Innerleithen
Where we are
MTB Trail Update - 18 April
All trails are are open except Taniel Hill on the XC Trail. See below for details. XC Trail will be fully open 19-21 April (most of the Easter weekend).
From 12pm on Sat 20 April to the end of Sun 21 April, all DH trails (except Make or Brake) will be closed for the Borders MTB Racing Mini Downhill race.
Some unwaymarked trails are currently closed for tree felling. See below for details.
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.
Innerleithen mountain bike trails map (PDF 619KB)
Mountain biking trails
We’ve got some tree felling work underway at Innerleithen until early May. To keep everyone safe and to enable the operators to work safely and finish sooner, please try alternative routes and stay out of the closed off felling areas.
- No waymarked mtb trails are currently affected. Some unwaymarked trails are closed: Alistair Lees, Upper/Lower Quarry Enduro, Doggy Bag/Puppy Bag, Kitty Bag and Kitty Litter (7 days/week until early May).
- No access is possible along the ‘Top Campshiel road’ to Southern Upland Way/Minch Moor from DH trails and vica versa (7 days/week until early May).
- Taniel Hill on the XC Trail will need to be closed/diverted for the felling around early/mid-April time (exact dates tbc)
- To keep everyone safe and to enable to the operators to get on, work safely and finish sooner, please try alternative routes and stay out of the closed off felling areas. Thank you and sorry for this inconvenience.
Brilliant uplift service at Innerleithen Trails! For booking, season passes and all the info check out 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)
A trail notice is in effect
Taniel Hill will be closed with a diversion on Wed 17 and Thu 18 April, then from Mon 22 April until the end of May (7 days/week).
The XC Trail will be fully open on Fri 19, Sat 20 and Sun 21 April (most of the Easter weekend).
From 22 April until end of May, a longer diversion will be in place. The diversion goes from the start of the Taniel Hill descent (post 10) to the start of Plora Craig (post 34) and reduces the overall XC Trail distance by 50%. We are very sorry for this inconvenience.
Lower Campshiel Road will be closed at the Taniel Hill exit, and there will be no access to the Southern Upland Way or Minch Moor Loop when Taniel Hill is closed. To access the Minch Moor Loop, follow the B709 road to Traquair village, then climb the Southern Upland Way to rejoin the XC Trail at the start of the Lead Mine Climb (post 14).
Not for the faint hearted, this route includes a leg-burning climb, some thrilling singletrack descents and optional black graded features.
Red: Difficult
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.
Mountain Biking
Innerleithen Downhill
A trail notice is in effect
It is not currently possible to access the Southern Upland Way/Minch Moor Loop via the Top Campshiel Road.
From 12pm on Sat 20 April to the end of Sun 21 April all DH trails (except Make or Brake) will be closed for the Borders MTB Racing Mini Downhill race.
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
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.
Facilities & access
The nearest public toilets and places to eat are in Innerleithen.
Car parking charges
- £1 for up to 1 hour
- £2 for up to 3 hours
- £3 for all day
- £12 for minibus and coach all day
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 in touch
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