Dalbeattie vs Mabie vs Ae vs Dunlanrig

turnercraig

We are starting to plan our yearly weekend trip to Scotland.

When we went last year we did Kirroughtree and thought it was amazing so will be doing that on the Saturday again for sure, we just need to figure out which centre to go to on the Sunday.

We contemplated Glentress but have decided it is too far north from Kirroughtree, so we are going to stick to Dalbeattie, Mabie, Ae or Dunlanrig.

It will be a fairly large group with different abilities and skill level, so it can't be too tough (especially with a hangover!).

Which one would you do and why?

Tel39

I was staying just north of Dalbeattie a couple of weeks ago, amazing weather then too!
And did the four centres close by, Kirro, Ae, Mabie and Dalbeattie. For me the best one out of the lot was Ae, I'm no expert and had previously only done Coed y Brenin before but it just seemed to flow more than the others.
My fitness and skill level are pretty average I think so it was really good to push myself at
the trail centres and see what I was capable of and bar the odd 'scary' moment I thought
I did quite well.
So for me it would be Ae, even just for the 'Omega man' section at the end, have to say it left me with a huge grin and that exhilarated feeling you get when you just think wow did
I just do that!!
There are fire roads like at all the centres and some people dont like them much but i see them as a chance to get my breath back, not being very fit and all! If you can cope with
big big berms, biggish jumps and a really flowing trail then its Ae hands down for me but
others may/will differ.

Hope that helps a bit anyway

turnercraig

Thanks for that, sounds like everyone in our group would enjoy Ae, and I've heard of Omega Man being good fun.

How did you get on with the 'chute' at Kirroughtree and the 'slab' at Dalbeattie?

Tel39

Was 'the chute' part of Mcmoab? If so, to be honest i found Mcmoab a bit too techy for me and ended up walking most of it, plus i was knackered :oops: thought i was going
to die at the top of 'heartbreak hill' after that lol saying that i did enjoy Kirro, first time too on a black
run, really had to concentrate on the 'black craig' section, a real challenge for me.
At Dalbeattie I chickened out of 'the qualifier' but managed to do 'the slab' work that one out!! Scared me ****less though to be honest lol
How did you get on at Kirro and have you done Dalbeattie?

turnercraig

Ye Mcmoab is really tough, a test of nerves too!

The chute is at the end of mcmoab and is basically a really steep section of rock you go down, it starts nearlly vertical and then flatens out (slightly).

I managed it after plucking up the courage!

I haven't done Dalbeattie yet but have seen loads of pics and vids of the slab, well done for doing it!

Tel39

Yeah remember 'the chute' now and no i passed on that one, i think its the skull and
crossbones on the trail marker that put me off lol nice one for doing it though fella

The Slab is weird, like you had seen the pics and vids before I went but until your actually standing at
the top :shock:

I did that on the Sunday so it was quite busy and there was a queue, and an audience!!
Not good for the nerves!! Waited with 3 geordie lads til it quietened down and then just sort of went for it, after saying a little prayer

Am definitely going back to that part of the world soon though, stunning scenery as well

trailpuppet

What tel says.
Some people find Ae a bit on the rough side due to the way it was constructed, a lot less/next to no surfacing, just as dug.

Mabie is a bit shorter than Ae and maybe a bit more "all rider types" friendlier than Ae.
Mabie has a cafe that Dalbeattie has`nt.

Ae on the other hand has a cafe and shower facilities which would be handy if you fancied one. Marys homemade soup is ace
You can also cut through some back roads to the M75/M6 via Lockerbie.

Dalbeattie/Mabie/Ae..not much to choose really. Want a challenge Dalbeattie or Ae. Want an easy pootle, a good burger roll then Mabie. Ask Jemma for a shed burger!!!!!!

Take a map, shortcuts available on all routes for those who have "enjoyed" themselves the night before!!!!

If you fancy Mabie and a tour of the locals trails then give me a shout.

You are correct about GT = 2.1/2hr drive from Kirry. Waste of a day!!!

