The 7 what?
The 7stanes is a network of seven mountain biking centers, linked by trails that span southern Scotland from the Borders in the east, to Dumfries & Galloway in the Southwest. "Stane" is the Scottish word for stone.Between the centers, a variety of trails suit beginners and experienced trail riders. They are well mapped and each center has a variety of facilities including:
- Cafes with light meals, tea and coffee
- Car parking and toilet facilities
- Marked and graded cycle routes
- Foot paths
- Special events where beginners can learn the basics and improve their balance, coordination and confidence.
- Information about bike rental and nearby accommodations, including camping
- Some offer fishing permits for local lochs and rivers
- Some have bridle paths or graded trails for horse riders.
The 7stanes Scotland Mountain Bike Trails in Brief
- Glentrool Two green-graded routes and one blue route that begin and end at the Glentrool Center in the heart of Galloway, southwest Scotland. This center also has an ungraded variable route for the adventurous:
- The Glen is a short,6k. green-graded leisure route suitable for families.
- The Palgowan is a family friendly, 14k forest route with a short climb and a long descent.
- The Green Torr is, despite its name, a blue route that climbs 218m to the top of Green Torr overlooking Loch Trool. It's 9k and finishes with a long descent.
- The Big Country Route is a 58k route on minor roads and forest roads. It's a day-long, ungraded ride of variable difficulty.
- Kirroughtree Near Newton Steward in Galloway, this center has some of the best technical single track mountain bike trails in Scotland. The trails include everything from an easy half-hour route for beginners and families to very challenging trails for experienced gravity defiers:
- Bargaly Wood Green Route A six km trail along forest trails, farm tracks and quiet roads. Great for beginners and families with kids.
- Larg Hill A blue grade/moderate route to introduce novices and confident children to the area's narrow trails. Mostly single track with some small rock drops.
- The Twister Trail a red route, is 17km and considered physically demanding. There are rock steps and drop offs but most of the technical features can be walked up or down if necessary.
- Black Craigs does what it says on the tin. It's a black route with fast single track and rocky technical features to test your skills. It's famous McMoab section has steep plunges down exposed granite slabs.
- Skills Area If you are learning, the Skills Area is a great area. It's a compact set of blue, red and black grade features, with tips about how to tackle different kinds of manoeuvres.
- Dalbeattie This center is near the coast. It provides a good mix of easier and more challenging trails:
- Ironhash Trail A green route and a wide, easy single track into the forest.
- Moyle Hill Graded blue, this is a moderate ride and an introduction to the area's characteristic granite rock. There are some moderate climbs and a ride over crushed rock as well as an easier, raised timber trail.
- The Hardrock Trail A red route with some challenging, black-graded features, among them The Slab - a steep, sheer granite slope.
- Mabie This forest, south of Dumfries, was the original mountain biking area in Southwest Scotland. It includes trails suitable for beginners right up to daredevils:
- Big Views Loop Green
- Woodhead Loop Blue
- The Phoenix Trail Red
- The Kona Dark Side Not only is this one Black but it is described as, "one of the most severe tests for any mountain biker and is for experts only." Only 3.8km but so tough that the trail builders suggest you walk it before attempting to ride it.
- Ae Not far from the M74 motorway, the trails from this center, near Moffat, offer something for everyone.
- Ae Larch Valley Blueand Ae Valley Green Trails Beginner and moderate trails, suitable for families and novices, through valley and forest.
- Ae Line Trail A red route through a working forest.
- Ae Downhill This is an extreme grade bike park with a lift to the top and a bumping bouncing set of obstacles all the way down.
- Glentress and Innerleithen These rides in the Tweed Valley, in the Borders, are considered by afficianados to be among the best mountain biking trails in Europe:
- Glentress - Skills Loop Green
- Glentress Green Route
- Glentress Blue Route
- Glentress V Trail Black
- Glentress Freeride Park Extreme grade bike park
- Innerleithen Downhill Extreme grade bike park.
- XC Black
- Newcastleton A small area, near the border with England, in The Scottish Borders county, it has a small green Skills area and several moderate to difficult trails:
- Caddrouns Blue
- Linns Ungraded and of variable difficulty
- Newcastleton Red
