7 Stanes newbie...trails & camping advice please!
Discussion
Me and the missus are thinking of heading north next week and doing some of the 7 stanes...we've not been before and we'd appreciate some advice!
-Is it worth it? We're Midlands based, Wales is only 3 hours away but we've done most of those trails now...is it worth the extra mileage? (We'll be stopping at the Lakes too to drop in on some friends, will probably do Grizedale whilst we are there)
-Where to stay? We'll be camping, keen to avoid "lots of rules, noise, kids, caravans, no fires" campsites, basic showers and nice views/nice atmosphere is more our thing, ideally centrally located fairly near the trails, with a pub not a million miles away in case it's hosing down! Could either stay at one site for a week and drive to the trails each day or move halfway through the week if it gives us more options. Want to try and keep the driving mileage down when we are up there if possible.
-Where to ride? Red or sensible black (like Llandegla's) routes and singletrack are what we like (surprise surprise), not fussed about massive jumps/parks or full on Fort Bill style DH. Our fave Welsh trail is Climach-X but we also like "out there" stuff like Nant-y-Arain or Penmachno when we're after a more relaxing ride with some views.
-Any other must do's? We'll probably not want to ride every day, is there anything else that well worth a look in the area, rainy day contingency plans etc?
Any information gratefull accepted!
Thanks!
-Is it worth it? We're Midlands based, Wales is only 3 hours away but we've done most of those trails now...is it worth the extra mileage? (We'll be stopping at the Lakes too to drop in on some friends, will probably do Grizedale whilst we are there)
-Where to stay? We'll be camping, keen to avoid "lots of rules, noise, kids, caravans, no fires" campsites, basic showers and nice views/nice atmosphere is more our thing, ideally centrally located fairly near the trails, with a pub not a million miles away in case it's hosing down! Could either stay at one site for a week and drive to the trails each day or move halfway through the week if it gives us more options. Want to try and keep the driving mileage down when we are up there if possible.
-Where to ride? Red or sensible black (like Llandegla's) routes and singletrack are what we like (surprise surprise), not fussed about massive jumps/parks or full on Fort Bill style DH. Our fave Welsh trail is Climach-X but we also like "out there" stuff like Nant-y-Arain or Penmachno when we're after a more relaxing ride with some views.
-Any other must do's? We'll probably not want to ride every day, is there anything else that well worth a look in the area, rainy day contingency plans etc?
Any information gratefull accepted!
Thanks!
Hard-Drive said:
Me and the missus are thinking of heading north next week and doing some of the 7 stanes...we've not been before and we'd appreciate some advice!
-Is it worth it? We're Midlands based, Wales is only 3 hours away but we've done most of those trails now...is it worth the extra mileage? (We'll be stopping at the Lakes too to drop in on some friends, will probably do Grizedale whilst we are there)
-Where to stay? We'll be camping, keen to avoid "lots of rules, noise, kids, caravans, no fires" campsites, basic showers and nice views/nice atmosphere is more our thing, ideally centrally located fairly near the trails, with a pub not a million miles away in case it's hosing down! Could either stay at one site for a week and drive to the trails each day or move halfway through the week if it gives us more options. Want to try and keep the driving mileage down when we are up there if possible.
-Where to ride? Red or sensible black (like Llandegla's) routes and singletrack are what we like (surprise surprise), not fussed about massive jumps/parks or full on Fort Bill style DH. Our fave Welsh trail is Climach-X but we also like "out there" stuff like Nant-y-Arain or Penmachno when we're after a more relaxing ride with some views.
-Any other must do's? We'll probably not want to ride every day, is there anything else that well worth a look in the area, rainy day contingency plans etc?
Any information gratefull accepted!
Thanks!
You will have an absolute ball. -Is it worth it? We're Midlands based, Wales is only 3 hours away but we've done most of those trails now...is it worth the extra mileage? (We'll be stopping at the Lakes too to drop in on some friends, will probably do Grizedale whilst we are there)
-Where to stay? We'll be camping, keen to avoid "lots of rules, noise, kids, caravans, no fires" campsites, basic showers and nice views/nice atmosphere is more our thing, ideally centrally located fairly near the trails, with a pub not a million miles away in case it's hosing down! Could either stay at one site for a week and drive to the trails each day or move halfway through the week if it gives us more options. Want to try and keep the driving mileage down when we are up there if possible.
