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The 7 Stanes are spread across the south of Scotland. Dumfries & Galloway is home to 5 of the 7 Stanes Centres and with Drumlanrig close by, when you visit this area you really are in mountain biking heaven.
The following trail centres have been placed in geographical order starting with the closest trails to Ae. This will help you plan a trip to the area and give you an idea of just how much there is to take in.
Ae
Ae is only 20 minutes from the M74 motorway, but ride its trails and you'll think you're in another world.
Ae's green- and blue-graded trails are ideal for entry level riders and families, while its red-graded and downhill routes are for the more experienced rider.
An entry level mountain bike trail, the green-graded Ae Valley Route is aimed mainly at families with young children. It's a 9km loop which runs up the Ae valley to a lovely viewpoint overlooking the Water of Ae. A beautiful place to stop and picnic with lots of rocks around the river.
The Larch View Route, blue-graded, shares much of its route with the Green trail - the difference is a 4.5km section on forest road, giving a trail length of 13.5km in all. It's suitable for those families looking to take in a little bit more of the forest than just the short green-graded valley route.
The red-graded Ae Line - Scottish Power Renewables Trail is a challenging, high quality ride through quiet coniferous forest. This route has an aggressive freeride style to it with some large and sometimes intimidating trail features in addition to very steep climbs and descents.
Ridden at speed, things get very exciting, but if you are more cautious you can keep your wheels on the ground all the way round. For many, the highlight of the route is the final descent of Omega Man, with its multiplicity of jumps.
If Downhill is more your thing, The Shredder, graded 'orange bike park', is an entry level Downhill track giving you a taste of everything DH.
Starting beside The Shredder and also orange bike park-graded, the 1.6km Ae Downhill route provides a bigger challenge. Its seriously gnarly rocky sections, slippery roots and huge drops will satisfy the most demanding of riders. An uplift service is sometimes available (pre-booking required)
Mabie
Mabie forest, the original mountain biking venue in the South West of Scotland, lies just a few miles south of Dumfries and caters for beginners right through to the most expert of riders.
With a skills area, café, bike hire and shop on site, it is definitely not to missed.
Download the Trail Map here
The green-graded Big Views and the blue-graded Woodhead loops are a great introduction to mountain biking and Mabie's striking surroundings. Mostly on forest roads, with a few sections of easy singletrack, there are plenty of ups and downs, but the gradients are not too steep.
The 23km Purple Trail - Lochbank Loop is a mixture forest road and some b-class public road (hence its forest road and similar grading). Making the most of the hills, the route has its fair share of climbing, but just like the Big Views Loop the rewards are there. Enjoy the peaceful roads through the forest and revel in the views that you come across.
The skills area lies a short distance from the cafe near the trail head. If you are a new or intermediate rider, its blue- and red-graded features are ideal for practising your skills before riding the trails or prior to moving up a trail grade. The area includes a fantastic 300m freeride line with plenty of sections for you to practise your jumping technique.
The red-graded Phoenix Trail is a classic mountain bike route - great riding through mixed woodland and wonderful scenery. This 17km ride has testing climbs, fast descents, berms and water splashes. If you like fast, flowing, twisty trails with a few rocky, rooty sections and some jumps, this is your mountain bike heaven.
Drumlanrig
Challenge yourself to an exhilarating mountain bike trail through some of Scotland's finest scenery. The forest, which hosts Scottish and British mountain bike events, is fast becoming one of the UK's premier venues for cross country racing. Since 2002 Drumlanrig has played host to the National Points Series and Scottish Cross Country Mountain Bike Championships on a specially constructed course designed by Rik Allsop of Riks Bike Shed.
Choose from a selection of trails to suit every ability and interest from gnarly 'old school' technical singletrack routes, to swooping family trails through the beautiful Drumlanrig woodlands, to quiet country back roads. The course is constantly evolving with new sections of singletrack being added to extend the overall distance and add to user enjoyment.
On offer are four different trail types: Easy (Green Routes), Moderate (Blue Routes), Difficult (Red Routes) and Hard (Black Routes) allowing visitors to decide a suitable level for themselves.
There is no need to fear the mud - showers are available for use and are located in the stableyard next to Rik's Bike Shed at a cost of 20p per minute and £1 for 7 minutes - so come on, get on your bike! Check out the route details and choose which suits you best ...
Dalbeattie
With its coastal setting and the lack of any big hills, Dalbeattie has a relaxed feel, but the riding is far from dull - the outcrops of rock and fine views make sure of that.
Download the Trail Map here
There's a broad range of trails on offer and it's the granite rock that defines the riding here. While the green-graded Ironhash trail offers easy biking mostly on forest roads, the blue-graded Moyle Hill route will have your tyres crossing short sections of rough rock and narrow trail - but the riding is fun rather than difficult.
