Kielder Forest trails - advice

vmgscot
vmgscot Posts: 120
edited September 2010 in Routes
Hi

Thinking of trying Kielder one day this weekend for first time and would welcome some advice on what trails or combos/shortcuts to take for a first ride there.

As a guide, I would say we are 'average' fitness and skills with our local trails being the likes of Drumlanrig (black), Ae (Red) ... in fact any 7 stanes are regular haunts and happy on stuff like Glentress red and black, etc but not full on DH or freeride.

Any advice appreciated to make the most of the trip.
Cheers
vmgscot

Comments

  • MickTup
    MickTup Posts: 159
    If you’re comfortable with the stanes and done the Black at Gelntress then you should be fine with Kielder. We did the Deadwater which is fine apart from the slog up Deadwater fell a long fire road climb. After that the Lonesome Pine on the other side of the rez which I preferred is also good both have plenty of climbing.
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    The deadwater black has some pretty big features but it's all doable. It's worth doing both the red and black descents IMO but I thought the final fireroad climb was a total waste of effort for a FIREROAD BASTARD DESCENT AARGH right back to where you started. Albeit a very loose and interesting fire road descent but what a waste of altitude. Won't ride that again if I can avoid it.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • medtheshed
    medtheshed Posts: 9
    I was at Kielder in June and did the deadwater missing out the slog to the top followed by the cross border trail to Newcastleton. Because we were planning a long day we used a fireroad climb to cut the corner on the lonesome pine - you just head almost straight up to skyspace on a easyish fireroad climb and then go left and join the LP at the stairway to heaven. This way you can get onto the bloody bush trail.

    Kielder is certainly a lot quieter than any of the 7 stanes. The day I was there I only saw 6 people out on the trails in the whole day and we were out for over 8 hours.

    If you are used to glentress etc you might find the trails a bit tame.
  • vmgscot
    vmgscot Posts: 120
    Thanks for the comments.

    Had a crack at the Deadwater trail first and wished I had understood your comments on the fireroad loop...bit of a waste of altitude....that rough jeep track straight down took me back to my 80's DH!

    Enjoyed rest of Deadwater and then tried the Lonesome Pine over the road. Really enyoyed the last descent from the Skyspace but bit of a long boring ride to get up there.

    Lets hope there is some investment at some point in bringing more singletrack to the routes as I liked the centre and the area there.
    vmgscot

Categories