRESS
Part of the ‘7Stanes’ mountain bike network in the south of Scotland, Glentress is just a 45 minute drive south from the capital and one of the most popular mountain bike locations in the UK. There are many good reasons for this - it’s a destination with an extensive and varied portfolio of trails that will suit riders of all abilities and tastes. Unlike many locations in England and Wales, it doesn’t actually cost anything to ride there apart from a small charge if you’re using the car park.
With a huge fleet of hire bikes available to suit all budgets and desires, a cafe serving decent food and coffee and toilets and showers available at the bottom car park, Glentress has all the facilities you need for a great day of riding no matter your experience or equipment.
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Essential info
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Glentress is suitable for pretty much all bikes but if you have choices, a short travel trail bike or cross country bike would probably be best. We like to use our Giant Trance and Trance X’s at Glentress but we’re no strangers to bringing the Reigns here either.
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Cafe
Bike Shop
Toilets and Showers.
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The closest accomodation to Glentress is the ‘Glentress Forest Lodges’ located right at the bottom of the trails. If you fancy a bit more space or something more high end check out Peebles Hydro Hotel and Cardrona Hotel which is very close. There is also a range of self catering accommodation in Peebles and Innerleithen, just a ten minute drive down the road.
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Glentress is just South of Peebles and very well signposted from the A72 main road. Follow your satnav to EH45 8NB, this is the nearest postcode.
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The Trails
One of the pinnacle trail centres of the 7stanes this was a hot destination 15 years ago. It still gains huge popularity amongst the mountain biking community and hosts varois events given the excellent trail network. There’s been limited work here over the years to keep up with the ever changing standard of trails around the UK however you’ll find great trails for beginners
Blue Trails
BErm Baby Berm
The best trail at Glentress? It’s certainly up there with it being a more recent addition to the trail network here. This short blue trail is perfect for your first mountain bike trail, ideal for kits and even bike trailers and kids scoot bikes. This trail has seen it all.
We love riding Berm Baby Berm is will almost always feature in a rider. While it’s a blue trail it flows through the woods just above the top car park - the buzzards nest.
Red Trails
Pie RUN
Finding trails to allow progression can be difficult sometime and often looking at a trail map doesn't really tell you what's on a track. Pie Run at Glentress may be one of the best red trails out there if you're thinking of taking on something a little harder than a blue, such as berm baby berm and want some roots thrown in there. The mellow gradient makes it perfect for taking roots for the first time. Remember to hit them perpendicular, avoid the brakes and try and go light over them If you pre-load the bike just before this really helps.
Spooky Wood
Probably one of the most famous trails in the country, Spooky Woods is one for the ‘must ride’ list on your trip to Glentress. Your writer remembers reading about a distant spooky trail promising lots of jumps and being incredibly excited to give it a shot as a young grom. It didn’t disappoint me then and it still doesn’t now. Starting close to the top of the trail centre, Spooky Woods will take around an hour to get to for most riders from the bottom car park. Looking out to the beautiful rolling hills of the Tweed Valley from the top though, you’ll be glad you made the climb. Starting with a couple of small drops, Spooky Woods winds its way down the forest offering lots of table tops and bermed corners on the way. This fun and flowing trail will suit riders of most abilities - you just need to get there!
BLACK Trails
BLACK ROUTE
More Coming Soon
ORANGE TRAILS
FREERIDE PARK
The freeride park has been a feature at Glentress for as long as we can remember and it is a really great place to work on your jumping skills. Made up entirely of tabletops, it's a run most riders will be able to enjoy while safely edging their jumping abilities forward. Aside from the table tops, there are a few drops that you can try, a box, and some wall rides if you're feeling adventurous. These are definitely features worth looking at before riding however as you’ll want to know where you're going on them. The Freeride Park is also right next to the top car park making it an excellent place to work on your riding skills, or watch kids do so, without having to go too far.
SUPPORT CONTOUR COLLECTIVE
Is it worth the trip?
Absolutely and if you’re in the area there is so much to explore.
What the locals say
Don’t think Glentress is a one trick pony with the trail centre, get yourslef off the beaten track a bit and enjoy some of the natural non trail centre trails as well.
“Glentress is great for all skill levels of mountain bikers from families, beginners right up to riders of a high level.
Theres a great breadth of trails, from easy greens you can lap with young kids like the admiral and blues like blue velvet and berm baby berm you can enjoy at all skill levels right up to some fairly steep and challenginng off piste trails like B-Side, Thunderstruck and Careless Whisper with a good bit of everything in between.
Theres some great stuff to descend down in to Peebles as well, like Dave's Trail and The Fort to Hydro descent.
It’s a forest with some great running and gravel riding as well as kid and beginner friendly trails that really makes it a great place for everyone to visit.”
— Dave, local rider and all round good guy!
In Summary
Glentress is an excellent trail centre with a wide variety of trails and facilities. It is a particularly good location for new and intermediate riders as the trails are well marked, fun, flowy and not too far from the closest car park.
