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Appendices

Appendix A Bike shops and mechanics

Appendix B Other useful contacts

ROUTE SUMMARY TABLE

Climbing Minch Moor with the hills of the Ettrick Forest in the background (Route 9)

INTRODUCTION

Mountain biking in southern and central Scotland

Year-round mud on Broomy Law, Ettrick Forest (Route 9)

The hills, glens and forests of southern and central Scotland are home to some of the world’s best mountain biking trail centres, including the famous 7stanes in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders. The region’s rolling hill country is also criss-crossed by an extensive network of minor roads, estate tracks and other trails, providing huge scope for ‘free-range’ cross-country mountain biking.

The Central Belt is the most densely populated area of Scotland and the hills rising above the Forth and Clyde valleys are popular with mountain bikers, horse riders and walkers. Although much less densely populated, the country to the south of the Central Belt is a magnet for mountain bikers from all over southern Scotland and beyond. This is partly because of the proximity of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the good road and rail links to the area, but it is also largely due to the quality and variety of trails here, including the 7stanes trail centres, which make the area a real mountain biker’s adventure playground.