N

Level: 8

MTB Ride Level 8
A

Distance

Day 1: 13 miles
Day 2: 18 miles
Day 3: 15 Miles
Day 4: 9 Miles

Ride Type

Enduro

&

Ascent

Day one: 2,100 ft
Day two: 3,610 ft
Day three: 2,780 ft
Day four: 2,100 ft

Tweed Valley Exploro

£75.00£270.00 inc. VAT

(4 customer reviews)

August 2023 SOLD OUT!
Click HERE if you would like a ‘private trip‘ or want to be added to our reserve list for August 2023.
Deposit 
from £75
Total 
from £375 (non-residential) £671 (B&B)

Scotland’s world-class trails – brought to you in a four-day intermediate level adventure to remember. Some of the UK’s very best mountain biking, supported by Marmalade’s experts.

Booking more than one room? Select occupancy and room type for your first room, add to basket, then repeat.

World-class mountain biking

Each year, the world’s best mountain bikers flock to the Tweed Valley to compete in the Enduro World Series. The Tweed Valley is home to some of the UK’s most exciting, most scenic and most challenging riding. Renowned locations like Glentress and Innerleithen offer a wealth of trails, while the surrounding moors, forests and peaks of the Scottish Borders are waiting to be explored.

The best off-road combination

Marmalade’s Tweed Valley trip blends together the best of both worlds: the famous singletrack  rollercoasters of the trail centres with the unspoiled backcountry trails known only to local experts. And when each day’s riding is done, we relax in our carefully selected cosy accommodation, enabling you to refuel, refresh and hit the next day’s trails ready to roll.

A challenge that’s within reach

Just 90 minutes north of the border, the off-road heaven of the Tweed Valley isn’t far away, giving you and your bike international-level trail bliss without having to leave the UK.

Our itinerary is optimised for experienced intermediate riders, giving you your own taste of this amazing landscape. (If you’re looking for advanced-level Tweed Valley thrills, let’s arrange a custom private trip for you and your friends!)

Local expertise

Marmalade’s Scotland specialist is Liz Peacock, a British Cycling Level 3 leader and coach who knows the trails of the Tweed Valley intimately. Liz will guide you, support you and ensure that you see the very best of the Tweed Valley.

Day 1 – Glentress warm up & coaching

Day 1 is all about shaking off the journey and giving you a warm-up that will ready you for the rest of the week. Glentress is our starting point – probably the most famous trail centre in Scotland. We spend the day exploring the serpentine singletrack, using our knowledge of the off-piste trails to cherry-pick the best sections.

We add some focussed coaching to refresh your skills with the kind of techniques you’ll find yourself relying upon later in the week.

Day 2 – A day in the wilds

We take you off the beaten track, with a 50km off-road loop that starts with a climb through Traquair Forest to Minch Moor and then across to the Three Brethren. Then we visit Yair Forest with its awesome natural singletrack, ahead of the return to Innerleithen, where the matrix of rocky trails brings us home smiling.

Day 3 – Exploring Innerleithen

Innerleithen has so much to offer, so today we truly explore this off-road paradise. We combine the best trail centre sections with our own ‘off-piste’ options, full of flow and opportunities to take your riding to the next level. All the time, we keep a careful eye on your biking, fine-tuning the day’s challenges to hit the right level for the group.

Day 4 – Golfie goodness

We save the best for last, with a trip to Caberston Forest – known to local bikers as the ‘Golfie’. By now, you’ve built the skills and confidence to feel at home sampling some of the Tweed Valley’s more advanced options – and with Liz’s careful guidance, you’ll experience the satisfaction of riding trails that just a few days ago might have felt our of reach for intermediate riders.

Options for advanced riders

This trip is designed to give experienced intermediate riders an opportunity to explore and build their skills. But if you already ride at an advanced level, we would love to show you the best of the Tweed Valley. Let’s arrange a custom experience that’s tailored to you and your riding.

Tweed Valley Enduro MTB Tweed Love Guided MTB Trip Marmalade MTB

Details for your Tweed Valley MTB weekend trip

We have carefully crafted this four day trip aimed at strong intermediate riders to provide you with the very best format and team to experience the awesome Tweed Valley. Mix this all together with the usual fun and social elements that we are famous for and you have the perfect recipe for an unbeatable experience and lifelong memories.

