Southern and Central Scotland is well known for its trail centres, but beyond the 7stanes and the Tweed Valley lies an extensive network of tracks, forest roads, hill paths and ancient byways that offer some of the most varied free-range mountain biking in Britain. From the rolling Lowther Hills and remote Galloway Forest to the Campsie Fells north of Glasgow and the Lammermuirs east of Edinburgh, there are plenty of opportunities to explore by bike. 

Covering 21 graded cross-country routes across the region, this Cicerone guidebook by Peter Edwards ranges from 17 to 66km and takes in some of Scotland's most diverse riding terrain. Routes are intended for experienced mountain bikers with a reasonable degree of fitness, graded moderate, hard and very hard, and accessible from both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

• The 21 circular routes are organised into three areas: Southwest (Dumfries and Galloway, Galloway Forest, Lowther Hills), Southeast (Tweed Valley, Lammermuirs, Cheviots, Pentland Hills) and Central (Campsie Fells, Kilpatrick Hills, Glasgow waterways)
• Highlights include the Glentrool and Galloway Hills loop, the Tweedsmuir Hills Natural Tweed route, the Pentland Hills rollercoaster, the Campsie Fells circuit via Dumgoyne and Earl's Seat, and the Lowther Hills loop via Durisdeer and Daer Reservoir
• The famous 7stanes trail centres in Dumfries and Galloway are covered in a dedicated overview section, including Glentress, Innerleithen, Kirroughtree, Newcastleton, Ae, Mabie, Dalbeattie and Glentrool, alongside other regional trail centres
• Route descriptions are accompanied by 1:50,000 OS mapping, with practical information on getting there, navigation, rights of way and access, and a note that the general lack of waymarkers in Scotland makes navigation more of a challenge than in other parts of the UK
• Appendices cover bike shops and mechanics across the region, alongside introductory chapters on equipment, maintenance, safety, food, hydration and when to go

A thorough guide to free-range mountain biking across Southern and Central Scotland, from Galloway to the Campsie Fells. There are more trails here to explore than visitors initially realise. 

Mountain Biking in Southern and Central Scotland - Quick Facts

Routes: 21 circular cross-country mountain bike routes 
Distance range: 17 to 66km 
Duration: 2 to 7 hours 
Grading: Moderate, hard and very hard; no easy routes 
Areas covered: Southwest (Dumfries and Galloway, Galloway Forest, Lowther Hills); Southeast (Tweed Valley, Lammermuirs, Cheviots, Pentland Hills); Central (Campsie Fells, Kilpatrick Hills, Glasgow) 
Key centres: Glasgow, Milngavie, Greenock, Glentrool, Durisdeer, Wanlockhead, Peebles, Innerleithen, Gifford, Balerno 
7stanes trail centres: Glentress, Innerleithen, Kirroughtree, Newcastleton, Ae, Mabie, Dalbeattie, Glentrool 
Other trail centres covered: Drumlanrig Castle, Carron Valley, Cathkin Braes, Whitelee Wind Farm 
Mapping: 1:50,000 OS map extracts included for each route 
Appendices: Bike shops and mechanics; useful contacts 
Best season: Year-round; summer most likely for dry trails; all seasons possible

Author Highlight

“The hills, glens and forests of southern and central Scotland are home to some of the world’s best mountain biking trail centres, including the famous 7stanes in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders. The region’s rolling hill country is also criss-crossed by an extensive network of minor roads, estate tracks and other trails, providing huge scope for ‘free-range’ crosscountry mountain biking.”

- Peter Edwards, author of Mountain Biking in Southern and Central Scotland

Emergencies

Map key

Overview map

Route summary table

Introduction

Mountain biking in southern and central Scotland

About the routes in this guide

Centres

Getting there and getting around

Accommodation

When to go

Safety

Equipment

Tools and maintenance

Navigation

Hydration

Food

Rights of way and other users

Maps

How to use this guide

Abbreviations and symbols used in the route descriptions

The 7stanes

Ae Forest

Dalbeattie

Glentress

Innerleithen

Kirroughtree

Newcastleton

Mabie

Glentrool

Other trail centres

Drumlanrig Castle

Carron Valley

Cathkin Braes

Whitelee Wind Farm

Southwest

1          Durisdeer, Daer Reservoir and Wedder Law

2          Lowther Hills loop

3          Shinnel Water and Scaur Water loop

4          Carrick Forest Four Lochs loop

5          Glentrool and the Galloway Hills

6          Windy Standard loop

Southeast

7          Belford to Cocklawfoot: Windy Gyle loop

8          Kirk Yetholm and the Pennine Way

9          Minch Moor and the Three Brethren

10        Stake Law and the Gypsy Glen

11        The Tweedsmuir Hills: Natural Tweed

12        The Lammermuir Hills: Longformacus and Wedder Lairs loop

13        Gifford and the Hope Hills

14        The Pentland Hills: a rollercoaster route around the reservoirs

Central

15        Misty Law

16        Greenock Cut

17        Kilpatrick Hills loop

18        The Campsie Fells: Dumgoyne and Earl’s Seat

19        Mugdock Country Park loop

20        Carbeth – Cameron Muir loop

21        Glasgow waterways loop

Appendices

Appendix A     Bike shops and mechanics

Appendix B     Other useful contacts

Seasons

Dry weather is hard to guarantee in Southern and Central Scotland though summer is the likeliest time for dry trails. However, every season has its charms - so long as rain and mud doesn't scare you - and winter really can be a wonderland.

Centres

Glasgow, Milngavie, Greenock, Lochwinnoch, Glentrool, New Cumnock, Moniaive, Durisdeer, Wanlockhead, Sanquhar, Hownam, Kirk Yetholm, Peebles, Traquair, Innerleithen, Longformacus, Gifford, Balerno.

Difficulty

The routes are intended for mountain bikers with at least some experience and a reasonable degree of fitness. There are no 'easy' routes in this guidebook, hence routes are graded 'moderate', 'hard' and 'very hard' Any 'difficult' or 'technical' sections are indicated. The general lack of signposts and other waymarkers endemic to Scotland makes navigation more of a challenge than in other parts of the UK

Must See

The Campsie Fells, the Pentland Hills and the Lammermuirs, the Galloway Forest, the Tweed Valley, the Cheviots and the Lowther Hills of Dumfriesshire.

June 2017

Update747

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