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Glentress Mountain Bike Trails
Avg 4.69
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup
Number of Reviews (88)

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

  • Information:
  • Type: Purpose Built Centre
  • Grades: Green,Blue,Red,Black,Orange,Accesible
  • Riding: Cross Country,Skills Area
  • Facilities: Car Park,Toilets,Visitors Centre,Cafe,Bike Wash,Bike Hire,Bike Shop,Showers,Uplift
  • Distance(s): Under 5km, 5-10km, 11-20km, 21- 30km
  • Country: Scotland
  • County: Borders
  • Website: Glentress
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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

Glentress mountain bike trail center is part of the 7stanes MTB network in the Scottish Borders. It consists of black, red, blue, and green trails as well an area of Green, Blue, Red and Black 'taster trails'.

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Skills Loop

  • The skills loop at Glentress lets you practice and develop your skills before heading out onto the trails. There are timber and rock features and obstacles. It has separate sections graded green, blue and red to aid skill progression across all technical levels. 

Skills Area

  • mini MTB zone
  • roller zone
  • cornering zone
  • drop and tech zones

Green routes

  • The Glentress green trails range from 3.5 to 4.5km in length. they cater for family and beginners. One starts from the Buzzards Nest car park and the other from the Glentress Peel visitors centre. 

Blue route 

  • The blue route at Glentress is made up of an 8km lower (recommended) and an 8km upper loop. You can do them separately or tie them together for the full 16km! Some of the best swooping and flowing sections are Electric Blue, Betty Blue, Blue Velvet and the latest Berm Baby Berm.

Red route

  • The 18km red trail at Glentress is the most popular of all the trails here. Some of the sections of note are Pennels Vennel which is a quick blast of single track, Spooky Wood with kickers, sweeping berms followed by small jumps and flowing tabletops, Super G section with berm after berm and jump after jump, Hit Squad section the most rooty, twisty, technical section of the trail, Pie Run and Magic Mushroom. Look out for the 298-meter red MTB descent called Mild Peril. Like all the trails at Glentress, it is constantly being developed and having sections added. 

Black Trail

  • The 29km black is graded black/severe. This is a challenging, long, and technical epic ride, taking in some of the remoter parts of Glentress Forest, and should only be attempted by experienced riders with expert technical skills.

Glentress Masterplan Trails

  • The Glentress Masterplan trails (Green, Blue, Red and Black Network trails) opened in October 2023 and link into the existing trail network and offer new descents ending just north of the Peel Tower. They can also be sessioned easily by a number of methods from joining the main trail network to using forest roads. The trails pass under the Multi-User Path and constitute 16km of new build.
  • Apple Peel | Green:  The new green graded trail runs along to the Peel building and is ideal for a gentle cruise or anyone starting out in mountain biking.
  • Turn and Burn | Blue: The new blue trail runs very near the Eshiels Burn, and features a considerable number of turns. This one is all about fun with big berms and easy jumps.
  • Smells Like Tweed Spirit | Red: Building on the pioneering Spooky Wood style with a mix of features.
  • Castle Black | Black: Most of our new trails run down the west side of Castle Hill. The new black trail has large jumps and fast for expert riders

Glentress Masterplan Taster Trails

  • Green, Blue, Red and Black Taster trails: These short stand-alone loops begin and end to the south of the Peel Tower and provide a way to sample each grade before committing to a network trail. The shared climb gradually change in difficulty from Green to Black grade as the climb goes on, before splitting at various points to separate Green, Blue, Red, and Black descents.
  • These trails do not link into the main trail network, but can be reached via a Multi-User Path, and can be sessioned easily. These trails also pass under the Multi-User Path.
  • Multi-user Trail: 2.2km Accessible path around Glentress. The Multi-user Trail connects the Glentress Gateway to the café, bike shop, skills area, taster trails and the start of all walking and mountain biking routes. Expect wide, firm gravel path with gentle slopes and various resting points. One section of minor road crossing with a fairly steep side slope. Moderate slope for access between Gateway and café/bike shop. Suitable for Adaptive bikes.

Off-Piste

    • Like most trail centres in the UK as riders skills progress and communities mature there is a network of unsanctioned off-piste trails in the region. These are unofficial. Ride at your own risk.

Volunteer Community

Other Stuff

    • Buzzard's Nest Freeride Bike Park closed permanently in Spring 2023 as part of the Glentress Masterplan but 16km of new trails were built as part of the Masterplan project which opened in October 2023 and built by On Track.

Share

    • If you have ridden any of the mountain bike trails at Glentress then please share your experience with us and the community by posting pictures, videos, and reviews to the listing.
Lana:
Avg 4.88
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

What do you like?

It's a great place to go up and have fun and meet up with people!

What could be improved?

The car parking ticket machines don't always work...

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

15/10/2014 - over 11 years ago

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Clint :
Avg 5.00
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

This is how you do it

What do you like?

I have been to GT numerous times travelling from Northern Ireland to do so. It is great to see the development of trail centres in NI though I wonder why no one bothered to take heed of what has been done at GT and maybe tried to copy it. Lovely switchback climbs to the top of the trails and then flat out descents with no stupid speed bumps to ruin your flow. There is a bit of everything for all abilities so everyone leaves with a smile on their faces. To complete the day the cafe is fantastic, no matter how mucky you are the door is always open and the food and service is first class. Can't wait to return.

What could be improved?

Absolutely none!

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

14/10/2014 - over 11 years ago

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0
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Horatio:
Avg 5.00
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

What do you like?

This is a fantastic place to ride with something for all levels of riders, i`ve ridden the black,red and blue routes in most weathers and fully enjoyed the experience. This place sets the standard for a trail center for me.

What could be improved?

None

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

06/10/2014 - over 11 years ago

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0
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Joanne Flynn :
Avg 4.91
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Fun, fun, fun

This is by far my favourite trail centre, visited it numerous times and still not bored with it. Has great facilities and varied trails with something for everyone.

What do you like?

Something for everyone from beginners to experienced riders with so many trails to choose from. It has you grinning from ear to ear. Fantastic facilities and the best day out you could ever have.

What could be improved?

Can't think of a single thing

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

29/09/2014 - over 11 years ago

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0
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JD:
Avg 5.00
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Upgrade Time

What do you like?

Mix of difficulty Upkeep Cafe Midway car park Friendly locals

What could be improved?

Weather haha

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

10/09/2014 - over 11 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

1
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Mike Rankin:
Avg 5.00
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Glentress is superb for all skill levels and ages

What do you like?

Love it here. Have been by myself and my kids (currently 8 & 10). Did the full route red by myself, Loved it. Did the full Blue with oldest son He loved it. Also Done the lower green route. Parked at the Buzzards nest car park last visit only a few days ago as a short stop of on my way home from a weekend break and did berm baby berm and The essentials Free ride bits with both Kids(walking up the adjacent paths) Will be visiting here as often as I can to improve our skills. Like the Fact there are more difficult options on certain route for you to try out/ improve you skills. Facilities at The peel car park are very good and well maintained. I quite like the fact that we could pick and choose which bits we did as to suit what time and abilities we have.

What could be improved?

Can't go as often as I'd like

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

10/09/2014 - over 11 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

0
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