As I was riding a 26" wheeled full susser with dropper post this might not be niche enough for here but here goes any way. Last weekend I went up to Glentress for a reunion weekend with a group of friends I used to ride with a lot. It was a rare opportunity for us to all to be together again as one of the guys is now living back in Canada and was over with work in Edinburgh. First time riding in Scotland and it certainly didn't disappoint, a great time was had by all. Here's a few pics with a larger gallery here: http://www.composite-projects.co.uk/201 ... b-reunion/

Looks vaguely exciting.
I really want to get up to Scotland for some riding.

The cannabis plants in the foreground of that last shot look nearly ready for harvest

Cheeky Monkey wrote:The cannabis plants in the foreground of that last shot look nearly ready for harvest

We do of course have the perfect climate up here in Scotland to be able to produce such a fine crop .

I've done red and black at glentress now, I think the red is better, you can get flow on it, black is just crashing over rocks. That said last time I was doing the black route, my mate had snapped a spoke, and then another one, so we switched to red at the end. The art of flow was able to be used, rather than the art of picking and crashing over big things.

all IMHO.

Of my infrequent visits to Scotland and that "side" of the Stanes I prefer the XC at Innerlethin. The climb's a bit of a stinker, at the start and out of the trees and to the trig on Minch Moor, but the descent was a blast.

I find Glentress a bit mleh, but thousands of others don't so maybe it's just me.

On the West side I've really enjoyed riding Mabie, Dalbeattie and Kirroughtree. TBH, any ride is better than none

I really enjoyed kirroughtree, it had a bit of everything on a nice loop


Kirroughtree (2013) by zippyonline, on Flickr

Now, when I did that black out to "McMoab" I thought it was a dull fireroad slog and the rocks themselves offered pretty poor riding. This was a few years ago and I've since been back and thoroughly enjoyed the black / red / blue variations that go about halfway out.

To be fair on the return after that utterly awful sharp climb I pinch flatted several times and was crackered so mebe it was me (again)

Kirroughtree's had the (inevitable?) trail head / centre treatment with swanky cafe building and lots of landscaping as of this Easter.