-Where to ride? Red or sensible black (like Llandegla's) routes and singletrack are what we like (surprise surprise), not fussed about massive jumps/parks or full on Fort Bill style DH. Our fave Welsh trail is Climach-X but we also like "out there" stuff like Nant-y-Arain or Penmachno when we're after a more relaxing ride with some views.
-Any other must do's? We'll probably not want to ride every day, is there anything else that well worth a look in the area, rainy day contingency plans etc?
Any information gratefull accepted!
Thanks!
For a stop off on the way, forget Grizdale, the trails at Whinlatter (Keswick) are a much better day out. Don't stick to just riding centre's either - classic routes like the Borrowdale bash round Derwent water are lots of fun too. A good campsite near Keswick with a relaxed atmosphere is Dale bottom farm.
Well, if you are riding Scottish trail centres then it goes without saying that a bit of time at Glentress and inners has to be on the menu. Spooky wood (red run glentress) is probably my all time favourite trail in the UK.
Mabie and Dalbettie further west can be done in a day. There's some nice places to stay round there. Ae is nearby too but on limited timescale i would recommend the other two as they have different characters despite being so close. Lets us know if you manage the slab!
Kirroughtree. You. Must. Ride. This. Bit of schlep to get there but it is soooo worth it and will give you more of an 'out in the sticks' feel. McMoab is something special.
hmmm how long are you going for?
There's plenty more further north but i guess in a week that might be enough!
As mentioned above Glentress is a must as it's still one of the better trail centres. You can spend a whole day there doing a mix of blue, red and black until your legs are ready to fall off. The black isn't particularly hard and is graded more in length than difficulty but there are a couple of tricky sections to keep you on your toes. The cafe does great food for the times inbetween riding.
Innerleithen is another must as the XC loop gives you a great climb to start with and great views from the top on Minch Moor. The singletrack is fast and sweet with red and black section near the end (Plora Craig & Caddon Bank). There are also a few DH specific tracks if you feel the need to try that.
Mabie, Kirroghtree and Dalbeatie would be my other choices and if you can make it a little further into Scotland I'd suggest Laggan as well and if you do go that far North may I suggest going further to Golspie........it's a must do trail but you're beginning to run out of mainland Britain as it's up past Inverness.
I have only ever camped in Peebles here and it was ok. http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/t/Crossburn-Cara...
Innerleithen is another must as the XC loop gives you a great climb to start with and great views from the top on Minch Moor. The singletrack is fast and sweet with red and black section near the end (Plora Craig & Caddon Bank). There are also a few DH specific tracks if you feel the need to try that.
Mabie, Kirroghtree and Dalbeatie would be my other choices and if you can make it a little further into Scotland I'd suggest Laggan as well and if you do go that far North may I suggest going further to Golspie........it's a must do trail but you're beginning to run out of mainland Britain as it's up past Inverness.
I have only ever camped in Peebles here and it was ok. http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/t/Crossburn-Cara...
I'm staying in Peebles at the moment. There isn't a great deal to do outside Edinburgh if you don't like golf or deep fried food.
We went to the Glenkinchie whisky distillery which was great, a fiver admission, a nice guided tour and then a whisky tasting. I was fairly merry afterwards ( I didn't even like whisky before the tour).
There is also Traquair house near inners which is ok, Rosslyn chapel is not worth visitng.
Glentress is doable on a HT apart from the freeride park, it's not particularly challenging but good fun first time round. It also has a bike shop, cafe and changing facilites.
Didn't do Innerleithen XC apart from a XC descent when we got lost. The DH was a PITA to get to as there was no uplift and it took 40 mins to push up. The DH was quite challenging.
BTW don't camp as it will most likely rain, alot.
We went to the Glenkinchie whisky distillery which was great, a fiver admission, a nice guided tour and then a whisky tasting. I was fairly merry afterwards ( I didn't even like whisky before the tour).