Full details of our 2023 Tweed Valley trip is below, along with additional information on the other tabs. If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact us.

  • Dates:
    • 27 August – 31 August
      • Ride days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
  • Places available: 8 (max.)
    • 1:8 ratio of riders to our fully qualified British Cycling Level 3 MTB Leader
  • Total price per person: (incl. VAT)
    • Without accommodation = £375
      • We can advise on local campsites and other accommodation providers
    • Single room = £713
    • Standard twin room (shared) = £671
      • See further twin room information and options below
    • Standard twin/double room (single occupancy) = £798
    • Standard double (couples) = £671
    • Deluxe double room (single occupancy) = £841
    • Deluxe double room (couples) = £713
  • Twin room options:
    • Available for friends who are happy to share
    • On your own and happy to share? Please book a twin room and you will be placed with a member of the group of the same gender who has requested the same option*
      * if no one else books this option, then you will be offered the room as single occupancy based on the room rates above

  • Payment (booking 60 days or more before trip)
    • 20% deposit on booking, by credit/debit card
    • Balance due 60 days before trip, by bank payment
    • Subject to our standard Terms and Conditions
  • Payment (booking less than 60 days before trip)
    • Full balance payable on booking, by credit/debit card

What’s included:

  • 4 nights bed and breakfast at the amazing Traquair Arms Hotel
    • B&B: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
      • Single and shared occupancy en-suite rooms available (see above)
      • Additional pre & post trip nights available by booking direct with Traquair Arms Hotel
  • 4 fully guided days by Liz Peacock a fully qualified British Cycling Level 3 MTB leader and Level 2 coach

What’s not included:

  • Evening meals and drinks
  • Travel to (day 1) and from (final day) the accommodation
  • Personal health, activity and holiday insurance
    • The above is a requirement for your participation on this trip
  • Bike hire (options available – please contact us)
  • Bike spares
  • Ride day lunches, snacks and drinks

Reassurance

We comply with the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 by paying money received for package holidays into a trust administered by independent trustees, Serenity Travel Trusts. This means that in respect of all arrangements requiring protection, in the event of our insolvency, funds will be available to ensure that you will receive a refund of the money you have paid to us. If the holiday or weekend is not filled then we hold the right to cancel or postpone.

To read the full terms and conditions please visit them here. Thank you.

Marmalade MTB weekend trips terms and conditions serenity travel trust

Tweed Valley Enduro MTB Tweed Love Guided MTB Trip Marmalade MTB

Day One: Glentress Warm Up & Coaching
  • Duration: 3-5 hours *
  • Distance: 22 kilometers | 13 miles *
  • Elevation gain: 650 meters | 2,100 feet *
  • Technical Grade: Experienced intermediate (minimum)
    • Minimum of 2-3 years mountain biking experience with regular experience on steep, technical and natural trails
    • See ‘Is this for me tab’
    • Any questions, please contact us
Day Two: A day in the wilds
  • Duration: 5-7 hours ride time *
  • Distance: 30 kilometers | 18 miles *
  • Elevation gain: 1,100 meters | 3,610 feet *
  • Technical Grade: Experienced intermediate (minimum)
    • Minimum of 2-3 years mountain biking experience with regular experience on steep, technical and natural trails
    • See ‘Is this for me tab’
    • Any questions, please contact us
Day Three: Exploring Innerleithen
  • Duration: 3-5 hours ride time *
  • Distance: 16 kilometers | 10 miles *
  • Elevation gain: 650 meters | 2,100 feet *
  • Technical Grade: Experienced intermediate (minimum)
    • Minimum of 2-3 years mountain biking experience with regular experience on steep, technical and natural trails
    • See ‘Is this for me tab’
    • Any questions, please contact us
Day Four: Golfie goodness
  • Duration: 3-5 hours ride time *
  • Distance: 25 kilometers | 15 miles *
  • Elevation gain: 850 meters | 2,780 feet *
  • Technical Grade: Experienced intermediate (minimum)
    • Minimum of 2-3 years mountain biking experience with regular experience on steep, technical and natural trails
    • See ‘Is this for me tab’
    • Any questions, please contact us