Drum is another 1/2-3/4hr drive from Dumfries.

btw it`s Drumlanrigg

http://www.bikingheaven.co.uk/

http://www.drumlanrig.com/pages/content.asp?PageID=144

http://www.ae7.co.uk/page4.htm soon to be Trek dealer.

http://www.cdcycles.co.uk/

http://www.thebreakpad.com/

turnercraig

Tel39 wrote:

Yeah remember 'the chute' now and no i passed on that one, i think its the skull and
crossbones on the trail marker that put me off lol nice one for doing it though fella

The Slab is weird, like you had seen the pics and vids before I went but until your actually standing at
the top :shock:

I did that on the Sunday so it was quite busy and there was a queue, and an audience!!
Not good for the nerves!! Waited with 3 geordie lads til it quietened down and then just sort of went for it, after saying a little prayer

Am definitely going back to that part of the world soon though, stunning scenery as well

Everything is harder with an audience, I agree! I was the last one to go down and had 6 of my mates at the bottom shouting come on and making chicken noises, I have some great mates.

Ye I can't wait to go back neither, top place for riding!

turnercraig

trailpuppet wrote:

What tel says.
Some people find Ae a bit on the rough side due to the way it was constructed, a lot less/next to no surfacing, just as dug.

Mabie is a bit shorter than Ae and maybe a bit more "all rider types" friendlier than Ae.
Mabie has a cafe that Dalbeattie has`nt.

Ae on the other hand has a cafe and shower facilities which would be handy if you fancied one. Marys homemade soup is ace
You can also cut through some back roads to the M75/M6 via Lockerbie.

Dalbeattie/Mabie/Ae..not much to choose really. Want a challenge Dalbeattie or Ae. Want an easy pootle, a good burger roll then Mabie. Ask Jemma for a shed burger!!!!!!

Take a map, shortcuts available on all routes for those who have "enjoyed" themselves the night before!!!!

If you fancy Mabie and a tour of the locals trails then give me a shout.

You are correct about GT = 2.1/2hr drive from Kirry. Waste of a day!!!

Drum is another 1/2-3/4hr drive from Dumfries.

btw it`s Drumlanrigg

http://www.bikingheaven.co.uk/

http://www.drumlanrig.com/pages/content.asp?PageID=144

http://www.ae7.co.uk/page4.htm soon to be Trek dealer.

http://www.cdcycles.co.uk/

http://www.thebreakpad.com/

Thanks for all the help and info that's great My brother who's coming up from London needs to hire a bike actually so the links will come in usefull.

it is highly likely that a number of us will have 'enjoyed' ourselves the night before so shorcuts is a good call!

I think Drumlanrigg (sorry about the spelling) is out of the picture which just leaves Ae, Dalbeattie and Mabie.

I think Ae sounds good, Is it really rough? There will be a few in the group with hardtails, is it ok for them? we are used to the rough though riding regularly in Wales, Coed Y brenin etc.

Dalbeattie would be good too, would like to give the slab a go.

Mabie sounds like it would suit a group of hungover riders quite well.

I just need to ask the other guys what they think, I'm thinking Ae at the moment, so will see what they say.

trailpuppet

hardtails are good. If your tough enough rigid single speed is good!!!!

have just pensioned off my old Bonty(14/15yrs old) Mate rode it last week on a VERY old Peugoet Python rigid ht and had a rather comical discussion with some "younger" riders re the his personal safety!!!!! hehehehe!!!!!

Hire bikes at Ae are Specialised Hardrocks with cable discs and can handle the trail nae bother. May have some Treks in near future.

Mabie has some rather nice Genesis atm.

Just ride to your and your bikes ability and be safe.

Riders of "average fitness" can take around 3hrs for Dalbeattie, 2hrs for Mabie and 3hrs for Ae(can verify that on Mon)

Where are you staying/eating/drinking?

lucieandpaul

Id vote for Mabie. Some of the best scenery you will ever see is in Dumfries and Galloway.

You can ride the Red route in 2 hours with ease, and everyone will love it.

I ride the trails every weekend, and Mabie is without doubt my favourite and offers something for everyone.

It has a cracking cafe, and the bike shop G&G Cycles in Dumfries have the Shed at Mabie also, and Rachel is a cracking mechanic if you have any niggles etc.

If you are looking for somewhere that has loads of accomodation and is private for your own party, then check out

http://www.7stanes.com/cree-cottages-i601824.html

or http://www.cree-cottage.co.uk/

They have accomodation for up to 15 people and are Cyclists Welcome Affiliated and 4 star.

They are on doorstep of Glentrool and Kirroughtree,

trailpuppet

you riding tomorrow am lucieandpaul?

Ae Monday @ 9.30?

Mabie Tues @ 4.15?

Northwind

Drumlanrig is very good... Not very trailcentrey, it's more like natural trails turned up to 11 (though it's all built). But the red is a little short IMO and the black is proper black in places, so it's not really an ideal place for a mixed skills group I think. Lovely place to visit though, well worth the trip, but there might be better for you.