Up Hill and Down Glen – Mountain Biking In Scotland

In days gone by mountain biking was a bit of a niche market, consisting mainly of bearded men in technical trousers huffing their way up hills on large, heavy bikes. Thankfully, the sport has come of age and is increasingly being recognised as a fun way to get fit and head into the hills – no beard necessary. Even if the last time you sat on a bike it came complete with stabilisers and assurances/lies from your Dad that he was still holding on to the back, it’s not too late to saddle up and see what all the fuss is about.

Mountain biking is currently the fastest growing sport in Scotland, and this rise in popularity has spawned an entire industry dedicated to making it as easy as possible for you to get on a bike. Trail centres are the best place to get a feel for the sport – they are essentially ski resorts for bikes. You can hire the equipment, book in for a lesson and then brag about it with your mates over coffee later. Routes are graded from green (your Gran could do it) through to black (really, really hard) so you know what you’re letting yourself in for.

Glentress, near Peebles in the Scottish Borders, is the country’s most popular centre. Having just undergone an £8m makeover, it now boasts everything you could possibly need to enjoy a day out on the bike. There are a number of guiding and coaching companies that operate from the centre, and for those travelling from Edinburgh, there’s even Bike Bus Glentress – a dedicated bus service that will take you and your bike straight to the action.

Andy Barlow is a coach with Dirt School, who offer lessons at Glentress. He said: “What’s so great about Glentress is you’re only 20 miles out of Edinburgh but you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. It doesn’t matter if you go with a group of mates who are all at a different levels, as there are routes to suit all abilities.”

Cathkin Braes is the latest addition to the Scottish mountain biking scene, and lies just six miles from Glasgow city centre. This purpose built facility was created to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games cross-country course, but it is already open to the public. Rab Wardell is a professional cyclist for Trek and Alpine Bikes, based in Glasgow.

“Cathkin Braes is a great place to try mountain biking for the first time. The 5km track has everything you need to develop skills and fitness and is convenient for most of the central belt. The trails have been well built to withstand the Scottish weather and each ‘technical trail’ feature has multiple lines, offering options for beginners or to challenge experienced riders. The location also offers a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city, as well as fantastic views across Glasgow to the Campsies, Clyde Valley and Ben Lomond.”

And if actually getting on a bike and riding it seems too much like hard work, cycling events are a great way to dip your toe in the pool of cycling culture without breaking a sweat. June sees the launch of the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling, a ten day celebration of everything two-wheeled. Taking place from 15-23 June, events will happen across the city and many of them are free. Highlights include the talk Bicycle Culture by Design from the founder of Cycle Chic, Mikael Colville-Anderson at the Assembly Hall on 15 June, alongside an exhibition of his photography at The Hub.

This month also sees the return of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup to Fort William. Over the weekend of 8-9 June, 300 of the world’s top downhill mountain bikers will descend on the town to kick start the world series tour. With speeds of up to 55km/h and 45ft jumps, it’s no wonder the event attracts crowds of up to 15,000 each year. And the best part? Only professionals are allowed to take part, so you can sit back with a cold beer and watch the action unfold without so much as having to turn a pedal.