Route guides Traquair

How to get there:From Glasgow, head east along A8. Exit at Newhouse Roundabout. Take exit for Newmains. Head straight through Newmains until you come to Carluke. Then just follow the signposts for Peebles. Simple.When you get to Peebles, head straight through the High Street, Past the Hydro Hotel (on left). Past Glentress (If you can bring yourself to drive past Valhalla). Another 3 miles or so an you will arrive at Innerleithen. The trail starts at the bottom of the Red Bull Downhill course. Don't worry, you can't miss it. Loads of wee dudes with full face helmets and lots of bottle about. MULTIMAP

If you like lung-busting long climbs, bermed singletrack and hard technical rock riding then the Traquair XC Trail will bring a big smile to your face.

This is the newest part of the 7 stanes project, and I must say probably one of the best. The trail building techniques that have been applied to Glentress, Dalbeattie and Mabie seem to have helped develop a top quality trail.

The 19km ride starts and finishes at the world class Red Bull Project Downhill venue. Just set off from the Car park and follow the red way markers. There is no breaking in gently here, as you climb and twist immediately running parallel to the downhill course. Its climbing all the way as the trail meanders through the forest through some excellent technical singletrack. Eventually there is a little rest-bite with a quality little descent back down towards the fire road with a couple of interesting little jumps thrown in for good measure. Once you exit on to the fire road , there is a short climb on the fire road itself. This is just the calm before the storm. The trail veers off the left hand side of the fire road and you will then have to fight your way to the top of minch moor. The switchbacks up the side of the hill are a little soul destroying especially if the sun is out and trying to bake you alive. Having said this, it is not any worse than some of the climbing at Glentress.

When you eventually get out into the wilds of Minch Moor you’ll witness a great panoramic view of some great Scottish Borders scenery. This is a great spot to have lunch (if its dry)

And now the real action begins………….

All the effort is rewarded when you descend from the top of Minch moor, with the high-speed berms on the way down. However don’t be fooled into thinking that the climbing is done. As you get to the bottom of this section, you exit on to the Southern upland way. You will then realise that you have got to climb straight back up the moor only this time you don’t have the comfort of switchbacks to help the climb, it is STRAIGHT up. At the top of the climb, you may feel a little disheartened that you are only 50 yards from where you just had your lunch. Don’t get too upset though as this serves a dual purpose of both avoiding the walkers route and lining you up for one of the fastest descents we have come across.
As you drop down once again from the top of Minch moor, you will pick up speed like you will rarely experience. The super narrow singletrack drops down the side of the hill at a tremendous rate. A little word of advice- choose your line carefully as there are two trails running parallel down the side of the hill. I would not advise chopping and changing on the way down, as a crash at the sort of speeds you are achieving here will definitely hurt. As you approach the bottom of this section I guarantee that your adrenaline will be pumping especially as you immediately have a similar, if not trickier descent to follow.

You will then encounter some more excellent tight singletrack. As the adrenaline will still be pumping, this climb upm the fire road should not be a problem. As you climb back to the top, the trail opens out and you will approach a proper piece of downhill singletrack with some very tricky rocky sections to test your bottle. The berms leading into this section are absolutely fantastic and super quick. This section seems to last for an eternity as it weaves its way down the forest. Beware of the scary boulder field at the end, just as you aproach the forrest (This wrecked my helmet). Descending down through the forrest is also a joy with some nice litle rock steps to encounter.
You are then faced with the last climb back up the side of the hill. Do not worry too much about this climb, as the section that lies in store will certainly put a smile back on your face.

As quoted from the 7 Stanes website “The finish to the trail already has bikers talking. You’ll be able to tell that the trail has been designed by a XC rider and built by a downhiller” At the top of the 2km roller coaster ride down the steep Caddon Bank is a warning sign asking you to walk the trail before you attempt. Please take heed, as this is a very technical section. Some of the rock drop offs are 3-4 foot of a drop. This combined with some big hucks, a huge bombhole and the fastest berms you will ride in Scotland make this the most complete piece of technical singletrack in the impressive 7 stanes network. In the words of Wil-de-beest “You would pay a fiver for that ride at Alton Towers”

Overview.

Although not the longest jaunt out there, this is probably the most satisfying. It is an excellent addition to Scotland’s already excellent trail network. I would recommend this trail to serious riders only and certainly wouldn’t take the wife (unless you are looking for the insurance money) and kids. It is also guaranteed that as soon as you get to the bottom you will look for the quickest way back to the top to try again.

Full review and photos soon.