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Why is the Tweed Valley a must visit destination?

The Tweed Valley is a world class destination, renowned for the quality, design, and the sheer number of dedicated and varied mountain bike trails but also the passion for the sport that winds through every fibre of the Valley. If you have visited previously, come back, there is always something new to ride and a new adventure to be had.

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Tweed Valley Highlights

Glentress

Born out of the passion of the folks that built the initial incarnation of the trail centre it has grown to be loved by many. The jewel in the crown of the Forestry and Land Scotland managed trail centres - it is the busiest trail centre in the UK. Now with a whole hillside of new flow trails, it's busier than ever!

With miles upon miles of purpose-built man-made trails, weaving their way through stunning forests. And many more of natural trails scattered throughout the forest (easily found with TrailForks), you will never be short of trail choices-no matter how many times you visit.

Throw in a trailhead featuring a cafe (reopening soon under new management), the excellent Alpine Bikes Shop that offers everything you need for your ride including the hire of bikes and e-bikes, huge new parking capacity and bike washes and a wild life hub it really has all you and the family need for a fantastic day out.

Accommodation at Glentress

If you want to stay at the heart of the action, there are three options for you to enjoy every minute of your break and never leave the forest!

Recently opened in November 2024, Forest Holidays UK has provided a unique accommodation offering with 56 log cabins located in and around the Buzzards Nest area. The cabins are stunning and all have hot tubs! Roll out of your cabin and straight on to the trails.

At the foot of the trail network lies Glentress Forest Lodges, offering camping and glamping for all. An extensive site, Glentress Forest Lodge Pods are the ultimate choice for those seeking a blend of comfort and affordability in their camping experience. The site also provides camping and motorhome pitches, some of which come with electric hook ups and a recent introduction of Bell tents for those seeking a more luxurious camping experience

Riders Retreat Tweed Valley based at the entrance to Glentress, is a superb place to enjoy amazing food, local beers while you chat over your day on the trails. Accommodation is also provided here. With secure bike storage and bike wash, it really is a 'Riders Retreat'!

There is a fantastic selection of hotels right across the Tweed Valley. Please consider booking with Expedia through this link and 5% of your booking will go to the Tweed Valley Trails Association to help them maintain and develop the trail network you will be riding during your stay.

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Bottom section of trails, the Peel Tower, Alpine Bikes and the Glentress Cafe, captured by Ian Linton Photography

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Innerleithen

Situated just a few miles from Glentress easily accessed by the multi use path, Innerleithen is suited to the more experienced rider. The DH trails littering the hill, are regarded as some of the best in the UK and beyond. The challenging XC route is not for the faint-hearted either! It includes a leg-burning climb with awesome views at the top a reward for your efforts. And, if you know where to look, you'll find some of the best natural hand-built trails you'll ever be lucky enough to ride. Trail Forks will be your friend here! See link below in 'Inspiration for Your Visit'.

The trails drop steeply through the forest from the summit of Plora Rig back to the base where you can hit the trails again and again if you have booked a space with the onsite uplift service, Adrenalin Uplift. Pre booking always recommended.

Pre or post-ride you'll want to visit the small town of Innerleithen as it is a hub of mountain bike businesses. With bike shops offering hire bikes, guided rides and tuition as well as kit and servicing. Alongside several bike friendly places to eat, many with beer gardens, awesome, welcoming vibes, great hotels and restaurants for your post ride fuel, it is most definitely worth a visit.

Innerleithen Accommodation

If you have a self contained motorhome, you can park up and stay over at the Innerleithen trail head car park, as part of the Forestry and Land Scotland 'Stay The Night' scheme.

Cleikum Mill Lodge is cosy, practical and modernised self catering accommodation. The whole building can be booked as holiday let sleeping 10, or just book an apartment to suit your group size. With internal bike storage, drying room and e bike charging, its a great option for your stay.

Room In The Borders is a family-owned business dedicated to providing home from home accommodation in premium serviced rooms and apartments for business and leisure visits to the Scottish Borders. With secure bike storage it too is a great place to stay in Innerleithen.

