7stanes 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.

Close to the Scottish - English border, Newcastleton has trails for all levels of rider and offers a great introduction to the 7stanes. The routes at Newcastleton are generally shorter than most other 7stanes, but the high quality single-track on offer is guaranteed to put a big grin on your face!

From the trailhead there is a short but steep and exposed climb on a forest road, but the initial climbing is kept to a minimum as you are soon through a gate and to the point where each route starts properly. Here you will find the Skills Loop, packed with blue and red graded features including lots of low-level timber trail to test your balancing skills. It is an ideal spot for beginners or for even more experienced riders to practice their skills.

For those looking to stretch their legs a little more, the Caddrouns blue route at 6 kms is just the ticket. This first half of the route is on forest road, which climbs gently taking you deeper into the forest. Soon you are at the start of the first single track descent. This section will quickly have the adrenaline pumping as the trail twists and turns its way down through the forest. A short section of forest road before it's onto the next section of single-track, Pouter Lampert, the routes piece de resistance - 2kms of wide, smooth, swoopy single-track, which dips and weaves through the forest, across gullies and over boardwalks. It is a veritable grin-fest of descent, which takes you just about all the way back to the trailhead.

The Linns Route (purple grade) makes a great alternative to the Caddrouns Blue Route for those who prefer sticking to forest roads or who want to venture a little further into the forest. At 8km long and with plenty of hills along the way, this 100% forest road-based loop offers a good workout and fantastic scenery to boot.

The red route is relatively short but super sweet. From the off it's straight into the route's signature section of trail, Hidden Valley. Narrower and steeper in places than the blue single-track, the 3.5km long section is a blast to ride as it weaves back and forth across the valley side over bridges, boardwalk sections and rock drops - fast, flowing descents mixing with cheeky climbs.

Next, a long, gradual uphill stretch of forest road follows, before the route darts left on to single-track, down into the trees, over an arched bridge, onto a long boardwalk section which crosses 'The Bog', then up a short steep zig-zag climb to the road. More single-track climbing follows taking you higher up onto a lunar-like plateau. One more short climb and it is into another descent, Swarfe Hill. Fast, bermy and peppered with small jumps and drops, this section will leave you on a high and wanting more. From here the route follows the Blue Route or riders can short cut down the forest road back to the trailhead.

Finally, the orange graded North Shore Area is one of the most extensive and impressive in Scotland. With the qualifier setting the tone, the trail traverses a narrow ridge before dropping steeply down a wide timber ramp towards the main timber complex. Here, there are several lines to take, from wider flowing sections with cambered turns, jumps and drops to narrower, trickier log skinnies. All require nerves of steel and the bike handling skills to match.

Routes

Green - Skills Trail, 0.4km

Blue - The Caddrouns, 6kms

Purple - The Linns, 8km

Red - 16km

Orange - Northshore, 0.5km

Bike Shops/Hire:

Rock UK 01387 375394 (bike hire)

Palace Cycles 01228 523142

Scotby Cycles 01228 546931