Glentress Forest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glentress Forest |
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Glentress Forest
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| Location | Tweed Valley, Scottish Borders |
| Governing body | Forestry and Land Scotland |
| Website | Glentress Forest |
Glentress Forest is a fantastic place near Peebles in the Scottish Borders, about 30 miles south of Edinburgh. It's part of the Tweed Valley Forest Park, which also includes Traquair Forest. Glentress is super famous for its amazing mountain biking centre! It's one of the special 7stanes mountain bike spots found across southern Scotland, all looked after by Forestry and Land Scotland.
Glentress Forest has five different mountain bike trails that are clearly marked, plus a cool freeride park. There are also historic cycle trails that are perfect for families and younger riders, letting you explore the forest and its past in a fun way. If you're looking for more of a challenge, there are blue, red, and black mountain bike routes for all skill levels. The red route is especially known for a super fast part with lots of curved corners called Spooky Woods. There's even a green trail, which is a "skills loop." It's great for beginners learning mountain biking, but it also has tricky rocky parts and raised wooden trails if you want to practice your moves!
Forest History
Glentress Forest was first planted in the 1920s. This happened because there wasn't enough wood in the country after the First World War. Some of the very first Douglas fir trees planted back then are still standing tall today!
People Who Helped Build Glentress
In the 1930s, many people didn't have jobs. To help them, some men worked hard in Glentress Forest. They cleared land, built tracks, and did other tough jobs. These men lived in a special work camp nearby at Eshiels. This camp was one of many "Instructional Centres" run by the government to help young men who had been out of work for a while. By 1939, fewer people were unemployed because of the upcoming war, so these work camps closed down.
Ancient History of the Area
If you explore Glentress, you can find remains of an Iron Age hill fort at the top of Janet's Brae. From here, you get an amazing view over the town of Peebles! Not far from there, you could once see a rebuilt timber round house, like the ones people lived in during the Iron Age. Sadly, it burned down in 2010.
