Help & Advice • Alpine Bikes

“We've just finished building 1.7km of new red singletrack descent on the XC Route. The first new section (1.2km) comes after the Minch Moor descent and is packed full of jumps, berms and cheeky rock features. It will be open on Thu 20 March in time for Easter weekend. This section will replace the 'natural' loop back up and down the Minch Moor and link straight into the 'Enduro Track'.

The other new section, named Oh Deer!, is open now and provides an easier red-graded alternative to the hardest section on Plora Craig. There are still several rock sections to keep you on your toes!

With the addition of these new sections and tweaks to the more trickier sections of Stell Burn Climb, we are now able to convert the whole route to red grade, making the Innerleithen XC Route a great alternative to the Red Route at Glentress. Waymarking conversions and adjustments to the climb should be completed by the end of April, and updated maps are at the printers as we write.”

This press release from the Forestry Commission/7stanes is what we have been waiting for at the newest Alpine store at Innerleithen. As these are our local trails I felt I had to find out if the changes are any good,

After you have ridden the initial descent off the top of Minch Moor, You hit the first section of new trail. This is an excellent combination of jumps, berms, rock causeways, drop offs and stepdowns. For those among us who prefer wheels on the ground, all these sections can be easily ridden without getting airborne. At the moment the trail is quite loose surface, which can make for some interesting high speed slides though the corners. After 1.2km you join up with the old trail which takes you back down to the forest road, and the short uphill stretch to the Plora Craig section. Here is where the other work has gone on, in building red graded alternatives to the more technical sections of the descent. These new red sections follow a similar theme to the new parts of trail that you have just come down, off the back of Minch Moor.

When I rode this The Forestry hadn’t quite finished all the signage, so it made for some interesting riding thinking I was on a red section when in-fact it was black and vice versa. After this the trail is unchanged and finishes as normal with the high speed descent down Caddon Bank back to the start. Overall I would say that the changes are well worth it. Innerleithen has for a long time been overlooked by many riders because of it’s reputation for steep, technical DH riding. The changes will make the route here more accessible for a lot of riders who would otherwise simply default to Glentress. Come down and see what Innerleithen has to offer, I can guarantee you won’t regret it.

P.S. Signage according to the local MTB ranger should be finished by late April. Trail maps are available in the shop at Innerleithen; the updated ones should be with us shortly.

For more information visit the 7 stanes website

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7 Stanes – www.7stanes.gov.uk

Big country riding, rolling hills, views to die for and mile upon mile of technical singletrack – it's all here in the south of Scotland.

Come and spend a while in Scotland's biking heaven!

Carron Valley – www.carronvalley.org.uk

Carron Valley mountain bike trails are fast, fun and purpose built for year round use - guaranteed to entice you back for more! The routes feature testing singletrack climbs, flowing descents and stunning views of the reservoir and surrounding areas. There is something for everyone at Carron Valley - links provide a short fun route or something longer and more challenging. Whatever you choose the emphasis is firmly on fun!

Moray Monster Trails - www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6MRFE5

With 30km of fun-packed singletrack mountain bike routes, there’s something here to feed the monster in everyone!

Whether you’re totally new to off-road mountain biking, or a seriously expert rider looking for big thrills, there’s a trail here that’s just right for you, from easy green-graded tracks to severe black-grade trails.

Learnie Red Rock - www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6NZE9W

The Red Rock trails at Learnie: 16km of trails for all skill levels, combined with some of the best views from any mountain bike trails, anywhere!

There are green, blue, and black graded trails, with a bike park and a dirt jump area (both graded orange). Even our green grade singletrack is not 'billiard table' smooth - it gives a sufficient challenge for those wanting more than just forest road-type mountain biking.

Golspie Wildcat Trails – www.highlandwildcat.com

Expecting to become one of the best mountain biking destinations in the UK, the first £0.5 million phase of Highland Wildcat Trails in Golspie was officially opened in November 2006 by Rhona Brankin, Forestry Minister in the Scottish Executive.

Located in a superb coastal location adjacent to the East Sutherland village of Golspie, within an hour's travelling time from Inverness via the A9, the trails have been designed and constructed to the highest standards

Drumlanrig Trails - www.drumlanrig.com

Since 2002 Drumlanrig has played host to the National Points Series and Scottish Cross Country Mountain Bike Championships. A Mountain Bike Trail was constructed for these events and is now way-marked for everyone to enjoy. The course is constantly evolving with new sections of singletrack being added to extend the overall distance and add to user enjoyment.

Thanks to the 7-Stanes trails, local knowledge and countlessother trail centres, Scotland caters for every form of mountain biking for every level of rider. Every trail is an experience in itself thanks to the people who built them and how the lay of the land behaves. Personally, though, Innerleithen is still my favourite. It’s more of a trail centre than just one single trail with various downhill tracks, play areas and, of course, the Traquair Cross Country Loop.

At 12 miles long, it’s not one of the longest routes, but it offers so much that it always seems that little bit different every time I come back. The climb is a long one, but worth every pedal stroke. It varies from fire road to tight singletrack to finish on the exposed Minch Moor. Unlike other 7-Stanes trails, you do actually feel like you’ve made it to the top of a really large hill as the view from the top opens up the whole Tweed Valley. The tough climb ends with a just reward—one of the best descents (in my humble opinion!) in Scotland. Starting on large open corners and berms on the moor, the trail quickly changes to very fast flowing singletrack before linking with Plora Craig.

This section is very technical and rocky (mind the shins!) to catch out the unaware and offers as much of a mental challenge as it does physical. Out of the rocks, into some more of the Tweed Valley’s wonderful singletrack and then onto one of my favourite places in the whole of Scotland—Lower Caddon Bank.

Lower Caddon Bank is probably the most fun you can have on a bike in the Tweed Valley. This section throws drops, jumps, swooping berms and just outright speed at you to guarantee you’re getting off your bike with a smile. And an injury too, if you’re really unlucky! It’s one of those sections where you would consider doing the whole loop again, just to throw yourself back down it. Fortunately, you don’t have to as there’s a nice little shortcut if you know where to look…

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