Glentress in the Tweed Valley is the flagship of Scotland's 7Stanes network — seven purpose-built mountain bike centres scattered across the southern uplands. Glentress alone has more than 50km of dedicated trail and a riding scene that has supported Scotland's MTB community since the early 2000s.
What to expect
Trails run from a family green Buzzard's Nest loop up to expert black: the 30km red Black trail is the headline cross-country route, and the freeride zone has progression jumps and skinnies. The terrain is classic Scottish Borders — fast, twisting singletrack through forestry plantation, with rooted descents and brisk fire-road climbs. Mostly all-weather, with good drainage compared to peat-bog terrain elsewhere.
Practical notes
Open year-round and well-used in every month. Peebles is the natural base — a working market town with bike shops, cafes, the brilliant Crank Coffee, and good post-ride pubs. The Glentress Peel visitor centre has hire, repairs, washdown and a cafe. Combine a weekend at Glentress with rides at Innerleithen across the valley (steeper, more downhill-oriented) for the full Tweed Valley experience.
Train, parking, drive…
- Train
- Edinburgh Waverley, then bus or taxi to Peebles (~1h)
- Parking
- Glentress trail house car park; pay-and-display
- Postcode
- EH45 8NA
- Drive
- ~6h from London, ~1h from Edinburgh
- Car-free?
- Possible
Transport details are best-effort and worth double-checking on the day — rural buses and station services change with the timetable.
If you’ve got an extra day…
- Cloudbusters paragliding on Tinto Hill ~45 min west
- Pennine Way northern terminus at Kirk Yetholm an hour east
- Stop at the Horse Shoe Inn at Eddleston
Plan it yourself.
The most authoritative sources we know of for this trail — routes, conditions, governing bodies and operators. Open in a new tab.
