Carron Valley Mountain Bike Trails

Description

Carron Valley Mountain Bike Trails are located in Stirling, Scotland. They feature a red route incorporating an orange-graded freeride final section.

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Carron Valley was developed to offer a trail destination closer to the urban centres of Glasgow and Edinburgh than the 7stanes network. Each section at Carron Valley is well waymarked, making it easy to session your favourite parts — and many riders choose to loop it twice.

The Red Trail(s)

The red route at Carron Valley is around 8km long and made up of several linked sections: Runway, Cannonball, and Eas Dubh. Together, they form a continuous singletrack loop with a mix of climbs, technical descents, and jump features. The route starts with Pipe Dream, a mellow warm-up stretch that leads into more demanding terrain.

Runway

Runway is the most flow-focused section of the loop. It features machine-built singletrack with berms, tabletops, and rollers (all rollable). The recent resurfacing work has improved grip and flow, making this an enjoyable section to ride at speed and a great place to practice your jump technique.

Cannonball

Cannonball offers a steeper, more technical descent. Expect stone drops, tighter corners, and natural trail features that demand a bit more commitment and control. It retains a rougher, more rugged feel and provides a good contrast to Runway’s flow.

Eas Dubh (Black Waterfall)

Named after the Gaelic for "Black Waterfall", Eas Dubh is known for its dramatic descent, which includes the Kelpie Staircase, a set of steep stone-pitched steps. The trail twists through tight forested singletrack and is best suited to riders confident with technical features and natural terrain. This section was still closed as of May 2025 for final storm repair works but is expected to reopen soon.

If you have ridden any of these mountain bike trails at Carron Valley, please post a short review, add some pictures and/or videos to the listing.

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dormston:

Avg 3.11

Grin Factor

Trail Variety

Skills

Trail Quality

General Setup

More of a blue route with red options than a full red, but that's no bad thing. Short but sweet. Great place to come and practice some skills and just have fun down the runway. Everything in good condition, including the toilets at the trailhead. Only a pity there's nowhere close by to grab a bite to eat.

What do you like?

Would be a great place to practice skills as easy to go round and try again. Trails are in good condition and not crowded. Runway (listed as Freeride) is a grin inducing finish to the trails. Wish we'd had more time to stay around and give it a couple more goes. Car parking is cheap and the toilet block clean and tidy.

What could be improved?

Limited variety. No cafés or local services nearby when you've finished.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

01/08/2014 - over 11 years ago

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Julmulvan:

Avg 2.60

Grin Factor

Trail Variety

Skills

Trail Quality

General Setup

Good for beginners or kids. Not enough in it to be keep me interested.

What do you like?

Good for beginners looking to get into the sport and have somewhere close by to practice on and build confidence. The runway is probably the best option. Small course which can be lapped in around 45 mins. Trails are good quality and seem to be looked after.

What could be improved?

Not enough variety or challenge for anyone who considers themselves above a beginner, other than for training/sessioning. Definitely not a red as it claims.

Would you recommend?

*No*

Date written:

18/11/2013 - about 12 years ago

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mtb_heroine:

Avg 2.42

Grin Factor

Trail Variety

Skills

Trail Quality

General Setup

My Local Playground

Carron Valley is my local playground and whilst yes it is small I am still not going to knock it having come from a very flat part of York where I had nowhere to play! CV is great if you live within 30 mins drive and want a fitness blast on the evening. Pre-Strava I'll admit CV was not that great for me with only three sections of down it was all over very quick. After joining Strava it became a lot more fun as I used it to increase my fitness and chase down QoM. Suddenly it felt like a new place. Now I know Strava is not everyone's cup of tea so I'll leave it at that. Runway is pretty awesome it has to be said!

What do you like?

Good for fitness if you like Strava Close to Stirling Good for night riding, wet weather

What could be improved?

Could be so much more than it is!

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

11/09/2013 - over 12 years ago

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Richie:

Avg 2.24

Grin Factor

Trail Variety

Skills

Trail Quality

General Setup

Good for practicing

Carton valley could be really good if they made it bigger more tails and had more facilities like glentress more good downhill trails are needed.

What do you like?

There are 2 good trials.

What could be improved?

Bad points are there are not enough facilities like glentress no bike shop no place to get something to eat not enough trails takes an hour to do it all.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

23/06/2013 - over 12 years ago

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Stevie1985:

Avg 2.93

Grin Factor

Trail Variety

Skills

Trail Quality

General Setup

Just for killing time really.

What do you like?

free ride part is good. Empty during the week best time to go. Good for pratice run's or to kill some time or to take the kids. I used it a couple of times as its my closest trail.

What could be improved?

not enough trails and not long enough. As all in only takes an hour to do it all to get to the top and right back down. There is enough woodland there to make trails but only 3 trails there and the picture they use to advertise this is false as that picture is on of the track at all.

Carron Valley Mountain Bike Trails

Trail Network & Rider Segments

Trail Status

Tracks Nearby

Description

The Red Trail(s)

Runway

Cannonball

Eas Dubh (Black Waterfall)

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My Local Playground

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Good for practicing

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Just for killing time really.

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