There is also Traquair house near inners which is ok, Rosslyn chapel is not worth visitng.
Glentress is doable on a HT apart from the freeride park, it's not particularly challenging but good fun first time round. It also has a bike shop, cafe and changing facilites.
Didn't do Innerleithen XC apart from a XC descent when we got lost. The DH was a PITA to get to as there was no uplift and it took 40 mins to push up. The DH was quite challenging.
BTW don't camp as it will most likely rain, alot.
MrTom said:
Glentress is doable on a HT apart from the freeride park
I rode the freeride park on a rigid and had a great time. Had even more fun embarassing fat full suss riding teenagers on a mates hybrid down some of the easier freeride bits, hi-rise stem and slicks FTW 
Only bits I didn't do were the wallride, as I'm chicken, and the very biggest of the drops as I'm fat and out of practice.
Glentress is perfectly do-able on a HT - I use the freeride park on a regular basis on either my 120mm-forked hardtail or my 6" travel full-susser and both are great fun.
Can't comment on camping (I'm only an hour from Glentress) in the Peebles area apart from a site we stayed on in Innerleithen - nothing special. IMO it might be best to split your time and stay between 2 areas: depending on hom much riding you're going to be doing, a few nights in Peebles area and a few nights based around Dumfries would be my suggestion.
As said above Kirroughtree is an absolute MUST - best singletrack in a trail centre that I know of. Dalbeattie is great fun and quite technical/rocky in places, Mabie is more natural but both are short enough and close enough to combine in one day. Glentress just has so many options and is a great day out. The XC loop at Innerleithen is also great fun with excellent descents, plus you can always venture onto some DH tracks if it takes your fancy.
Can't comment on camping (I'm only an hour from Glentress) in the Peebles area apart from a site we stayed on in Innerleithen - nothing special. IMO it might be best to split your time and stay between 2 areas: depending on hom much riding you're going to be doing, a few nights in Peebles area and a few nights based around Dumfries would be my suggestion.
As said above Kirroughtree is an absolute MUST - best singletrack in a trail centre that I know of. Dalbeattie is great fun and quite technical/rocky in places, Mabie is more natural but both are short enough and close enough to combine in one day. Glentress just has so many options and is a great day out. The XC loop at Innerleithen is also great fun with excellent descents, plus you can always venture onto some DH tracks if it takes your fancy.
I'm going up to Glentress/Innerleithen this weekend, usually stay at Rosetta Caravan Park www.rosettacaravanpark.co.uk which has a great little pub on site
Guys
Thanks very much for your input, much appreciated. I think the plan is to head up on Saturday and camp near Peebles, and do Glentress Sunday and Innerleithen on Monday. Take a day off Tuesday and have a nose round Edinburgh, head over towards Newton Stewart on Weds via riding Dalbeattie, and hit Kirroughtree Thursday, drive to the lakes Friday, and stay there and ride/walk Sat/Sun and head home.
Sound sensible?
Thanks very much for your input, much appreciated. I think the plan is to head up on Saturday and camp near Peebles, and do Glentress Sunday and Innerleithen on Monday. Take a day off Tuesday and have a nose round Edinburgh, head over towards Newton Stewart on Weds via riding Dalbeattie, and hit Kirroughtree Thursday, drive to the lakes Friday, and stay there and ride/walk Sat/Sun and head home.
Sound sensible?
Hard-Drive said:
Guys
Thanks very much for your input, much appreciated. I think the plan is to head up on Saturday and camp near Peebles, and do Glentress Sunday and Innerleithen on Monday. Take a day off Tuesday and have a nose round Edinburgh, head over towards Newton Stewart on Weds via riding Dalbeattie, and hit Kirroughtree Thursday, drive to the lakes Friday, and stay there and ride/walk Sat/Sun and head home.
Sound sensible?
