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Innerleithen

Where we are

Latest forest information

  • XC Trail open with diversions. Tree felling operations in Taniel Hill area and Pipers Knowe/Enduro Track area until the end of October 2024. Details below.

  • DH trails open except Make or Brake closed long term due to storm damage.

About

The best downhill and enduro mountain-biking in the area

A 7stanes destination, Innerleithen is renowned for its four downhill trails, all of them orange-graded Bike Park Extreme. There's also some serious cross-country action on the challenging red-graded Innerleithen XC trail.

Mountain biking trails

The 7Stanes logo. including the text "Mountain bike trails"

Innerleithen 7stanes route card (PDF)

Brilliant uplift service at Innerleithen Trails! More info at: www.adrenalinuplift.co.uk.

Phytophthora Ramorum, a disease that kills larch trees, has reached Innerleithen’s Traquair Forest. Please help slow the spread of the disease by making sure your bikes, shoes, kit, dogs, horses, buggies etc., are all clean before visiting Innerleithen and other forests. Thank you. #keepitclean

Mountain Biking

Innerleithen XC (diverted)

Grade – Red: Difficult 11 ¾ miles / 19.0 km
Is this trail for you? Find the right grade for your abilities

Grade – Red: Difficult  fls web icon cycling red difficultExpect a mixture of steep climbs, descents and / or avoidable features. Larger jumps, berms and rollable features at controlled speed. Technical features such as tree roots, drop-offs and large rocks. Very variable surfaces.

Not for the faint hearted, this route includes a leg-burning climb, some thrilling singletrack descents and optional black graded features. You’re on single track right out of the car park, with a switchback climb through the forest and a lung-busting climb to the summit of Minch Moor ahead of you. It’s back to singletrack on the way down, with jumps, drop-offs and optional black-grade features.

A trail notice is in effect

  • Due to tree felling operations in the Taniel Hill area (nearly completed) and Pipers Knowe/Enduro Track area (until end of October 2024) the XC Trail is currently much shorter. The Trail is diverted at the exit of Stell Burn Climb (post 7) via Mousetrap trail, Push Up then left along the Top Campshiel road to Angry Sheep rejoining at post 41 for the final part of the route via Cadon Bank.  Sections of the XC Trail currently closed 7 days/week due to the felling are: Taniel Hill, Lead Mine Climb, Clattering Path, Minch Moor Climb and Descent, Enduro Track. Plora Craig, Oh Deer and Razor Rock are closed long term due to storm damage.
  • Look out for timber lorries on forest roads Monday - Friday.

Mountain Biking

Innerleithen Downhill (diverted)

Grade – Double-black: Extreme
Is this trail for you? Find the right grade for your abilities

Grade – Double-black: Extreme  fls web icon cycling doubleblack severeExpect a very fast and steep descents. Large drop-offs, jumps and unavoidable obstacles that require high levels of skill and commitment. Extreme level of exposure or risk. Rapid rate of surface change.

Some of the best downhill routes in the country. The mix of 'natural' and machine-built routes drops steeply through the forest from the summit of Plora Rig. All routes are graded 'extreme', with small, medium and large features. Full face helmet, gloves, body armour and a downhill specific bike are strongly recommended for all trails. The four waymarked downhill tracks are:

  • Make or Brake: 1.2 miles / 2km
  • Matador: 1.2 miles / 1.9km
  • Gold Run: 0.9 miles / 1.4km
  • Cresta Run: 0.9 miles / 1.5km
  • Double D (optional line): 0.4km

A trail notice is in effect

  • Gold Run: all open. Look out for slight reroute to trail line on turns at end of Gold Run Lower.

