Mountain Biking in Southern and Central Scotland

If you’re looking for big days out on the bike in some of Scotland’s most dramatic landscapes, this guidebook has you covered. Featuring 21 mountain biking routes across central and southern Scotland, it blends legendary trail‑centre riding with wild, cross‑country adventures through rolling hills, forests and open moorland.

You’ll find routes in the 7stanes trail centres of Dumfries and Galloway, as well as classic XC loops in the Campsie Fells, Pentland Hills, Lammermuirs, Galloway Forest, Tweed Valley, Cheviots and Lowther Hills. Distances range from 16.5km to 66km, with grades from moderate to very hard — perfect for riders with some experience who want to push their skills and fitness.

Each ride includes clear 1:50,000 OS mapping, detailed route descriptions, timings, difficulty ratings and everything you need to stay on track. Routes start from accessible hubs such as Greenock, Glentrool, Peebles and Milngavie, making it easy to reach them from both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Alongside the rides, the guide gives a handy overview of the region’s trail centres — including the famous 7stanes — plus practical advice on equipment, maintenance and safety. And while the trail centres are world‑class, the real magic lies in the region’s vast network of tracks, forest roads and hill paths, offering endless opportunities for ‘free‑range’ mountain biking far beyond the waymarked loops.

Whether you’re chasing long climbs, fast descents or remote back‑country riding, this guidebook opens up some of Scotland’s finest MTB terrain.