Yep, good plan Thanks very much for your input, much appreciated. I think the plan is to head up on Saturday and camp near Peebles, and do Glentress Sunday and Innerleithen on Monday. Take a day off Tuesday and have a nose round Edinburgh, head over towards Newton Stewart on Weds via riding Dalbeattie, and hit Kirroughtree Thursday, drive to the lakes Friday, and stay there and ride/walk Sat/Sun and head home.
Sound sensible?
. I'd suggest doing Innerleithen Sunday and Glentress Monday, as Glentress can get busy at weekends (but still OK) whereas Innerleithen is quiet even at weekends. Since you've got the luxury of a Sunday/Monday that's what I'd do. Rest day's a good plan . Dalbeattie's a bit shorter than Glentress and Innerleithen so perfect for a travelling day.If you want an interesting drive from Peebles area to Dumfries, take the B709 from Innerleithen (it's the road that goes past the trailhead carpark), then turn onto the A708 and follow it all the way to Moffat. Superb road which I struggle to behave on despite 2 bikes on the car roof once or twice...
Oh, and if camping near Newton Stewart take your banjo
plus some Avon Skin So Soft - the midges are horrific in that area and this is the only thing that works!a11y_m said:
Hard-Drive said:
Guys
Thanks very much for your input, much appreciated. I think the plan is to head up on Saturday and camp near Peebles, and do Glentress Sunday and Innerleithen on Monday. Take a day off Tuesday and have a nose round Edinburgh, head over towards Newton Stewart on Weds via riding Dalbeattie, and hit Kirroughtree Thursday, drive to the lakes Friday, and stay there and ride/walk Sat/Sun and head home.
Sound sensible?
Yep, good plan Thanks very much for your input, much appreciated. I think the plan is to head up on Saturday and camp near Peebles, and do Glentress Sunday and Innerleithen on Monday. Take a day off Tuesday and have a nose round Edinburgh, head over towards Newton Stewart on Weds via riding Dalbeattie, and hit Kirroughtree Thursday, drive to the lakes Friday, and stay there and ride/walk Sat/Sun and head home.
Sound sensible?
. I'd suggest doing Innerleithen Sunday and Glentress Monday, as Glentress can get busy at weekends (but still OK) whereas Innerleithen is quiet even at weekends. Since you've got the luxury of a Sunday/Monday that's what I'd do. Rest day's a good plan . Dalbeattie's a bit shorter than Glentress and Innerleithen so perfect for a travelling day.If you want an interesting drive from Peebles area to Dumfries, take the B709 from Innerleithen (it's the road that goes past the trailhead carpark), then turn onto the A708 and follow it all the way to Moffat. Superb road which I struggle to behave on despite 2 bikes on the car roof once or twice...
Oh, and if camping near Newton Stewart take your banjo
plus some Avon Skin So Soft - the midges are horrific in that area and this is the only thing that works!
to all of the aboveMrTom said:
I'm staying in Peebles at the moment. There isn't a great deal to do outside Edinburgh if you don't like golf or deep fried food.
We went to the Glenkinchie whisky distillery which was great, a fiver admission, a nice guided tour and then a whisky tasting. I was fairly merry afterwards ( I didn't even like whisky before the tour).
There is also Traquair house near inners which is ok, Rosslyn chapel is not worth visitng.
Glentress is doable on a HT apart from the freeride park, it's not particularly challenging but good fun first time round. It also has a bike shop, cafe and changing facilites.
Didn't do Innerleithen XC apart from a XC descent when we got lost. The DH was a PITA to get to as there was no uplift and it took 40 mins to push up. The DH was quite challenging.
BTW don't camp as it will most likely rain, alot.
I always thought hardtails were much better for jumps than full sussers....? Certainly had no problems on mine, at least, none that were the bikews fault.We went to the Glenkinchie whisky distillery which was great, a fiver admission, a nice guided tour and then a whisky tasting. I was fairly merry afterwards ( I didn't even like whisky before the tour).
There is also Traquair house near inners which is ok, Rosslyn chapel is not worth visitng.
Glentress is doable on a HT apart from the freeride park, it's not particularly challenging but good fun first time round. It also has a bike shop, cafe and changing facilites.