Tweed Valley Pods are named after favourite Innerleithen mountain bike trails, with stunning views across the Tweed Valley they contain everything you need for a comfortable stay. With secure bike storage and bike wash facilities and very MTB savvy owners, its a belter of an option for your trip.

For more accommodation offerings in the Innerleithen area - see accommodation section below.

There is a fantastic selection of hotels right across the Tweed Valley. Please consider booking with Expedia through this link and 5% of your booking will go to the Tweed Valley Trails Association to help them maintain and develop the trail network you will be riding during your stay.

Just a wee thing....

Innerleithen is a small, friendly and accommodating town, that is in peak periods, exceptionally busy with visiting mountain bikers who have travelled some distance to be there. Which is awesome to see. We know that the vast majority of mountain bikers are extremely respectful and wouldn't dream of riding along pavements, however, at times, this is the main complaint from residents of the town.

Please call it out if you see riders doing this. Its not necessary, is dangerous and has a derogatory affect on the image of mountain bikers. Thank you.

Innerleithen
Tweed Valley 7 Credit DM Bin S and Scotty Laughland
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Innerleithen / Walkerburn – Caberston Forest (AKA The Golfie)

On the north side of town is Caberston Forest, the legendary off-piste trails found here are aimed at very experienced riders. These world class enduro trails that are frequently raced at national level are not for the faint hearted and we'd recommend checking them out on Trail Forks before riding to see which trails best suit your level of riding. They are all graded and the qualifier, is the legendary NYNY. You'd be wise to hit this first, but don't miss out on the newly reimagined, Flat White, its an absolute belter!

The Tweed Valley Trails Association have partnered with Forestry and Land Scotland to take on stewardship of these trails, and a few more in the forest. Our Marc works closely with the TVTA and together they lead dig days, that anyone can join, regularly through the year giving locals and visitors alike a chance to learn how the trails are built and maintained in the area and get that feel good feeling from getting stuck in to a dig day!

Walkerburn is also worth a visit, with a few pretty special trails dropping into this small village. It is also on the multi use path route, with a great and very welcoming cafe with a lovely courtyard, with Bosch ebike charging station and the village now has a brand new pump track!

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Yair Forest, Cademuir Forest and Peebles and Other Natural Trails

The Southern Upland way links Yair Forest to Innerleithen and offers bike-friendly ridge top riding. It is a classic ride and links into the many technical off-piste and wild trails hidden within Yair forest that many riders might remember from the infamous Selkirk mountain bike marathon events.

Other forests to explore by bike include Cademuir near Peebles that is a local riding spot, that offers short, punchy trails for those staying in the town. If you are looking for a more remote adventure Gypsy Glen is the local classic MTB ride has to be a must-do if you are visiting the area. It offers great ridge top riding straight into Peebles. Best left for drier weather, this natural ride takes you out into remote hills giving a real feeling of space, and adventure. The descent is an absolute epic, long, with stunning views, especially when ridden on a clear day (golden hour is a favourite) and follows part of an ancient cross borders drove road.

Peebles is a lovely town to visit with many opportunities for great food (new Steak House Asado Gaucho is a must visit ), awesome coffee (check out The Milkman), great cocktails, a decent pint if that be your choice, and again is on the multi use path that links all the Valley key riding spots.

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Tweed Valley Gravel and Family Adventures

The Tweed Valley has endless miles of gravel trails and all the main Tweed Valley Forest Parks can be linked up to form an epic gravel ride. The options are truly endless but a locals favourite takes in the Bowbeat Windfarm tracks near Glentress which offers views as far as the Forth of Firth and even Edinburgh’s Arthurs Seat.

The potential for a great family adventure is also very high in the valley. With the multi use path linking towns with great cafes and experiences.

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Inspiration for your Tweed Valley Trip

To minimise our environmental impact we are promoting riders to visit our key destinations and stay for as long as possible.

