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Cathkin Braes and Area 69 Mountain Bike Trails
Avg 3.53
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup
Number of Reviews (13)

*You can claim this trail if you are the trail owner

  • Information:
  • Type: MTB Base
  • Grades: Blue,Red,Black
  • Riding: Cross Country,Pump Track,Skills Area
  • Facilities: Car Park,Toilets
  • Distance(s): 5-10km
  • Country: Scotland
  • County: Glasgow
  • Website: Cathkin Braes
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Trail Network & Rider Segments

Trail network status from Trailforks and recent rider segments from Strava (see full mapped routes and details in the Tracks tab).

Trail Status

status via Trailforks.com

Tracks Nearby

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Description

Cathkin Braes and Area 69 mountain bike trails are in the Cathkin Braes Country Park in the South East of Glasgow. The official park opened in June 2013 and was built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Like this?

The location is well placed as it is 200 metres above sea level making it the highest point in Glasgow. There are no facilities so go prepared. There is a blue and red trail, a skills loop, a Velo Solutions pump track and Area 69.

Cathkin Braes Trail

  • The trail is a Red graded trail with Blue and Black options. Specifically, there are two Black sections on the Red route. Hence it is graded to suit different skill and fitness levels. 
  • It's  5.5 km long designed in a figure of eight. 
  • Features include drop off's, berms, exposed bedrock, steep descents, tough climbs, water splash, steps, rock boulders and flagstone causeways.   
  • The terrain is a mix of ancient woodland, and more exposed wide open spaces and stunning views that take in Glasgow city as its backdrop. 
  • The track is split into multiple sections with names that give a clue to the ride on that segment such as Propeller Point, Double Dare, Rest and Be Thankful, Broken Biscuits, Brig O’Doom and Clyde Climb.
  • There is also a pump track and skills area.

Area 69 - Off Piste

  • This is the off-piste area full of downhill technical trail features from drops, jumps and steep descents.

Other Stuff

In 2024 new investments were announced for: 

  • Installation of toilets and storage containers
  • Enhanced facilities for coaching and youth participation
  • Extended club use and Scottish Cycling programmes support

Groups and Clubs

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  • If you have ridden the Cathkin Braes Mountain Bike trails then why not share your experiences and post some pictures, videos or a short review to the listing.
Julmulvan:
Avg 3.20
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Close to Glasgow so accessible for many. Good practice on the technical features and good to have somewhere nearby for short practices.

What do you like?

All single track with plenty of features since this is the trail to be used for 2014 commonwealth games. First major feature is propellor point. Red option on the right ( rollable and looks more scary than it actually is) and a black option on the right. It's possible to bypass both. Next is the first part of the back section with a variety of forest twisty trail leading on to a short section of flowing downhill before a short uphill to double dare. Double dare is a twin track red section, bypass able through the blue downhill trail. Double dare itself is a downhill snaking section with all sorts of technical features built in. After this you'll reach Clyde climb - a bit of a puffer! Another downhill section after this, again with a black option, this is probably the best part of the trails. Once you've completed this, it's up through a technical rocky section which goes on forever and then into the woods. The hardest part of big wood is brig o'doon. They should have called this bloody impossible - so far I have seen only two people manage this! I'll keep trying. Then over stepping stones and broken biscuits back to the start of the loop. It's not a long trail but fairly punishing in places.

What could be improved?

There isn't a lot of consistent flow here due to the many technical features but this is deliberate due to its intended use. Be prepared for no facilities at all except a car park.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

23/11/2013 - about 12 years ago

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