Innerleithen / Scottish trail centres - how difficult?

DXG82

Hi There

I am thinking of taking a trip to Scotland and just wanted some opinions on how difficult the trail centres (such as Glentress, Innerleithen and Forest of AE) are there, compared to say somewhere like Cannock Chase or Afan and whether they would be suitable for my level.

In terms of my level, I still consider myself a relative beginner. I have ridden at trail centres a few times (including Cannock (Follow the Dog and Monkey Trail), Afan, Thetford, Sherwood Pines) but I do still get nervous about more steep or technical stuff. To give you an idea of my standard I can ride Afan (The Wall and Whites Levels) without too much difficulty (there was just one place on Whites Levels where I had to get off because I was scared to go down a steep, wet rocky bit towards the end of the Energy section).

I have heard that Innerleithen in particular is quite difficult so I concerned that my riding might not be up to that standard.

Thanks

vmgscot

I assume you're meaning the XC at Inners?
In which case you will be fine and any of the 7Stanes you mentioned - nothing really scary. Inners has an 'interesting' rocky bit (marked as black). Glentress - nothing to worry about and Ae nothing much except a few drops-offs on final descent... not massive but you can carry some speed down there and get into a little squify moment (as I often tend to do).

You'll love it!

vmgscot

Oh, and if you get time after running Ae why not head to Drumlanrig Castle for something completely different... no massive climbs, just loads of sublime tight twisty wooded trails created by Rik 'the tight-twisty-wooded-trail-meister' ... the're my locals trails BTW

andrewyzfr6

If you want it easier then newcastleton ( part of the 7 stanes) is easier. But as said glen tress has everything and the correct ( well marked) routes are suitable for nearly anyone. Inners xc route is a bit tougher, but in my opinion due to length, but isn't difficult, but rewarding with a bit of climbing/ decending.
I've been to Cannock chase but it has been some years, and I think you will find similar things to keep you happy at glentress

Northwind

Glentress red can bite if you let it- easy to gain a lot of speed, and some sections like spooky woods have some jumps that aren't that easy to size up as you approach. So if you've got eyes bigger than your stomach you might find yourself up a tree, but if you've got a good head you'll probably be fine.

It's a very well judged red and it sounds like you should be OK. The blue route at GT is also excellent though so what to do is, go up the climb, then go up to the taster red section Pennel's Vennel. If you're not comfortable with it, don't worry- it kicks out onto the blue climb anyway so go up and do that instead. And once you've done all that, if you're feeling more comfortable take on the red- the blue ridden fast is harder than the red ridden cautiously.


Innerleithen has a weird reputation, in reality it's a little harder than glentress's red but all the particularily hard/intimidating features have chicken runs. The first time I went I pushed a couple of bits but then, I was utterly rubbish. Personally I think it's a bit overrated- there's some great stuff on the xc route but there's not a huge amount of it, and it's a little samey. But still good. The black is possibly going to be harder than you're comfortable with but it's straight off the red so you can go and have a look at the first feature and at worst push back up to the red, takes 2 minutes.

Oh and VMG is spot on, Drumlanrig is superb... Though, I think you might find the black sections spazz you out a little, they're fairly challenging but also very different to the average trail centre. Rik is a genius tbh.

Hawmaw

Northwind wrote:

Drumlanrig is superb... Though, I think you might find the black sections spazz you out a little, they're fairly challenging but also very different to the average trail centre. Rik is a genius tbh.

Aye , Drum is excellent but there's a couple of bits on the black that I just look at and wonder ! Then I get off and push/carry