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its a long time since i went to Glentress, however, this weekend I thought i'd take my 3yo, but I cant find a map to download anywhere, (but I can buy one for £2 )
This is giving me the impression its going to be rip-off central. Am I being paranoid, and anybody got a current pdf (of the green routes)
cheers
This is giving me the impression its going to be rip-off central. Am I being paranoid, and anybody got a current pdf (of the green routes)
cheers
1
In reply to Seocan:
http://7stanesmountainbiking.com/7stanes/media/7stanes-maps/Glentress.pdf
(top hit if you google for "glentress map pdf" )
http://7stanesmountainbiking.com/7stanes/media/7stanes-maps/Glentress.pdf
(top hit if you google for "glentress map pdf" )
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In reply to Seocan:
Glen tress is amazing!! Crap expensive food though
Pity you won't be doing the red! Spooky wood in the best bit of single track I have done!!
Glen tress is amazing!! Crap expensive food though
Pity you won't be doing the red! Spooky wood in the best bit of single track I have done!!
In reply to Graham Booth:
I find it brings a little tear to my eye that the best single track somebody have ever done is at trail centre, you need to get out more !!
I find it brings a little tear to my eye that the best single track somebody have ever done is at trail centre, you need to get out more !!
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In reply to cat22:
thanks very much cat 22, that's perfect.
(not on my google search, in fact it wasn't in the top 5, none of which were current or free , the wonders of the internet!)
thanks very much cat 22, that's perfect.
(not on my google search, in fact it wasn't in the top 5, none of which were current or free , the wonders of the internet!)
In reply to Seocan:
Plan your route on this then download the app for navigation. All free!
http://www.trailforks.com/region/glentress/
Plan your route on this then download the app for navigation. All free!
http://www.trailforks.com/region/glentress/
In reply to Dark-Cloud:
It struck me the last time I was at GT that trail-centres are to mountain biking what indoor walls are to climbing.
> I find it brings a little tear to my eye that the best single track somebody have ever done is at trail centre, you need to get out more !!
It struck me the last time I was at GT that trail-centres are to mountain biking what indoor walls are to climbing.
6
1
In reply to zebidee:
Agreed, though in the context of this thread the OP wanted to take a 3 year old, so maybe the black circuit or a loop of the Cairngorms would better left for a few years.
Agreed, though in the context of this thread the OP wanted to take a 3 year old, so maybe the black circuit or a loop of the Cairngorms would better left for a few years.
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In reply to zebidee:
An easy target for the snobs ?
> It struck me the last time I was at GT that trail-centres are to mountain biking what indoor walls are to climbing.
An easy target for the snobs ?
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In reply to Seocan:
Glentress is a great trail centre for families. Something for everyone. The carpark is not expensive and the showers and toilets are clean. The cafe is not bad either. We have camped in our van on the top car park a few times. Innerleithen is also worth a look, but only really if you can get a pass out without the 3yo old!!
Enjoy
Glentress is a great trail centre for families. Something for everyone. The carpark is not expensive and the showers and toilets are clean. The cafe is not bad either. We have camped in our van on the top car park a few times. Innerleithen is also worth a look, but only really if you can get a pass out without the 3yo old!!
Enjoy
1
In reply to Seocan:
Green routes at GT - There is no full green route as such, but a couple of short loops. There is a loop low down, near the red squirrel car park, which is fun for kids. Downside is one section (the admiral) is also part of the blue downhill, so you may find your 3yo is a bit overwhelmed is it's busy as grown-ups race past at high speed. There is another loop at the top, near the buzzards nest (head down the fire road that runs west towards peebles) which is a dedicated green loop with no other routes running past. It's just down past the skills area which the 3yo will also enjoy (bumps, a really low super wide skinny etc.) It's all you need for a 3yo though - let them run round the skills area till they get bored, then go to the upper green route. If you get more than one loop out of them, you'll be doing well, and you'll probably still have to push the bike back up the hill to the car park.
I wouldn't say it was rip-off central. Parking is what it is, (you should be <£4). The food is optional, the service terrible.
