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Discover the extraordinary variety of the south west of Scotland on a four-day guided mountain bike adventure. While the Tweed Valley focuses on enduro flow and the Highlands offer remote backcountry epics, this trip blends the world-class singletrack of the famous 7stanes network with stunning coastal views and rewarding cross-country exploration. It’s the perfect mix of trail-centre thrill and wild Scottish scenery.

World-class riding variety

Dumfries and Galloway is a powerhouse of Scottish mountain biking. Renowned locations like Mabie, Dalbeattie, Kirroughtree, and Ae Forest offer immense, progressive singletrack riding. Surrounding these trail centres, the vast Galloway Forest Park provides access to huge vistas, hill tracks, and scenic loops that lead you from deep forest to the stunning Solway coast. This itinerary, expertly curated by Marmalade MTB’s Liz Peacock, gives you the best off-road combination in the region.

The best basecamp experience

This trip features a single, luxurious base for the entire four days, making for a truly relaxing experience. We are based at the award-winning Ship Inn hotel in Gatehouse of Fleet, an establishment geared up specifically for cyclists, offering secure bike storage, excellent locally inspired food, and comfortable rooms, allowing you to refuel and recharge properly each evening.

Guided by local expertise

Marmalade’s Scotland specialist Liz Peacock, a British Cycling Level 3 Leader and Dumfries local, will be your guide and host for the duration. Liz knows the region intimately, ensuring you experience the true ‘trail gold’ – from hidden off-piste lines to the most scenic routes – all while providing support and fine-tuning the day’s riding to the group’s preference.

Four-day format

We have carefully crafted this four-day trip for intermediate riders, providing the very best format to explore this magnificent area. Each day you’ll drive a short distance from the Ship Inn to the ride start. All routes are circular, ensuring you finish back at your car before making the short return journey to the hotel. Mix this format with the ‘Marmalade factor’ for a fun, sociable experience that will leave you with lifelong memories.

The ideal bike for this trip would be your own modern quality full suspension modern ‘all mountain’ or ‘trail’ mountain bike

However, these routes can also be ridden on other kinds of mountain bike, depending on your personal choice. In the right hands, good hardtail bikes can be sufficient, and we increasingly see e-bikes in our groups – as well as enduro-style bikes. All these are welcome. Each climb, and each descent, is taken at the speed that’s right for you, and we manage our groups carefully to ensure no-one feels left behind.

• 120 mm of front suspension travel with modern geometry is the bare minimum for this trip
• 140-160 mm of suspension travel on an ‘all-mountain’ / ‘trail’ bike would be perfect
• Electric mountain bikes are welcome
• Gravel, hybrid and budget bicycles are not suitable for this trip

• You should be at least a strong and experienced intermediate rider with a minimum of 2-3 years’ regular mountain biking experience
• You should have confident in your bike handling skills and not be put off by steep, technical and long trails that would be graded predominantly red-graded with some black-graded sections
• The ride does contain many undulating and moderately steep, technical and long climbs
• The trails will include features such as roots, small-to-medium rollable drop-offs that require commitment, and slopes with loose rocks of varying sizes
  • Your professional Level 3 MTB leader will dynamically manage the group and individuals during each day. There will not be any pressure to ride features or sections above your riding ability on the day.
• You should your own suitable full suspension modern ‘all mountain’ / ‘trail’ mountain bike
  • 120 mm of suspension travel with modern and aggressive geometry is the bare minimal for this trip
  • 140-160 mm of suspension travel on an ‘all-mountain’ / ‘trail’ bike would be perfect
  • Gravel, hybrid and budget bicycles are not suitable for this 4 day trip
• You should have the personal fitness to ride for at least 4-6 hours on consecutive days at a social and comfortable pace
• You are aged 18 and over unless accompanied by an adult also participating on this ride
• If this sounds a little beyond your current skill and fitness level, then please do contact us for further discussion

Day one: Mabie Forest & Views of New Abbey

• Duration: 4-6 hours*
• Distance: 20 mi | 32 km*
• Elevation gain: 3,000 ft | 915m*
• Technical Grade: Intermediate (minimum)

Your adventure begins just outside Dumfries at the famous Mabie Forest, offering a fast-paced introduction to the region’s quality riding. We’ll delve into the forest’s rewarding trail centre singletrack, known for its flowing berms and signature rocky features. The ride will explore the area between Mabie and the nearby village of New Abbey, home to the striking ruins of Sweetheart Abbey. We have the option to tackle the significant climb through Kinharvie Forest up to the historic Waterloo Monument. This viewpoint is well worth the effort, offering truly spectacular panoramic vistas across the Nith Estuary and the surrounding countryside, with views stretching out over the Solway Firth. A brilliant first day to shake out the legs and get familiar with the Scottish terrain.

