From guided rides on some of the UK’s finest trails to skills courses and tuition for all ages and abilities, let some of the very best guides and instructors in the business share their passion and knowledge.
Over the past decade, the Tweed Valley has become something of a mountain bike resort with hundreds of kilometres of trails spread across two designated trail centres, a variety of forests and into the hills and far away. Of course, with many of the trails covered by guidebooks and apps, you can create your own big days out, but nothing quite beats learning from local experts who know the area like the back of their hands.
Ridelines
Part of the fabric of mountain biking here in the Tweed Valley, Ridelines offers it all. Kids can’t get enough of the regular mountain bike camps at Glentress, while hundreds of riders of all ages and abilities have benefited from Ridelines’ group and one-to-one tuition (including women-only courses). Riders come away fully equipped with all the tools needed to tackle the trails with skill and confidence. Also on offer are training and assessment for all three levels of the British Cycling Mountain Bike Leader Awards, plus a host of guided rides and multi-day mountain biking holidays – including Ridelines’ flagship Tweed Valley Treble holiday, based at The Glentress Hotel.
Dirt School
Another hugely respected provider of mountain bike coaching, Dirt School has phenomenal instructors whose riding credentials more than match their teaching qualifications. It is a real-world experience approach to mountain bike coaching that has earned Dirt School respect at the very top of the sport – coaching world champions and developing its own mountain bike tuition techniques. (As an aside, Dirt School Founder Chris Ball also heads up the Enduro World Series, which comes to the Tweed Valley in October 2021.) But don’t worry, Dirt School is not just for elite riders! There are courses covering every need and ability, from complete beginners to young riders, the E-Bike curious, plus sessions devoted to honing specific techniques (tackling steep and technical, finding flow, getting air and more). And while Dirt School focuses on tuition, its sister company, Tweed Valley Guides, takes care of leading riders out into the hills for a range of two-wheeled adventures.
Tweed Valley Guides
With more than 100km of hand-built mountain bike trails stretching from west of Peebles to Selkirk and beyond, it can be hard to decide quite where to begin. And that’s where Tweed Valley Guides come in: a team of highly qualified mountain bike leaders who all have extensive knowledge of every juicy trail and secret spot in the area. These guys know what works well in different weather conditions and can tailor guided trips to suit every possible interest – from fast and flowy trails to steep and technical, plus epic days out making full use of the network of ancient drove roads and rights of way that crisscross the surrounding hills. Tweed Valley Guides is part of the acclaimed Dirt School.
Adrenalin Uplift
Want to pack in as much riding as possible while in the Tweed Valley? In that case, you’ll want to get acquainted with Adrenalin Uplift, which runs the Tweed Valley shuttle service between Glentress and Innerleithen, plus an uplift service to the top of Innerleithen’s hallowed trails. As well as helping get you around, Adrenalin also offers guided rides through its Ride with a Local programme, and recently opened The Bike Shop on Innerleithen High Street which offers rental, sales, gear, guiding and essential info.
Go-Where Scotland
A multi-award-winning cycle adventure and guiding business, Go-Where is one of Scotland’s leading adventure travel companies. With a personal touch at the heart of everything it does, Go-Where guides make it their business to ensure that riders not only enjoy great trails and good company, but also experience immersive, authentic travel. Go-Where offers trips Scotland-wide, with its gravel and mountain bike tours of the Tweed Valley up there with the very best of them. Co-founder Aneela McKenna also continues to do important work around bringing greater diversity to mountain biking. Find out more here.
Bike Valley Scotland
A family-run biking business, Bike Valley Scotland offers a range of riding holidays for all levels of rider. Between them, an enticing programme of guided and self-guided packages offer a perfect introduction to the huge variety of riding that can be enjoyed in the Tweed Valley (and further afield). Working with local service providers and tapping into the knowledge and expertise that comes with it, Bike Valley Scotland has everything you need to enjoy a stress-free holiday exploring some very beautiful places.
Love our trails? Then why not put something back by helping with the work of the Tweed Valley Trails Association, a charity established by local mountain biking enthusiasts to sustain and manage the trail network across the whole of the area.
Photography: Ian Linton (banner); Ridelines; Dirt School; Swift Trails; Tweed Valley Guides; Adrenalin Uplift; Andy McCandlish; Ed Shoote.