Green routes at GT - There is no full green route as such, but a couple of short loops. There is a loop low down, near the red squirrel car park, which is fun for kids. Downside is one section (the admiral) is also part of the blue downhill, so you may find your 3yo is a bit overwhelmed is it's busy as grown-ups race past at high speed. There is another loop at the top, near the buzzards nest (head down the fire road that runs west towards peebles) which is a dedicated green loop with no other routes running past. It's just down past the skills area which the 3yo will also enjoy (bumps, a really low super wide skinny etc.) It's all you need for a 3yo though - let them run round the skills area till they get bored, then go to the upper green route. If you get more than one loop out of them, you'll be doing well, and you'll probably still have to push the bike back up the hill to the car park.
I wouldn't say it was rip-off central. Parking is what it is, (you should be <£4). The food is optional, the service terrible.
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In reply to Removed User:
but he's doing well for his 6 months on the bike, and i promised him one with pedals for the spring... i'll defer to your wisdom though and skip the black ... this time. Cairngprms by august though.
but he's doing well for his 6 months on the bike, and i promised him one with pedals for the spring... i'll defer to your wisdom though and skip the black ... this time. Cairngprms by august though.
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In reply to mav:
thanks for all the comments.
the upper green is a treat for toddlers, clever use of the contours make it a fun loop even on a balance bike.
we (he) even saw a gruffalo, and two diggers. what better way to enthuse somebody.
parking was a fiver (srewth) for the day, and the cafe wont be getting a revisit.
the good news for sdults though is the peebles hydro is doing a cracking del at the moment.m definately worth a visit.
thanks for all the comments.
the upper green is a treat for toddlers, clever use of the contours make it a fun loop even on a balance bike.
we (he) even saw a gruffalo, and two diggers. what better way to enthuse somebody.
parking was a fiver (srewth) for the day, and the cafe wont be getting a revisit.
the good news for sdults though is the peebles hydro is doing a cracking del at the moment.m definately worth a visit.
1
In reply to Seocan:
A fiver ? A whole five pounds for spending a day with your son at a facility that people have put considerable graft into developing. It's an outrage.
I don't often do trail centres - nothing decent near Sheffield- but spent yesterday morning at Gisburn. 3 hours of excellent riding cost me £3 for parking, far more in petrol, and £50 to replace the cassette I destroyed. The parking cost less than the pint of shandy I had afterwards, but I bet there are still plenty of people who would claim it was too expensive.
Then again, can't understand why people sneer at trail centres - they're great fun
A fiver ? A whole five pounds for spending a day with your son at a facility that people have put considerable graft into developing. It's an outrage.
I don't often do trail centres - nothing decent near Sheffield- but spent yesterday morning at Gisburn. 3 hours of excellent riding cost me £3 for parking, far more in petrol, and £50 to replace the cassette I destroyed. The parking cost less than the pint of shandy I had afterwards, but I bet there are still plenty of people who would claim it was too expensive.
Then again, can't understand why people sneer at trail centres - they're great fun
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In reply to Seocan:
How do you think they pay for the up keep of the trails? Are you one of these people that expect everything to be handed to them on a plate for free? You wouldn't complain at paying to go to a climbing wall?
> parking was a fiver (srewth) for the day, and the cafe wont be getting a revisit.
How do you think they pay for the up keep of the trails? Are you one of these people that expect everything to be handed to them on a plate for free? You wouldn't complain at paying to go to a climbing wall?
Post edited at 09:50
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In reply to Seocan:
There was nowt wrong with it till the FC realised it was a cash cow and turned it into Disneyland. The Hub had awsome homemade grub, free parking and a great atmosphere. The millions spent on the Peel Centre is a joke, who wants to sit and look out a glass panel at a an embankment while queing and chewing on mediocre overpriced toasties. Thankfully the trails are good as are the wigwams.
There was nowt wrong with it till the FC realised it was a cash cow and turned it into Disneyland. The Hub had awsome homemade grub, free parking and a great atmosphere. The millions spent on the Peel Centre is a joke, who wants to sit and look out a glass panel at a an embankment while queing and chewing on mediocre overpriced toasties. Thankfully the trails are good as are the wigwams.
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In reply to jaggy bunnet:
my sentiments exactly.
Chris the tall: I spent the day with my son at Glenshee, or is that Glenshee Mountain, last weekend and the parking was free. No outfage there.
my sentiments exactly.