Day two: Forest to Coast – Dalbeattie & The Urr Estuary

• Duration: 4-6 hours’ ride time*
• Distance: 15 mi | 24 km*
• Elevation gain: 2,000 ft | 610m*
• Technical Grade: Intermediate (minimum)

This day offers true geographical variety, linking the unique trail centre environment with the rugged coastal landscape. We begin on the distinctive granite-strewn trails of Dalbeattie Forest, tackling its technical slabs and famous rock features that require pinpoint precision. From the trail centre, we transition onto quieter forest tracks and bridleways, climbing high above the coast and the Urr Estuary, making our way toward the beautiful sailing village of Kippford. We’ll drop down to the village waterfront for a well-earned break and refreshments – perhaps even some local ice cream – before taking an alternative, enjoyable trail loop back inland toward Dalbeattie. A fun, varied ride that perfectly encapsulates the diverse landscape of the region.

Day three: The Wild West – The Wonders of Galloway Forest Park

• Duration: 7-8 hours’ ride time*
• Distance: 15-28 mi | 24-45 km*
• Elevation gain: 1,800 – 2,500 ft | 550-760m*
• Technical Grade: Intermediate (minimum)

Day three takes us further west into the dramatic expanse of the Galloway Forest Park, a protected area renowned for its scenic wilderness and status as a Dark Sky Park. We have choices depending on the group’s ability and the weather forecast, ensuring a tailored experience:

• Trail centre blast: We can visit the world-famous Kirroughtree Forest, tackling some of the finest purpose-built trails in the UK. Kirroughtree is particularly known for its challenging bedrock sections and fast descents on the legendary red and black routes.

• Big country mission: Alternatively, we may embark on a challenging cross-country exploration across the vast hill tracks and moorland of the Forest Park. This option takes us past peaceful, secluded lochs and through the rolling hills, offering a proper ‘big day out’ in the true Scottish countryside, far from the trail centre crowds.

• Trail centre plus big country: We start our ride in one of the lesser known trail centres – Glentrool Forest, set deep in the Glen Trool valley. From here.we can head out into the surrounding countryside over tracks through moorland with scenic loch views, to locate the Giant Axe stane, before continuing our adventure back to the trailhead via the Southern Upland way.

Day 4: Trail Gold at the Forest of Ae

• Duration: 4-6 hours’ ride time*
• Distance: 13 mi | 21km*
• Elevation gain:  1,800 ft | 550m*
• Technical Grade: Intermediate (minimum)

We finish the trip at the incredible Forest of Ae, a varied and historic venue that has shaped Scottish mountain biking, having hosted numerous World Cup cross country, enduro, and downhill events over the years. Ae offers something for every strong intermediate rider, from the flowing blue and red grade centre trails to local-crafted enduro routes that run through dense forest canopy. The final climbs reward us with stunning panoramic views across the Solway Firth and the surrounding hills. This venue, rich with trail gold hidden within the trees, provides the perfect, high-quality finale to your four-day journey across Dumfries and Galloway.

* All the distances, elevations and timings shown here are intended as guides. While riding, routes may be adjusted dynamically to suit weather, group ability or other factors. As ever, our rides will be sociable and relaxed, which influences how much climbing and how many different trails we fit in. 

For more help deciding whether these routes suit you, check out our ‘Is this for me?’ tab.

Any questions, please contact us.

Equipment, kit and clothing

Essentials:

• Suitable mountain bike in good working order
• Helmet (in good condition, with no damage)
• Clothing and shoes appropriate for cycling and weather conditions on the day
• Personal choice of drink and ride snacks
• Spare rear mech hanger specific for your bike

Recommended:

• Gloves
• Glasses, sunglasses or eyeshields
• Hydration backpack (min. 2 liters)
• Spare inner tubes
• Spare spokes specific to your bike wheels
• Puncture repair kit and bicycle pump
• Padded cycling shorts for comfort

What’s not included

• Bike hire – this can be booked with one our recommended local partners
• Personal clothing & equipment
• Pre, during or post activity refreshments
• Personal travel or accident Insurance

The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Marmalade MTB – 5559, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for:

• Non-flight packages

ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if transportation was included in your package.  Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Marmalade MTB.  

In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure, please call our 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company.

You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here:  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/contents/made 

You can find out more about ABTOT here: https://www.abtot.com/