Didn't do Innerleithen XC apart from a XC descent when we got lost. The DH was a PITA to get to as there was no uplift and it took 40 mins to push up. The DH was quite challenging.
BTW don't camp as it will most likely rain, alot.
Glentress is fantastic fun. The red route is outstanding but a hefty climb. Blue route is fast, smooth and flowing and definitely much less intense than the Red. I've not tried the black yet so can't commment!
militantmandy said:
I always thought hardtails were much better for jumps than full sussers....? Certainly had no problems on mine, at least, none that were the bikews fault.
I jump on both my hardtail and full-susser. I think if you have the technique then a hardtail's fine - we obviously have it - but I find a full-susser lets me away with mistakes and is very useful for building up to bigger jumps and drops.a11y_m said:
militantmandy said:
I always thought hardtails were much better for jumps than full sussers....? Certainly had no problems on mine, at least, none that were the bikews fault.
I jump on both my hardtail and full-susser. I think if you have the technique then a hardtail's fine - we obviously have it - but I find a full-susser lets me away with mistakes and is very useful for building up to bigger jumps and drops.As for "me" having it...hu um. Absolutely, clearing massive doubles like Gee Atherton
I appreciate you can do it on both though!
I really fancy a shot on a decent full susser actually! In fact, does someone fancy lending me one for a weekend!? You can keep my bike as a deposit!
Hmmm...midges. Are they that bad then?
This might be a showstopper...I get eaten alive by the barstewards...was going to take some mossie coils and weapons grade repellent, but if it's anything like "Monty Hall's Great Escape" where he was wearing a hat with a net I'm not going to go...end of. They'll drive me mad!
This might be a showstopper...I get eaten alive by the barstewards...was going to take some mossie coils and weapons grade repellent, but if it's anything like "Monty Hall's Great Escape" where he was wearing a hat with a net I'm not going to go...end of. They'll drive me mad!
Hard-Drive said:
Hmmm...midges. Are they that bad then?
This might be a showstopper...I get eaten alive by the barstewards...was going to take some mossie coils and weapons grade repellent, but if it's anything like "Monty Hall's Great Escape" where he was wearing a hat with a net I'm not going to go...end of. They'll drive me mad!
was up there last week and i cant say i notice the midges!This might be a showstopper...I get eaten alive by the barstewards...was going to take some mossie coils and weapons grade repellent, but if it's anything like "Monty Hall's Great Escape" where he was wearing a hat with a net I'm not going to go...end of. They'll drive me mad!
insanojackson said:
Hard-Drive said:
Hmmm...midges. Are they that bad then?
This might be a showstopper...I get eaten alive by the barstewards...was going to take some mossie coils and weapons grade repellent, but if it's anything like "Monty Hall's Great Escape" where he was wearing a hat with a net I'm not going to go...end of. They'll drive me mad!
was up there last week and i cant say i notice the midges!This might be a showstopper...I get eaten alive by the barstewards...was going to take some mossie coils and weapons grade repellent, but if it's anything like "Monty Hall's Great Escape" where he was wearing a hat with a net I'm not going to go...end of. They'll drive me mad!
No midges?! That's got to be a first for south-west Scotland. Not to put the OP off, but they can be pretty horrendous at times around Newton Stewart.
On a side note, I've just booked up for my annual autumn trip to the Dumfries area with 7 mates. We spend a long weekend twice a year riding as much as we can - some of them aren't as experienced so we stick to the trail centres. I'll be hitting Drumlanrig (not a 7 Stane but well worth the visit - rooty fun!)), Kirroughtree black, Dalbeattie, Mabie and if there's time might stop in at Ae (although that's my least favourite). 9-12 Oct, looking forward to it
On a side note, I've just booked up for my annual autumn trip to the Dumfries area with 7 mates. We spend a long weekend twice a year riding as much as we can - some of them aren't as experienced so we stick to the trail centres. I'll be hitting Drumlanrig (not a 7 Stane but well worth the visit - rooty fun!)), Kirroughtree black, Dalbeattie, Mabie and if there's time might stop in at Ae (although that's my least favourite). 9-12 Oct, looking forward to it
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