* for each day the distances and elevation gain will depend on weather and the overall riding level of the group. As ever our rides will be sociable and relaxed which will dictate how much climbing and different trails we fit in, especially on Day 1, 3 and 4. This is big country and we appreciate we need to look after our legs, therefore to maximise the smiles we will take all day if required to pace ourselves

  • You will be at least a strong and experienced intermediate rider with a minimum of 2-3 years regular mountain biking experience looking to progress to an advance level
  • The above experience would include example routes and locations that you have successfully ridden such as:
    (see video below for a sample of the Tweed Valley Trails we will ride on this trip)
    • Jacobs ladder in the Peak District
    • The Rangers path from the summit of Snowdon
    • Helvellyn descent in the Lake District
    • Technical red trails with some black features in places like Bike Park Wales, Afan and Coed-y-Brenin
  • You will be confident in advanced mountain bike handling skills and not be phased by steep, technical and long trails that would be graded predominantly black
  • The trails will include features such as roots, small to long committing roll-able drop-offs and loose rocks of varying sizes. The drop-offs in some places would not be considered roll-able and along with some features may require you to walk around or down with your bike
    • Your professional Level 3 MTB leaders 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 have your own suitable full suspension modern ‘all mountain’ / ‘enduro’ 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’ / ‘enduro’ bike would be perfect
    • Hybrid and budget bicycles are not suitable for this intense 4 day trip
  • The ride does contain many undulating and moderately steep, technical and long climbs
  • You have the personal fitness to ride for at least 6-8 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
  • If you consider yourself a solid advanced rider, then please do check out our ‘Advanced’ version of this trip or contact us for further discussion

Equipment, kit, clothing and anything else

  • You have your own suitable full suspension modern ‘all mountain’ / ‘enduro’ 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’ / ‘enduro’ bike would be perfect
  • Helmet *
  • Personal health, activity and holiday insurance *
  • Gloves and glasses
  • Knee and elbow pads if this is what you usually ride with
  • Hydration backpack (min. 2 liters) *
  • x2 spare inner tubes
  • Spare rear mech hanger specific for your bike
  • x2 spokes specific to your bike wheels
  • Puncture repair kit and bicycle pump
  • Clothing & shoes appropriate for cycling and weather conditions on the ride days
  • Padded cycling shorts for comfort
  • Personal choice of drink and ride snacks *

* without these you will not be able to take part in the guided ride. Our guides carry an extensive kit to assist with trail-side repairs

4 reviews for Tweed Valley Exploro

  1. Graham Robins

    Just finished another excellently organised 4 days of mountain biking in the Tweed Valley, fantastic technical and exciting trails. Liz skilfully guides the trip to make sure it is challenging, fun and works hard to make sure everyone has the best time.
    As with all the trips I’ve done with Marmalade the hotel was superb, with some of the best food I’ve had. Thanks to the other riders for fun, laughs and good company.
    Many thanks to Marmalade for another first class trip, see you soon.

  2. John czogalik

    Hi this will be 5th weekend/week trip with Marmalade this year and again another Fantastic trip don’t worry if you are on your own and not sure about your riding level you will be well looked after with this friendly set up no problem at all looking forward to my next trip Most likely the Lakes 2023 5 star again Sean and Liz

  3. Gaynor Thorpe

    Second trip with Marmalade and I just can’t praise them enough!!!
    This time round was Tweed Valley, you can tell a huge amount of work goes into setting up of these trips as they run so smooth.

    TV was epic, with stacks of steep and techi trails. Liz is an awesome guide, picking the best of the trails and offering reassurance when needed too! Cheers I will be back for more
    5 +

  4. banc293

    Loved this trip. Scenery, hotel, itinerary, group and even the weather
    Sean and Liz did everything possible to make sure each individual progressed, and that we all had fun along the way. Great local knowledge, lots of options, technical help with bikes, and plenty of encouragement. My riding progressed more than I expected

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