Tweed Valley Itinerary Title
Glentress, The Golfie & Innerleithen MTB – Introduction
With over 230kms of trail in the Tweed valley to ride, the choice can be a bit overwhelming and searching out the best routes can take many trips and hours of planning. This is where CycleActive comes in as we have carried out the homework for you, so you simply get to turn up and ride the best the valley has to offer, all within your skill grade.
To say this area has it all is an understatement. Fast, jumpy flow trails, big mountain feel natural routes and tight technical hand cut trails sculpted by the locals are all within a pedal from the town centre.
After being on your bike for the day, there is nothing more in demand than great food and drink. Innerleithen has a great choice on its truly independent high street (no big chains here), so you can relax and refuel for the following day.
Usual daily distances:
Total height gain
20 - 40 km
800 - 1000m
Terrain:
This tour highlights the varied trail options that make the Tweed Valley an MTB mecca. Fast flowing, bermed, jump trails are in abundance at Glentress and then tight twisty, steeper trails are available at the Golfie.
All obstacles can be rolled, but good speed management and weight shift is a must. 140mm-160mm, full suspension, trail bikes are ideal, with or without Electric assistance.
Open face trail helmets are suitable for all days, but with the Golfie climb being none technical, a full face helmet can be used for that day if you wish.
Ride Description
Day 1 - Arrival
Thursday
Innerleithen is a charming town nestled on the banks of the River Tweed, just an hour south of Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh. Its vibrant high street is lined with independent shops and cafés, creating a strong sense of community pride and local ownership.
Day 1 is our arrival day, where you can check in to the accommodation at a time that suits you. Don’t worry—there are three bike shops in town for any last-minute purchases.
Guest house location: Innerleithen
Meals Included: None
Cycling: 0 km
Ascent: 0 m
Day 2 - An Epic Day at Glentress Bike Centre
Friday
After a full Scottish breakfast, we roll gently down to Glentress, one of the original 7 Stanes MTB centres, where your guide will introduce you to the plethora of freshly revamped fast flowing trails, all with their own character. Weaving about on the hillside above Peebles you will ride a combination of the fast blues and mellow, jumpy red trails that Glentress is renowned for.
Riding these trails is thirsty work, so the day will finish up at Innerleithen’s own microbrewery to sample the latest batch.
Guest house location: Innerleithen
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cycling: 40km
Ascent: 800 -1000m
Day 3 - Innerleithen Gypsy Glen Loop
Saturday
The Tweed Valley not only has marked MTB trails, but thanks to Scotland’s very accommodating access laws, there are some amazing natural trails to explore
In the morning, we'll set out to ride the Gypsy Glen loop, known for its sweeping panoramic views and fast, twisty singletrack descent.
After lunch, we cherry-pick the finest descents from the many that the hill behind Innerleithen has to offer.
Guest house location: Innerleithen
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cycling: 32 km
Ascent: 800 -1000m
Day 4 - Conquering The Golfie
Sunday
It would be very rude to ride in the Tweed Valley and not sample the ‘Golfie’s’ hand-cut trail network, so today we point our wheels down some of the world-class enduro trails that overlook the town’s golf course.
These steeper trails round off the weekend’s riding, perfectly complementing the fast and flowy trails of day one and the natural terrain of day two. We plan to wrap up a little earlier today, with a relaxed late lunch in town before you begin your journey home.
Guest house location: None
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cycling: 15 km
Ascent: 700 m