Description
Mabie Mountain Bike Trails
Mabie is a Forestry and Land Scotland trail centre in Mabie Forest, about four miles south of Dumfries in Dumfries and Galloway, and one of the original venues in the 7stanes network. Four waymarked, graded trails cover the ground: an easy Green forest road loop, two Blue routes, and a fast, technical 19km Red trail, alongside a skills area with dirt jumps and a Mini X line for practising technique. The forest road network also makes for a good gravel ride if you fancy leaving the singletrack for another day.
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The Trails
- Big Views Green Loop (Green): 8km, around 20% singletrack, allow 1 to 2 hours. Mostly forest road with manageable gradients and views over the Solway Firth and Nith estuary.
- Woodhead Blue Loop (Blue): 10km, around 25% singletrack, allow 1 to 2 hours. Quiet forest roads and easy singletrack across the far side of the forest, a good step up for riders building confidence.
- Viewpoint Blue Loop (Blue): 10km, around 25% singletrack, allow 1 to 2 hours. More technical singletrack that shares a short section of the Red route, with a telescope viewpoint overlooking Dumfries and the Solway Firth.
- Phoenix Trail (Red): 19km, around 82% singletrack, allow 1 to 2 hours. A fast, challenging cross-country route through woodland with rocky obstacles and tight berms.
- Skills Area: dirt jumps and a Mini X line for practising jumps and technique before heading out on the graded trails.
Trails at Mabie are subject to periodic closures and diversions due to forestry operations. Always check the Forestry and Land Scotland Mabie page for current alerts before travelling.
Gravel Riding
Big Views Green Loop runs mostly on broad forest road for its 8km, with gentle gradients and open views over the Solway Firth, so it rides just as well on a gravel bike as an XC bike. The opening sections of the Woodhead and Viewpoint Blue loops also follow quiet forest road before dropping into singletrack, giving extra distance if you want to link a longer gravel-friendly loop before turning back.
Getting Here
The main car park is at Mabie House, just off the A710 about four miles south of Dumfries (postcode DG2 8HB). Turn into the forest from the A710 and follow the access road for around half a mile to the car park, where the trails and skills area start. There's a charge to park, toilets near the car park, and a cafe on site at Mabie House Hotel. Regular buses run from Dumfries, and the nearest railway station is also in Dumfries.
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