Chris the tall: I spent the day with my son at Glenshee, or is that Glenshee Mountain, last weekend and the parking was free. No outfage there.
Post edited at 18:26
In reply to Seocan:
Nothing at all wrong with Glentress. As somebody else has pointed out its a great family friendly site ( tho the food did used to be better) and something for every age group.
More to the point, all those '000's of folk who a there aren't at the hills and trails I want to be in! See... Something for everyone!
Nothing at all wrong with Glentress. As somebody else has pointed out its a great family friendly site ( tho the food did used to be better) and something for every age group.
More to the point, all those '000's of folk who a there aren't at the hills and trails I want to be in! See... Something for everyone!
In reply to Seocan:
Were you mountain biking or skiing ? I'm assuming that the car park is free because skiiers pay for lift passes, which is how the business can survive. They know that people will pay £30 for a lift pass, but would be outraged (or outfaged) if they were charged £25 for a pass and £5 for the car park !
It's dead easy to avoid paying for car parking at trail centres - you just cycle from a bit further away. But it's dishonest, because you are using a facility that costs money and human effort to build, and to maintain, and not contributing anything to that.
> Chris the tall: I spent the day with my son at Glenshee, or is that Glenshee Mountain, last weekend and the parking was free. No outfage there.
Were you mountain biking or skiing ? I'm assuming that the car park is free because skiiers pay for lift passes, which is how the business can survive. They know that people will pay £30 for a lift pass, but would be outraged (or outfaged) if they were charged £25 for a pass and £5 for the car park !
It's dead easy to avoid paying for car parking at trail centres - you just cycle from a bit further away. But it's dishonest, because you are using a facility that costs money and human effort to build, and to maintain, and not contributing anything to that.
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In reply to Chris the Tall:
How about the fact that trail centres contribute massively to the local economies ... which then contribute in taxes to the Exchequer which funds the Forestry Commission which create trail centres.
At one point Glentress was the second biggest tourist attraction in Scotland.
How about the provision of car parking encourages people to be recreationally active which takes burden off the NHS. (How often have we heard about doctors being good treating climbers and walkers because the net impact of their sports is positive on their health)
These things are intangible benefits though so are far more difficult to justify in times of cuts than saying "well we took so much in parking revenue."
Personally I think the new centre is a bit of an eye sore compared with the old hut.
How about the fact that trail centres contribute massively to the local economies ... which then contribute in taxes to the Exchequer which funds the Forestry Commission which create trail centres.
At one point Glentress was the second biggest tourist attraction in Scotland.
How about the provision of car parking encourages people to be recreationally active which takes burden off the NHS. (How often have we heard about doctors being good treating climbers and walkers because the net impact of their sports is positive on their health)
These things are intangible benefits though so are far more difficult to justify in times of cuts than saying "well we took so much in parking revenue."
Personally I think the new centre is a bit of an eye sore compared with the old hut.
2
In reply to zebidee:
Couldn't disagree more. Trail centres offer some amazing biking and great outdoor experiences. I've been mountain biking for 30 years now and I think you are missing out on some fantastic adventures if you just stick to trail centres but in the UK you have hunt pretty hard to find anything like the length and flow of good T C singletrack outside of TCs.
Couldn't disagree more. Trail centres offer some amazing biking and great outdoor experiences. I've been mountain biking for 30 years now and I think you are missing out on some fantastic adventures if you just stick to trail centres but in the UK you have hunt pretty hard to find anything like the length and flow of good T C singletrack outside of TCs.
1
In reply to zebidee:
Oh I quite agree about the benefits to the local economy and the wider community. And of course any enlightened and forward thinking government would throw money at such resources and we'd all reap the benefits.
But we haven't and they don't.
The only rural sports that they are keen to subsidise is grouse shooting, and bodies like the FC are starved of cash and forced to cut costs at every corner.
But nonetheless, is a fiver really a lot to pay ? And it's good for the soul to give something back. Here in Sheffield we have to raise money for trails through crowd funding, but I for one am happy to pay.
Oh I quite agree about the benefits to the local economy and the wider community. And of course any enlightened and forward thinking government would throw money at such resources and we'd all reap the benefits.
But we haven't and they don't.
The only rural sports that they are keen to subsidise is grouse shooting, and bodies like the FC are starved of cash and forced to cut costs at every corner.
