7stanes facts for kids
The 7stanes are seven awesome places in southern Scotland where you can go mountain biking. These special spots stretch from the Scottish Borders all the way to Dumfries and Galloway. They are located in forests managed by Forestry and Land Scotland. Each place is called a 'stane' (which means 'stone' in Scots) because there's a unique stone sculpture by artist Gordon Young hidden on the trails at each centre.
Understanding Trail Grades
When you go mountain biking at the 7stanes, trails are given different colours to show how hard they are. This helps you pick the right path for your skills!
- Green - Easy: These trails are perfect for beginners. They are smooth and not too steep.
- Blue - Moderate: These trails are a bit more challenging. They might have narrow paths (called singletrack) and small obstacles. You should have some basic off-road biking skills for these.
- Red - Difficult: Get ready for more adventure! These trails are mostly narrow paths with many obstacles like roots and rocks. They are best for experienced mountain bikers.
- Black - Severe: These are super tough trails, similar to red ones but with even bigger obstacles and very challenging areas. Only expert riders should try these.
- Bike Park (Orange) - Extreme: These are the most challenging trails! They often include downhill sections and big jumps you can't avoid. These are only for expert riders who love extreme biking.
- Forest Roads: These are wider paths, not usually part of the main mountain biking trails. Their difficulty can change a lot.
Exploring the 7stanes Sites
Each of the seven 7stanes locations offers unique trails and features for mountain bikers.
Ae Forest: Fast and Fun Trails
Forest of Ae is about 14 kilometres north of Dumfries. It has a red-grade trail with parts that can be ridden as black-grade for extra challenge. There are also two super-fast 'bike park-extreme' downhill routes. If you're just starting out, Ae also has green and blue trails that are easier to ride.
Dalbeattie: Rocky Adventures
Dalbeattie is known for its rocky trails. You can find green and blue trails here, which are great for different skill levels. There's also a red-grade trail with optional black-grade sections. One famous part is The Slab, a very steep granite rock that's a real test for riders!
Glentress and Innerleithen: Two Great Parks
These two sites are close to Peebles in the Scottish Borders. They are among the best mountain biking spots in the UK.
Glentress: All-Round Fun
Glentress has fantastic facilities like a cafe, a bike hire shop, and showers. It offers trails for everyone: green, blue, red, and black routes. There's also a skills loop, which is a green-graded area perfect for learning new tricks. The Freeride Park is an 'extreme' bike park with lots of tough features for experienced riders.
Innerleithen: Downhill Thrills
Just a few miles from Glentress, Innerleithen has a red-graded cross-country trail with black-graded options. It also features a 'bike park-extreme' downhill area. This area is very challenging, and it's recommended that riders wear body armour and a full-face helmet for safety. Innerleithen also has a cafe and a bike shop.
Glentrool: Scenic Road Routes
Glentrool is located in Galloway. It has a long 58-kilometre route that is entirely on roads, which is unique among the 7stanes. There's also a 9-kilometre blue-graded route and two green-graded routes (6 kilometres and 14 kilometres long).
Kirroughtree: Award-Winning Trails
Kirroughtree is near Newton Stewart. It offers green, blue, red, and black trails, plus a special area to practice your mountain biking skills. In 2010, its trails won the MBR Trail of the Year award! Kirroughtree is also located within a Dark Sky Park, which means it's a great place to see stars at night. There's a bike shop right at the start of the trail that offers bike hire.
Mabie: Trails Near Dumfries
Mabie, Dumfries and Galloway is about 6.5 kilometres south of Dumfries. It has green, blue, and red trails. You can also find a mini-cross track and a skills area just off the main forest road.
Newcastleton: Border Adventures
Newcastleton is located very close to the border between Scotland and England. This area has a green skills loop for practicing, two blue-graded routes, and a red-graded route for more experienced riders.
