The Glentress Masterplan
The aim of the Glentress Masterplan is to deliver a future for the forest as a well-integrated, multi-user destination, which specialises in mountain biking and offers a world class visitor experience. It will create new recreation opportunities and holiday accommodation which will benefit the local community, visitors from around the world, local businesses, and support regional tourism.
The video below gives an overview of the Masterplan.
As part of the Masterplan works, we’re creating 16km of new mountain bike trails including an easily accessed Skills Area, network and taster trails (see below for details), and expanded capacity car parking for our busier days. We’re also facilitating a new environmentally friendly holiday cabin development within the forest, which is being built and managed by Forest Holidays.
The developments will also make Glentress a more attractive venue for hosting events such as the UCI Cycling World Championships, which are taking place at Glentress in August 2023.
Construction is currently underway and expected to be completed by late 2024. This will have an impact on visits to Glentress until its completion. Be sure to check what is new in the forest before you visit.
The details
Multi-user path
Current status
Last updated 17 March 2023
The construction team are grading the path ready for finishing. Several bridges are in place allowing mountain bike trails to pass underneath and providing viewpoints from above. Grading will continue over the next month.
Mountain Bike Trail construction
- Green, Blue, Red and Black network trails: These trails will link into the existing trail network and offer new descents ending just north of the Peel Tower. They can also be sessioned easily by several routes. The trails pass under the Multi-User Path.
- Green, Blue, Red and Black taster trails: These short stand-alone loops will begin and end at the south of the Peel Tower and provide a way to sample each grade before committing to a network trail. The shared climb will gradually change in difficulty from Green to Black grade as the climb goes on, before splitting at various points to separate Green, Blue, Red and Black descents. These trails do not directly link into the main trail network, but can be reached via the Multi-User Path, and can be completed quickly. These trails also pass under the Multi-User Path.
- Skills Loop: After the UCI Cycling World Championships are concluded in August 2023, our Masterplan work will re-commence to reduce the size of the start-finish area, and we will install short skills loops of various grades to the south-west.
Current status
Last updated 17 March 2023
Work is ongoing across several trails with the taster trails being marked out, the black network trail 80% complete, and work started on the red network trail. It is important to note none of the trails are complete or open to ride.
Carparks
Current status
Last updated 17 March 2023
The upper and middle car parks are complete and open to the public, with the lower car park still to receive final grading. Pay parking machines and bike are in place. ANPR cameras are in position but not yet operational so ensure you pay as normal when you visit.
Buzzard’s Nest
Current status
Last updated 17 March 2023
Works in the quarry above the freeride park are progressing to install a water supply for the future lodges. Work on the lodges has been slightly delayed, with the freeride park and car park due to finally close on 3 April 2023. See more on the impacts of this closure on our FAQ page, and latest forest closures and diversions on the main Glentress page.
UCI Cycling World Championships
Current status
Last updated 17 March 2023
The start / finish area has been levelled and marked out, and we are now waiting for better weather in order to finish. A course for the races has been designed but not yet confirmed; it will involve some of our newly developed trails.
Glentress Masterplan document
The full Masterplan is available on the Borders Council website.
Keep up to date
You'll find previous updates to the Masterplan on our blog, and on our social media channels.
We also have a Frequently Asked Questions webpage, where we aim to answer the most common questions we receive.
Glentress Masterplan: Frequently Asked Questions
Contact
For any queries regarding the Masterplan project please contact Forestry and Land Scotland South Region in the first instance.