We hope that riders will consider their impact - travel as sustainably as they can, eat and drink local, give back to the trails they ride, and ride responsibly - considering their impact on other users, mountain rescue teams, landowners/managers, and the environment.

For for further local knowledge, information and great advice look no further than this one-stop shop, GO TWEED VALLEY.

Train: You can access the Tweed Valley Forest Park via the ScotRail service to Edinburgh. Trains have limited availability for bike storage and we recommend (attempting) book your bike onto the train in advance of travelling. If you are unable to book your bike on the train, and although it is not guaranteed, we do find the train guard's and staff generally take a reasonable approach to taking your bike on a train. If there is no space then please be polite and considerate towards all staff (we know you will but just in case). You can then hop onto one of the bike busses and head to the trails!

Bus: There are frequent bike busses (X62) that run from Edinburgh to the Tweed Valley, further information can be found at Borders Buses.

Car: We recognise that a car, or van, is a really flexible and handy option for mountain biking trips, however, when possible we would recommend sharing lifts and minimising any unnecessary journeys. Where possible, park up and ride from your accommodation.

Hotels: There is a fantastic selection of hotels in the Tweed Valley. Please consider booking with Expedia through this link and 5% of your booking will go to the Tweed Valley Trails Association to help them maintain and develop the trail network you will be riding during your stay.

Self-catering: There are plenty of self-catering options too. So if you are looking for a quiet secluded getaway for two or a large property for a gathering of friends - check out our friends at Go Tweed Valley for some fantastic options.

Camping and Bunkhouses: The Valley has many accommodation options to suit all budgets and need for adventure. Check out Go Tweed Valley for a great rundown of all that is on offer.

You may also, under Scottish Outdoor Access Code, choose to 'wild' camp - especially if you want a bikepacking adventure. Please be aware that you only have this right if you are a responsible camper - click away for more details on what that means in practice from our friends at Nature Scot.

Stay for the night. A Forestry and Land Scotland initiative that allows self contained motor homes to park up and stay over, for one night, in one of their forest car parks. Innerleithen Trail Head car park is such a destination. Ride, refuel, sleep repeat!

The incredible network of trails across the Tweed Valley are managed and maintained by many different landowners. The trails of Glentress and Innerleithen are maintained by Forestry and Land Scotland and the volunteer group Glentress Trailfaries, and there are a growing number of natural, enduro trails across the valley that have now been adopted by the Tweed Valley Trails Association.

Food: The entire Tweed Valley has a variety of excellent local suppliers and taste experiences from first-class baristas and chocolatiers, award-wining butchers and exquisite dining options that jostle between bike-friendly cafes and bars, pie shops great coffee and gastro pubs.

Drink: The Tweed Valley is full of microbreweries producing delicious craft beers. The oldest of which is the Traquair Brewery, dating back to the 1700's! The relative newcomers to the scene being, Freewheelin Brewery, Tempest Brewery and Durty Brewing. There are also artisan gin distilleries,1881 at Peebles Hydro and Meldon, by Tweed Valley Distilling Co. Be sure to sample in local bars and restaurants - Scotland has amazing local produce that should be sampled and enjoyed (responsibly of course).

The Tweed Valley Forest Park is a haven for all outdoor enthusiasts, and many routes are not specific bike trails so are shared by others, so bear this in mind - be prepared to share the experience with others you meet whether they be hillwalkers, climbers, dog walkers, horse riders or families. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code gives us great access to the outdoors in Scotland if we do so, responsibly.

Check out our Do The Ride Thing Guidance for more advice on this.

Trail Maps & Apps For Destination

To help you plan your visit to the Tweed Valley we have collated the official trail centre maps and rider-driven apps which can help you discover the best trails across the area.

Rider populated apps are a great way to discover new trails however they may not be up to date with trail conditions and we recommend doing further research before you ride.

Please ride responsibly on all trails - follow our Do The Ride Thing guidance.

Short Tweed Valley Films to inspire further!

Explore other our other destination guides and start planning your Scottish MTB holiday!

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