  • Cresta Run: all open. Look out for re-routes to the trail line and more support added to turns in places.
  • Matador: all open except drop near the end of Matador middle - closed for maintenance with short diversion to road. Look out for re-routes to the trail line on the upper part of Matador middle.
  • Make or Brake: upper and middle sections closed due to extensive storm damage. 
  • Cadon Bank: open.
  • Push Ups: Main Push Up path to the top of DH trails - all open. Push Up to start of Cadon Bank - open.
  • Please note, the waymarking of the DH trails on the ground still shows the old orange grading signage. We'll be updating this soon to match the new black/double black grading detailed here on the webpage, route card and at the trailhead.
  • Look out for timber lorries on forest roads through DH trails area Monday - Friday.

Activities

Walking

Walkers are welcome at Innerleithen, except on the mountain bike trails, where it’s unsafe to walk. We recommend walking the section of The Southern Upland Way, which passes through Traquair village and heads up on to Minch Moor.

Trails in Innerleithen:

The trails and facilities in Innerleithen make it a popular destination for mountain bikers, but there are plenty of other paths that cater for a quieter time in the forest. Find out more about how we’re working to create ideal environments for walking, mountain biking and horse riding in the Tweed Valley Forest Park.

Tweed Valley Zoning Plan (PDF 6MB)

Facilities and access

Mountain biking
Mountain biking
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Walking
Walking
Parking (charge)
Parking (charge)
Picnic area
Picnic area

The nearest public toilets and places to eat are in Innerleithen.

Car parking information

Pay by RingGo,

The charges to park at Innerleithen are:

  • £1.50 for up to 1 hour
  • £4 for all day
  • £14 for minibus or coach all day 

Blue badge holders park free. Please display your Blue Badge clearly.

Please park with care and consideration. In particular please park in designated parking areas only and do not block entrances or gates. Nearby car parks with free parking can be found in our local forest list without the £ symbol. 

Annual parking pass available:

Available in advance by downloading the application form and emailing to the Regional Office. Or take your completed form to the Glentress Forest Cafe. Please read our Annual Pass terms and conditions (PDF) before applying.

Tweed Valley Car Park Pass - £90 per car and £135 per mini bus or coach
FLS National Car Park Pass - £100 per car and £150 per mini bus or coach

Valid at all Forestry and Land Scotland car parks except Tentsmuir.

FLS National Pass application form

More parking info

Bike uplift service

Maximise your time on the trails with Adrenalin Uplift. When available, this shuttlebus service runs every 15 minutes, carrying up to 64 riders and their bikes to the top of the hill.

Visit Adrenalin Uplift to book day, weekend and season passes.

Getting here

From the main road through Innerleithen village, look for the road sign for '7stanes Trails' next to St James' Church. The car park is ½ mile along this road on the left.

Using SatNav?

EH44 6PW is the nearest postcode, a little to the south-west.

Public transport

Innerleithen village is well-served by buses. It's a ½ mile walk to the forest from the nearest bus stop. Plan your journey at Traveline Scotland.

Get directions

Get in touch

Have a question or suggestion for improvement?

Phone
0300 067 6900 (option 1)
More contact information

Nearby forests

Drooping conifer branch

A forested climb to the site of an Iron Age hill fort

Facilities and activities
Ancient monument
Ancient monument
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Walking
Walking
Distance from 'Caberston Forest': 0.56 miles
Drooping conifer branch

Beautiful views of Tweed Valley and 2000 years of history

Facilities and activities
Ancient monument
Ancient monument
Horse riding
Horse riding
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Walking
Walking
Parking (charge)
Parking (charge)
Picnic area
Picnic area
Toilets
Toilets
Distance from 'Cardrona': 3.23 miles
Drooping conifer branch

Award-winning mountain biking and so much more

Facilities and activities
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Mountain biking
Mountain biking
Wildlife hide
Wildlife hide
Walking
Walking
Treetop adventure
Treetop adventure
Picnic area
Picnic area
Toilets
Toilets
Parking (charge)
Parking (charge)
Visitor centre
Visitor centre
Easy-access facilities
Easy-access facilities
Cafe or refreshments
Cafe or refreshments
Bike hire
Bike hire
Shower
Shower
Distance from 'Glentress': 4.12 miles