Mountain Biking in Southern and Central Scotland

By Peter Edwards

ISBN

9781852847470

Availability

Published

16 Jun 2016

Edition

First

Pages

208

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.20cm

Weight

260g

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This guidebook describes 21 mountain biking routes in central and southern Scotland, including the 7stanes in Dumfries and Galloway, and cross-country routes in the Campsie Fells, Pentland Hills and Lammermuirs, the Galloway Forest, Tweed Valley, Cheviots and Lowther Hills. The routes range from 17 to 66km, graded from moderate to very hard.

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.

ISBN

9781852847470

Availability

Published

16 Jun 2016

Edition

First

Pages

208

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.20cm

Weight

260g

Overview

This guidebook describes 21 mountain biking routes in central and southern Scotland. It includes the 7stanes trail centre in Dumfries and Galloway, as well as cross-country routes in the Campsie Fells, Pentland Hills and Lammermuirs, the Galloway Forest, Tweed Valley, Cheviots and Lowther Hills. The routes range from 17 to 66km and are graded from moderate to very hard. Taking between 2 and 7 hours to complete, they are intended for reasonably fit mountain bikers with at least some experience.

Detailed route descriptions are accompanied by 1:50,000 OS mapping, and the selected routes set out from various points across the area, including Greenock, Glentrool, Peebles and Milngavie, with good access from both Glasgow and Edinburgh. The guidebook also gives an overview of what the region's MTB trail centres have to offer, including the famous 7stanes trail centre, along with advice on equipment, maintenance and safety.

Southern and Central Scotland is renowned for its superlative MTB trail centres, but the region's rolling hill country is also traversed by an extensive network of tracks, paths, forest roads and other trails providing endless possibilities for 'free range' mountain biking.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

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

Route 1 Durisdeer, Daer Reservoir and Wedder Law

Route 2 Lowther Hills loop

Route 3 Shinnel Water and Scaur Water loop

Route 4 Carrick Forest Four Lochs loop

Route 5 Glentrool and the Galloway Hills

Route 6 Windy Standard loop

Southeast

Route 7 Belford to Cocklawfoot: Windy Gyle loop

Route 8 Kirk Yetholm and the Pennine Way

Route 9 Minch Moor and the Three Brethren

Route 10 Stake Law and the Gypsy Glen

Route 11 The Tweedsmuir Hills: Natural Tweed

Route 12 The Lammermuir Hills: Longformacus and Wedder Lairs loop

Route 13 Gifford and the Hope Hills

Route 14 The Pentland Hills: a rollercoaster route around the reservoirs

Central

Route 15 Misty Law

Route 16 Greenock Cut

Route 17 Kilpatrick Hills loop

Route 18 The Campsie Fells: Dumgoyne and Earl’s Seat

Route 19 Mugdock Country Park loop

Route 20 Carbeth – Cameron Muir loop

Route 21 Glasgow waterways loop

Appendices

Appendix A Bike shops and mechanics

Appendix B Other useful contacts

Maps

Maps

Ordnance Survey provide map coverage of central and southern Scotland in 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 scales (www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/leisure).

Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer series

342 Glasgow, Paisley, Rutherglen & Kirkintilloch 341 Greenock, Largs & Millport 348 Campsie Fells, Kilsyth, Strathblane & Fintry OL 38 Loch Lomond South, Dumbarton & Helensburgh, Drymen & Cove 328 Sanquhar & New Cumnock, Muirkirk & Moniaive 329 Lowther Hills, Sanquhar & Leadhills, Wanlockhead & Crawford 318 Galloway Forest Park North, Glentrool, Loch Doon & St John’s Town of Dalry 345 Lammermuir Hills, Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg & Gifford 344 Pentland Hills, Penicuick & West Linton 337 Peebles and Innerleithen, Eddleston & Ettrickbridge, Traquair & Yarrow 336 Biggar & Broughton, Culter Fell & Dollar Law 338 Galashiels, Selkirk & Melrose, St Boswells & Lauder OL 16 The Cheviot Hills, Jedburgh & Wooler

Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger series

64 Glasgow 63 Firth of Clyde, Greenock & Rothesay 57 Stirling & The Trossachs 77 Dalmellington & New Galloway, Galloway Forest Park 71 Lanark & Upper Nithsdale 78 Nithsdale & Annandale 66 Edinburgh, Penicuick & North Berwick 67 Duns, Dunbar & Eyemouth 73 Peebles, Galashiels & Selkirk, Tweed Valley 80 Cheviot Hills & Kielder Water Digital Ordnance Survey mapping of the region is available from www.memory-map.co.uk, www.anquet.co.uk and direct from the Ordnance Survey (www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk). The most up-to-date 1:50,000 scale Ordnance Survey mapping has been used for the routes in this guidebook. At the time of going to press, the information on the maps included in this guide was accurate. Older copies of some maps may contain information that is at odds with what is included here.

Updates

June 2017

Update747

Ride 8 : the required OS Landranger map number is 74 not 80.

Reviews

Very clear, concise and helpful

The route instructions are very clear, concise and helpful. The book itself is pretty robust and an inspiring read.

Eleisha Fahy, Scotways

A welcome guide encouraging adventurous off-road days out; most welcome and really useful.

Fitting nicely into a jersey pocket this guide has all you need. Even a dyed-in-the-wool-road-tourer is likely to feel the urge to get out the the knobbly-tyres and head off into the wilderness for a ride …. well, probably a bike and hike …. and the keen rough-stuffer or off-roader will be licking their lips.

Seven Day Cyclist

"The thing I liked most about this guide is the plenty food for thought it's given me for planning my own routes in the hills and new ideas for places to explore - especially as almost half the routes are easily accessible by train. Route instructions are concise but very clear and helpful. The book got quite wet whilst changing route plans in January's icy sleet yet survived unscathed, so it's pretty robust.

An inspiring read - and not just for mountain bikers."

Eleisha Fahy, ScotWays

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Peter Edwards

Since moving to Scotland from the south of England in 2006, Peter has developed a passion for the Hebrides. He lives at Rhenigidale on the Isle of Harris with his wife, Fiona, and their Labradors, Dougal and Mara.

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