7stanes Mabie

Though close to Dalbeattie and Ae – it sits slap bang between the two – Mabie offers something different again. While Dalbeattie is all hard, granite trails and open, sweeping vistas, and Ae resembles a fun park, with its manmade trails, jumps and bumps, Mabie offers something akin to a more natural mountain biking experience.

Here you will find softer trails, with roots a more common obstacle than rocks – though fear not, these trails have been constructed with mountain bikers in mind, and there is some great singletrack – downhill and uphill.

Recent work has established some fantastic novice friendly blue and green trails, which provide a great introduction to single-track riding.

The popular Phoenix Trail meanwhile is 17kms of hugely enjoyable red-graded trails. From the start the trail climbs gently until Butterhole Climb takes you abruptly uphill and on to The Ridge; a natural option for dry conditions only. Then follows the only significant the only significant road section in the whole ride, after this it is single-track (nearly) all the way. First a long entertaining traverse leads to Descender Bender.

The descent that follows justifies the effort of the initial testing climb. Sweeping berms, as well as some off camber corners, on a well-constructed track that speeds you down to a small river crossing - The Burn Splash - before the aptly name Scorpion - perhaps the most severe climb included at any of the 7stanes centres. It is a brief but explosive leg-burner.

Catch your breath for the thrilling Roller Coaster, andthen The Elevator, takes you sharply uphill, via sections of North Shore leading to a fantastic ridge with views across to the nearby town of Dumfries.

Coming back down, is fast and furious until you arrive at a beam that's the width of a tree, sitting one metre above the ground and narrowing considerably at the end. Just what you need at the end of a tough cross-country route, though fortunately riding it is optional.

The Bad Step follows soon after and this time there is no soft option other than getting off the bike and walking, it is not as bad as it looks though and a confident approach should see you down okay. The final section, Rattle 'n' Hum, speeds you on, weaving around the trees, over more sipply roots, and back to the car park.

And then, for the mad, bad and dangerous to know, there is the Dark Side, so called because it is 'the most technically demanding, hair raising 2kms of legal timber to be found on Forestry Commission land in this country.'

Situated in a corner of the forest away from the main trails, the Dark Side is black grade North Shore and is for experts only. Even then, those who do fancy riding it are advised to walk it first. More thrills - and skills - can be gained in the new skills area found close to the trailhead and those of a more Freeride persuasion need look no further than the new Mini-X if styling it up and hanging out is the aim of the day.

The onsite Grierson & Graham cycle centre can arrange bike hire, retail sales and repair and there is also a cafe offering refreshments and a wood-burning stove - ideal for drying off after a wet day's biking!

Other Info

Routes
Green – Big Views Loop, 8.2kms
Blue – Woodhead Loop, 10kms
Red – The Phoenix Trail, 17kms
Black – Mabie’s Dark Side, 2kms
Orange - Mini-X
Lochbank Loop, 12.5kms

Bike Shops/Hire
Grierson & Graham 01387 270275
Castle Douglas Cycle Centre 01556 504542
Kirkpatrick's Cycles 01387 254011

Getting There

From Dumfries, follow the A710 for around 4 miles. The turn off for the car park is on the right, heading south on this road.

Distance from
Dumfries - 5 miles
Stranraer - 75 miles
Carlisle - 38 miles
Glasgow - 78 miles
Edinburgh - 82 miles

Website

• www.7stanes.gov.uk