Glentrool Mountain Bike Trail Centre

Alibobness:

If you into scenery and long rides this is is the place for you the purple big country route is a big ride on mostly fire track and some road, the riding is generally easy, but some of the hills are hard work, although that does mean some fun long downhills. The route passes a section (Black Craigs decent, McMoab and Heartbreak hill) of kirroughtree black! If you've got the time and energy its possible to do that section The blue is pretty tame, that being said the last downhill is quite a fun bit of trail, if your pushing yourself you can get round the whole thing in a half hour

Amazing scenery Great for beginners Small cafe on site Blue is a nice short trail if your close by with little time Some of the secret stuff is okay

Tibbort:

Glentrool. I guess its the Stane that most people avoid, largely because there is no red graded trail, and it the most remote western Stane of them all. We stayed at a nice campsite in the village (Glentrool Holiday Park), riding Dalbeattie on the way there and Mabie on the way home to keep things interesting. The trail centre is 10 minutes ride from the campsite. We knew there were some diversions in place due to logging- this is due to be completed August 2014. However, this made navigation difficult. Starting the big country route we were soon diverted by some "helpful" workers, and we found ourselves doing the route backwards. This didn't matter, and i think it is actually a better way to complete the ride- all the major climbs are done early, followed by a mellow country lane ride back to the finish. You just have to keep an eye out for signs facing backwards and take a gamble as to which is the right way. We did notice that on the road sections there is very little in the way of signage. This route has over 2500ft of climbing and is 58km but the views of the lochs makes it worthwhile. This isn't a ride through random firetracks deep in the forest as i'd thought- it takes you high out onto the moors above the tree line (which is where the axehead Stane is)- but maybe wait until the logging's finished before tackling it. The blue route is short and can be done in just over half an hour of riding- there is plenty of winding singletrack before a great bermed finish. Kirroughtree is just down the road (20 minutes by car) so stay nearby and do both over a weekend.

Something for beginners and those with stamina great final descent on blue

SJ:

Glentrool is probably the most overlooked of all the 7Stanes, being that much further away from the main Stanes and also only having a couple of greens, a blue and a purple route. But if you're willing to make the trip out there you're in for a fair amount of fun. Whilst there's no arguing that it's really not the most technical of MTBing I challenge you not to finish the 2.5km descent without a huge smile on your face :) Often we add a few more miles on by heading up the Bennan about 2/3 of the way in (an 1800ft summit) on forest road, then pick up the rest of the trail after descending the hill. It would make a wicked DH course if anyone wants to throw some cash at it hint hint!

Sweeping single track bermed corners are brilliant fun View at the end of the climb looking over loch Trool well drained quiet

Steve002:

This was my first experience of a trail centre and after doing 3 other more technical 7stanes on blue and red routes i still hold this 1 close to my heart. I think its an easy blue route and a great introduction for the beginner into mountain biking with generally wider singletrack than other 7stanes ive rode,fairly gentle climbs,only 5.5 miles long and quite suitable for bikes with no suspension. After 3/4 of the route riding through a nice mix of forest and open areas with lots of single track you get to Green Torr Ridge with a great view over looking Loch Trool,its this last section that puts a big smile on your face,you get 1.5 miles of gentle downhill with big banked corners,you can pretty much just roll or pedal hard and enjoy those banks all the way back to the car park,a great way to finish the ride. I think Glentrool is underrated by a lot of more experienced riders because it has none of the technical sections of other blue routes but i think its still a great route to be used as a "rest" day.

Great for the beginner Lots of singletrack Gentle climbs Lovely views of Loch Trool 1.5 mile gentle downhill back to the car park