On the red-graded Hardrock trail things go up a gear, and the surface becomes both rougher and rockier, with several notably challenging stretches. It's the black-graded sections, however - The Slab, the Terrible Twins and Volunteer Ridge - that get people talking and the heart racing.
Recent trail building has increased the amount of singletrack in the routes and, at the trail head, a skills area with differently-graded loops gives a taste of Dalbeattie riding for those new to the area or to mountain biking. The skills trails total 1.5km in length and are on 100% singletrack.
Kirroughtree
Kirroughtree, home to some of the best technical singletrack in the country is also a favourite family venue with a wide range of trails, seasonal café and a great kids' play area.
Download the Trail Map here
The green-graded Bargaly Wood trail uses a mix of minor public roads, wide tracks and one short section of easy singletrack to take you around the scenic Bargaly Glen.
When you're ready for the next step up the trail riding ladder, try the 2 km blue-graded Taster Loop. You can also practice your technique in the skills area, which has blue, red and black- graded options.
More challenges await on the Larg Hill blue route, with long sections of narrow, flowing singletrack ending in a superb plunge through magnificent woodland. The optional Doon Hill extension adds 4km and some great views.
After a moderate start, The red-graded Twister trail gets more demanding, with rock step-ups, drops, berms and jumpable sections, all on the tight and twisting trail that's typical of Kirroughtree.
To top it all, the black-grade Black Craigs route ups the ante, adding 14km of challenging riding on to the red route. For many the highlight is 'McMoab' - huge slabs and ridges of exposed granite, linked by boulder causeways. Skill and bags of nerve required…
Glentrool
Discover the wild heart of Galloway with a wide range of riding experiences, all of which start and finish at Glentrool visitor centre.
Download the Trail Map here
Big country route
Unlike the other 7stanes trails, the whole of the Big Country route is on minor public and forest roads, without any singletrack. With magnificent views of lochs and hills contrasting with sheltered woodlands, and some testing climbs and big descents in the course of its 58km, it's a challenging but rewarding day out.
Newcastleton
Close to the Scotland-England border, Newcastleton has trails for all levels. There is plenty of fun to be had here on routes shorter than at most of the other 7stanes.
Download the Trail Map here
The 0.4km Skills Area is reached via a short but stiff forest road climb from the trail head. With blue- and red-graded loops and features, it's a great wee blast whatever your riding level, and an excellent place to practise your skills before heading out onto the routes proper.
For those looking to stretch their legs a little more, the recently-upgraded 6km Caddrouns Blue trail is just the ticket. With 50% of the route on singletrack (built with less experienced riders firmly in mind), it's a fun introduction to real mountain biking. The slightly longer Linns trail (8km) is a scenic route which sticks to forest roads (purple grade).
The 16km Red Route offers a fantastic ride for more experienced riders, with fast, narrow singletrack clinging to the valleyside, crossing bridges and boardwalks. For the final part, the route hooks up with the Caddrouns Blue route and includes the brilliant Pouter Lampert section of singletrack.
The Red route
If that's not enough, the orange-graded (bike park) North Shore trail should hit the spot. You'll find this challenge for advanced riders to the south of the skills trail.
You can also pick up the Cross Border Trail to Kielder and the Reivers Cycle Route from Newcastleton.
Glentress and Innerleithen
Glentress and Innerleithen in the Tweed Valley have a massive reputation for some of the best mountain biking in the UK and beyond.
Glentress is probably the best biking centre in Britain, winning several awards. It has brilliant trails of all grades, a top-notch café, a bike shop with bike hire, changing and showering facilities, and a great atmosphere.
Innerleithen, situated just a few miles south east of Glentress, is home to some of the UK's finest downhill and freeride trails, as well as a cracking red-graded XC route.
You'll find details of the trails and facilities on offer at both sites below.
Download the Trail Map here
For the beginner, the Skills Area has differently graded sections to help you get started. If you're looking to go a little further, the Green Route offers real mountain biking, but with none of the scary stuff found on the harder trails.
With cracking sections of singletrack, the Blue Route is a great trail for riders with some previous experience and a bit more fitness - the hidden gem of Glentress?
The Red Route boasts some fine singletrack climbs as well as massive, fast, fun, flowing descents, with jumps and berms in good measure. Home to the infamous Spooky Wood descent.
The Black Route at 30km long and with over 800m of vertical climbing is a truly epic ride. Long, challenging singletrack climbs combine with equally long and testing singletrack descents that take riders into remote parts of the forest.
Packed full of advanced level features, the Freeride Park is an ideal spot for riders looking to push their skill levels, style it up, learn new tricks or just hang out and ride with friends. There are four main trails, all graded 'Orange - Bike Park'.
All information on the 7 Stanes courtesy Forestry Commission Scotland, thanks.
All information on Drumlanrig courtesy of Buccleuch Estates, thanks.