Description
Innerleithen and the Golfie mountain bike trails are in the Tweed Valley just outside of Peebles on the Scottish borders. They are two (predominately) Downhill bases within riding distance of each other.
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In Innerleithen there is a red XC as well as 4 official downhill trails; Matador, Cresta Run, Gold Run and Make or Break.
A short pedal away across the town is the world famous Golfie (in Caberston Forest), a network of off-piste semi-official downhill runs.
Innerleithen
Innerleithen Downhill
There are four downhill runs. All are equally thrilling and range from 0.9 to 2.3km in descent.
- Make or Brake: 0.9 miles / 1.45km
- Matador: 1.2 miles / 1.9km
- Gold Run: 0.9 miles / 1.4km
- Cresta Run: 0.9 miles / 1.5km
- Double D (optional line): 0.4km
- The Matador is the most famous but the others (Crest Run, Gold Run, and Make or Break) are equally good.
- Mega Track
- This trail is a large-scale, bike-park style line built into the Golfie hillside, defined by huge machine-built berms and sustained high-speed flow. The layout combines long, fast sections with occasional tighter corners, encouraging riders to link turns smoothly rather than rely on isolated features. Small jumps and shark-fin style shapes are present, but the focus is firmly on carrying speed and rhythm through the trail. It opened in December 2025.
- All these routes are Orange Graded BIKE Park Extreme with small, medium and large features.
- There are tricky rock steps, 8ft-rock drops, rock chutes, doubles and gap jumps, bomb holes, rooty drops, big berms and the rest.
- All four were built by local trail builder and hero Dik Hamilton. Full face helmet, gloves, body armour and a Downhill specific bike are strongly recommended for all trails.
- To get to the start of the trails there are signed push-up paths from the car park will take you to the top, but it’s a serious workout, climbing over 300 vertical metres! (Give yourself 45 - 60mins bottom to top). Hence recommend you use the uplift service.
Innerleithenn XC - Traquair (Red with black options)
- This 19km MTB trail has a very technical and tough climb to the summit of Minch Moor and then some great singletrack descending.
- There are optional, black-graded jumps and drop-offs. Some of the most noteworthy sections are the gnarly Stell Burn Climb, the very technical Mousetrap, the Lead Mine and Minch Moor Climbs and the Plora Craig and Caddon Bank, with its awesome downhill rollercoaster and downhill speediness.
The Golfie
- The Golfie (officially Caberston Forest) is a playground myriad of natural off-piste trails.
- These are non-waymarked and although historically unofficial the public event and race status for which they are now used has officially put them on the map. You need to buddy up to ride and or use a trail finding app.
- They use a 1-5 difficulty rating after the trail name (1) is least technical, (5) is most technical. There are approximately two pro, 49 black, three red, two blue and four green downhill tracks. Some of the most popular below.
- Flat White (3) - Black
- Final Fling (2) - Black
- 3G (4) and 3G EWS Exit (4) - Black
- Repeat Offender (Top) (3) - Black
- Community Service (3) - Black
- NY, NY (2) - Black
- Waterworld (5) - Proline
- Opened July 2025 - Lower Wolves fast and flowy descent - Caberston Forest
Groups
- Check out the Innerleithen Downhill Facebook Page
Other Stuff
- The uplift services are run regularly in the Tweed Valley. Contact Adrenalin Uplift for more details and booking.
- To check latest trail conditions and any closures or diversions then for 'Innerleithen' specifically check out the Forestry site before travelling.
- Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland have produced a great Tweed Valley guide.
- In 2016 Innerleithen took 3rd place in the Trail of The Year campaign in Scotland. In 2014 Innerleithen took 2nd place on the Trail of the Year Award in Scotland
- Innerleithen has an established downhill community for over ten years before the XC investment was made to incorporate it as part of the 7stanes network. It is targeted at the more experienced rider. It is just down the road from its sister trail at Glentress which like Innerleithen is part of the 7stanes network.
- Innerleithen (Golfie), Scotland: Working with DMBinS to enhance the area for Adaptive MTB
Share
- If you have ridden the mountain bike trails or downhill runs here at Innerleithen or the Golfie then why not share your experiences and write a review below and or post some photos or vids to the listing.
📍 UK MTB Trail Index