But nonetheless, is a fiver really a lot to pay ? And it's good for the soul to give something back. Here in Sheffield we have to raise money for trails through crowd funding, but I for one am happy to pay.
1
In reply to Chris the Tall:
No absolutely not ...
It's the commercialisation that the likes of GT have had which has taken away the je ne sais quoi which the original hub cafe seemed to have. It seems to have less soul without the old place's macaroni cheese, hot chocolate, awesome cakes and a "fastest time for the red squirrel loop" up on the blackboard.
That's what happened up here as well with Carron Valley.
Unfortunately the FC seemed to decide that it was more in their interests to undermine the development group and play politics rather than provide a useful resource for the bikers in central Scotland.
http://www.carronvalley.org.uk/
> But nonetheless, is a fiver really a lot to pay ?
No absolutely not ...
It's the commercialisation that the likes of GT have had which has taken away the je ne sais quoi which the original hub cafe seemed to have. It seems to have less soul without the old place's macaroni cheese, hot chocolate, awesome cakes and a "fastest time for the red squirrel loop" up on the blackboard.
> And it's good for the soul to give something back. Here in Sheffield we have to raise money for trails through crowd funding, but I for one am happy to pay.
That's what happened up here as well with Carron Valley.
Unfortunately the FC seemed to decide that it was more in their interests to undermine the development group and play politics rather than provide a useful resource for the bikers in central Scotland.
http://www.carronvalley.org.uk/
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In reply to blackmountainbiker:
Perhaps down south but up here we're lucky enough that there's plenty of wild country to go mountain biking.
I'm not saying that a well constructed and thought out singletrack at a TC isn't fun or exhilarating to ride. They are, but they're sanitised environments compared with wild trails. Now whether those wild trails are 1, 2 or 3 *'s is another thing entirely.
You're going to get more climbing done spending a day at the EICA than you would driving to Glen Coe, walking in to Rannoch Wall and climbing. Sure the climbings going to be better on the Buachaille than plastic rock but the routes might not be as flowing as the plastic rock.
There are plenty of climbers who'll never climb outdoors in the same way as there are plenty of mountain bikers who'll never leave a trail centre.
> > It struck me the last time I was at GT that trail-centres are to mountain biking what indoor walls are to climbing.
> Couldn't disagree more. Trail centres offer some amazing biking and great outdoor experiences. I've been mountain biking for 30 years now and I think you are missing out on some fantastic adventures if you just stick to trail centres but in the UK you have hunt pretty hard to find anything like the length and flow of good T C singletrack outside of TCs.
Perhaps down south but up here we're lucky enough that there's plenty of wild country to go mountain biking.
I'm not saying that a well constructed and thought out singletrack at a TC isn't fun or exhilarating to ride. They are, but they're sanitised environments compared with wild trails. Now whether those wild trails are 1, 2 or 3 *'s is another thing entirely.
You're going to get more climbing done spending a day at the EICA than you would driving to Glen Coe, walking in to Rannoch Wall and climbing. Sure the climbings going to be better on the Buachaille than plastic rock but the routes might not be as flowing as the plastic rock.
There are plenty of climbers who'll never climb outdoors in the same way as there are plenty of mountain bikers who'll never leave a trail centre.
Post edited at 12:23
In reply to zebidee:
Well, I do agree with you but I think comparing trail centres to climbing walls is pushing it a bit but I know where you are coming from there. I live in the Brecon Beacons National Park and although I am really close to 5 excellent trail centres, all my riding over the past 2 years has been on mountain trails. There is nothing remotely to match the continuous, uninterrupted flow of the Skyline (Glycorrig) final descent on the mountain trails of the Brecon Beacons but I don't mind the odd hike with my bike and the fewer people I see on my rides the better.
Well, I do agree with you but I think comparing trail centres to climbing walls is pushing it a bit but I know where you are coming from there. I live in the Brecon Beacons National Park and although I am really close to 5 excellent trail centres, all my riding over the past 2 years has been on mountain trails. There is nothing remotely to match the continuous, uninterrupted flow of the Skyline (Glycorrig) final descent on the mountain trails of the Brecon Beacons but I don't mind the odd hike with my bike and the fewer people I see on my rides the better.
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