[SA Chris]

Got a week there next week, looking what's best for unfit full suss rider, with passes limited to a couple of hours. Definite preference for technical single track over big drops and scary shit. Definitely more in the red than the black. Based just west of Dumfries, and family in tow, so if trail centre has a decent caff and some walking even better.

Cheers.

(Got VG Trail Centre Guide, which is a phenomenally good book and essential to anyone who owns a mountain bike, and a must buy get it get it get it, but looking for personal recommendations)

Cofe and Jon, don't say I'm not doing my bit 

[Norton Sharley]

I have only ridden Kirroughtree there but it is great for a trail centre and reckoned to be the best of the UK trail centres?  Do the black.  It is vaguely technical for a trail centre with some bends with unexpected drops, for example, which you wouldn't normally expect.  The McMoab bit is good fun too.  All in all it just flows and without the usual feeling of having to pedal uphill for miles to get to the descent.

Have fun.

[john horscroft]

  with Norton!  (for the second time today, this can't go on!)

Kirroughtree is excellent XC territory, both red and black.  Dalbeattie isn't my favourite places and has no cafe  .  I reckon you'll enjoy Ae, superb XC for the most part with a loopy finish that you might enjoy too! 

However, the place I'd really send you to is Drumlanrig.  Good cafe, stunning woodland riding.  Both the red and the black are simply phenomenal.  Careful if it's wet though because it's as rooty as hell!  Chat to Rick in the shop, he's a good egg..... 

[IanP]

Just back from a trip with the family staying north of Dumfries (actually right next to Ae).

Did the following:

AE - enjoyed it, rough and rocky and maybe not that flowly but good fun, plenty of climbing so maybe not that enjoyable if you're feeling unfit, not particularly good for short loops.  Cafe on sight.
Mabie - nice spot unfortunately weather was rubbish, did part of the trail with the daughter and was quite impressed but she'd had enough rain so just took her to the skills area for mess.  Looks like could be good for walking (if weather had been better) and has cafe and hotel.
Drumlinrig - really excellent woodland riding as John says, castle grounds are great for family, walking / play area / cafe etc etc.  Black is fine with only a couple of technical routey sections though it was all dry when I was there, could be fun in the wet I guess.   If you're there with family you can easily split it if time is short - I covered the whole thing in 2 natural loops of an hour or so each (worth noting that if you get 2 day entry to the grounds the second day is half price).   

[john horscroft]

Good point Ian.  Drumlanrig isn't cheap.  Something like a tenner (? correct me if I'm wrong ian) to park.  However, good for a two day session, plenty to do.............

Just remembered, the taster/skills loop at Dalbeattie is good fun 

[Norton Sharley]

IanP - good efforting on sighting the cafe at Ae, I often find I have to do some dogging in cafes for the full tick.

[nai]

The Kirroughtree ride is excellent but tough, you'd do well to do it in 2hrs.  And it's quite a trek from Dumfries, takes about an hour to get there I think.

Dalbeattie's red is ok when you take in the optional black features like the slab and twin sisters but that's probably not what you're after.

Mabie's red is shorter and smoother, almost entirely singletrack, it has some north shore style features and some twisty bermed descents.  Unfortunately it's over a bit quickly and not as memorable as places like Kirroughtree and Dalbeattie but McFun while it lasts.

With only two hours to spare I'd go for Mabie, you'll probably finish within the time if you avoid mechanicals and score some brownie points, if you're lucky the Mrs will like the area and you might get to go back and do it again.

[IanP]

'IanP - good efforting on sighting the cafe at Ae, I often find I have to do some dogging in cafes for the full tick. '

It's not that hard really, you just need to focus and avoid being distracted by all those fancy continental coffees 

[220bpm]

The northshore at Mabie is a good laugh if you like that sort of thing 

[SA Chris]

Is that the super hard thing? I genrally enjoy a bit of it, provided they go for the as wide as it is high rule.

Other advice is great cheers. So al have something going for them, except maybe Ae.

[Fultonius]

Got a week there next week, looking what's best for unfit full suss rider, with passes limited to a couple of hours.

Well there's plenty of nice drives in the area, great views. I'm sure your car will manage to drag your unfit ass and bike around. 

Joking aside, I wish I could come down and shred some trails with you. The only XC I've done down there is Kirroughtree. I totally hit the wall on that one, felt well shaky by the end - that's what happens when a DHer tries to keep up with the guy who's waaay fitter than me...

[SA Chris]

So we are back again this year.

How would the Twister Red at Kirroughtree be for a very fit but inexperienced trail rider on a hardtail? I'm really keen to give it a shot (being the opposite; unfit, experienced trail rider on FS) and keen to get mate who is going with us, but don't want him to have a hard time, as he is a bit new to this kind of thing.

Staying near Gatehouse of Fleet this year, so bit closer to Kirroughtree etc.

[Iesu]

went there with my ladyfriend a couple of years ago, she with zero mtb skills quite enjoyed the sections of the red loop we did there. If memory serves most (if not all) the technical sections have a "chicken run" for the less technically adept.

Shame the same can't be said for the red at Coed y Brenin; first proper off-road action in spd's ended in tears 

[stom]

So we are back again this year.

How would the Twister Red at Kirroughtree be for a very fit but inexperienced trail rider on a hardtail? I'm really keen to give it a shot (being the opposite; unfit, experienced trail rider on FS) and keen to get mate who is going with us, but don't want him to have a hard time, as he is a bit new to this kind of thing.

Staying near Gatehouse of Fleet this year, so bit closer to Kirroughtree etc.

Kirroughtree red is really good.  Perfect for a hardtail, and the fitter you are the more you'll get out of it.  I flows along the terrain so theirs no major climbs, the flipside is theirs no major descents either, it just kind of keeps flowing up and down along the hillside.  Lots of singletrack, not too rocky or rooty for a begginner, but the harder you push the better it gets. 

[Adam Lincoln]

No probs on the twister Chris, quite a pedley route anyway so will be fine.

[SA Chris]

Cheers guys, keen for it now!