{{Short description|Seven mountain biking centres in Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}} {{Use British English|date=March 2018}} {{Multiple issues| {{Travel guide|date=February 2010}} {{More footnotes needed|date=February 2010}} }} thumb|250px|right|Getting air at Glentress
The '''7stanes''' are seven mountain biking centres spanning the south of Scotland, from the heart of the Scottish Borders to Dumfries and Galloway. They are all in Forestry and Land Scotland forests and are known as the 7stanes because each venue features a 'stane' (Scots for stone), created by artist Gordon Young,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gordonyoung.net/scotland_7stanes.html|title=The 7stanes / Scotland, 2008|publisher=Gordon Young|access-date=23 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006194912/http://gordonyoung.net/scotland_7stanes.html|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> somewhere along the forest trails.
==Trail grades== The trails use the Forestry Commission off-road trail grades:
*Green - Easy (Suitable for beginners) *Blue - Moderate (may be singletrack and include minor obstacles; suitable for cyclists with basic off-road skills) *Red - Difficult (mostly singletrack, many obstacles; suitable for proficient mountain bikers) *Black - Severe (similar to red routes, with more obstacles and large challenging area; suitable for expert riders only) *Bike Park (Orange)- Extreme (highly challenging, includes downhill sections and unavoidable jumps; suitable for expert riders only) *Forest road and similar - these routes can be waymarked or not. The difficulty of forest roads can vary widely and this grade indicates these trails not part of a progression on to green and blue level singletrack trails.
==The 7stanes sites==
===Ae=== {{main|Forest of Ae}} Located around 14 km north of Dumfries. Ae features a red-grade route with optional black-graded areas and two ''bike park- extreme'' downhill routes. For less experienced riders, green and blue trails are available.
===Dalbeattie=== {{main|Dalbeattie}} This rocky site features a green-grade and blue-graded trail, along with a red-graded trail with optional black-graded sections. These include ''The Slab'', a challenging steep granite rock. The nearest bike shops are, Castle Douglas Cycle Centre, Studio Velo also in Castle Douglas, and MPG Cycles in Dalbeattie
===Glentress and Innerleithen=== {{main|Glentress Forest|Glentress}} Comprises two nearby sites close to Peebles in the Scottish Borders. Glentress is a well-equipped mountain biking site<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.7stanesmountainbiking.com/Glentress---Innerleithen|title=7stanes mountain biking|website=7stanesmountainbiking.com|access-date=7 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525060837/http://www.7stanesmountainbiking.com/Glentress---Innerleithen|archive-date=25 May 2011|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> with a cafe, bike hire shop and showering/changing facilities. Trails include a green, blue, red and black route. There is also the ''skills loop''- a green-graded area designed for those new to the sport and the ''Freeride Park'' which is graded bike park- extreme. The park contains technical features suited to experienced riders.
A few miles to the south-east, Innerleithen features a red-graded cross-country trail (with black-graded options), and a bike park-extreme graded downhill area. This is a particularly challenging area and riders are recommended to wear body armour and a full-face helmet. A trail centre with a cafe and bike shop (Alpine Bikes) is also located at Innerleithen
===Glentrool=== {{main|Glentrool}} Located in Galloway. Glentrool includes one 58 km road-based route (the only wholly road-based route in the 7stanes) one 9 km blue-graded route, and two green-graded routes (6 km and 14 km).Nearest bike shops are Brakehut open seasonally who hire bikes to Glentrool and Kirkcowan Cycles open year-round and out of hours by appointment.
===Kirroughtree=== {{main|Kirroughtree}} Located near Newton Stewart. Kirroughtree features green, blue, red and black trails as well as a skills area for practising mountain biking techniques. Winner of ''MBR Trail of the Year'' in 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.7stanesmountainbiking.com/Kirroughtree|title=7stanes mountain biking|website=7stanesmountainbiking.com|access-date=28 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114115641/http://www.7stanesmountainbiking.com/Kirroughtree|archive-date=14 November 2011|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.7stanes.com/kirroughtree-mbr-trail-of-the-year-i601975.html|title=Kirroughtree - MBR Trail of the Year.|website=7stanes.com|access-date=8 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008195634/http://www.7stanes.com/kirroughtree-mbr-trail-of-the-year-i601975.html|archive-date=8 October 2010|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcmillanhotels.co.uk/kirroughtree-house-hotel/activities/seven-stanes-biking.html|title=7 Stanes at Kirroughtree – MBR Trail of the Year 2010|access-date=8 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925160356/http://www.mcmillanhotels.co.uk/kirroughtree-house-hotel/activities/seven-stanes-biking.html|archive-date=25 September 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mbr.co.uk/news/event_news/Night_ride_at_Kirroughtree_the_UKs_newest_Dark_Sky_Park_article_294971.html |title=Night ride at Kirroughtree: The UK's newest Dark Sky Park | MBR |website=www.mbr.co.uk |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120903224625/http://www.mbr.co.uk/news/event_news/Night_ride_at_Kirroughtree_the_UKs_newest_Dark_Sky_Park_article_294971.html |archive-date=3 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the trails are located within an officially designated Dark Sky Park area. Nearest bike shops are Brakepad (at trail start) with bike hire and Kirkcowan Cycles open year-round for sales and repairs. Courtyard Cycle Hire also at Kirkcowan offer cycle hire all year round.
===Mabie=== {{main|Mabie, Dumfries and Galloway}} Around 6.5 km south of Dumfries, Mabie sports a number of trails - green, blue, and red. A mini-cross track and skills area can be found just along the forest road from where the graded trails head outbound. Numerous Cycle shops in Dumfries.
===Newcastleton=== {{main|Newcastleton}} Located close to the Scotland-England border, this area includes a green skills loop, 2 blue-graded routes, a red-graded route.
==See also== *Forestry and Land Scotland
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.7stanesmountainbiking.com/ 7stanes Mountain Biking] *[http://www.newcastleton.net/7stanes.php Newcastleton Forest 7stanes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723221831/http://www.newcastleton.net/7stanes.php |date=23 July 2011 }} *[http://www.7stanes.com/ 7stanes Information and accommodation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302012328/http://www.7stanes.com/ |date=2 March 2007 }} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929111416/http://www.scottishmountainbike.com/ Scottish Mountain Bike] *[http://www.visitsouthernscotland.co.uk/mountain-biking-c31.html Mounting Biking in Southern Scotland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920215818/http://www.visitsouthernscotland.co.uk/mountain-biking-c31.html |date=20 September 2011 }}
Category:Mountain biking venues in the United Kingdom Category:Tourist attractions in Scotland Category:Tourist attractions in the Scottish Borders Category:Tourist attractions in Dumfries and Galloway Category:Cycleways in Scotland