They’re not a mountain bike specific organisation in any way, shape or form but the accommodation is of course still MTB friendly which should make booking your next road-trip easier. Hopefully we’ll see a version for mountain bikers in the future.

Here’s what Beds for Cyclists have to say for themselves:

BEDS FOR CYCLISTS

Beds for Cyclists celebrates first year with a new look and over 600 cycle friendly hosts on board.

Beds for Cyclists launches its new look website today, to coincide with the cycle-friendly site’s first anniversary. With record numbers of new accommodation providers and site visitors, finding bike-friendly accommodation across the UK is about to get easier than ever.

Sam Howard, Founder and Marketing Director, said, “Our website has been connecting all different types of cyclists with cycle-friendly places to stay for a year now. We’ve got feedback from hundreds of fellow cyclists about what the site should offer, culminating in this new design and layout. Similarly we’ve listened carefully to our accommodation providers to make sure they can really show off what they can offer.”

With regular news updates on where to stay and where to cycle (Five Top English Long Distance Routes is our pick of the month), Beds for Cyclists is the online resource for the UK’s growing breed of cycle explorer.

Since its inception, Beds for Cyclists has developed some key partnerships with national accommodation networks and other cycling websites. These include the Youth Hostel Association (YHA), the Green Business Tourism Scheme, Velocate and Cycle End to End.

Beds for Cyclists also features in all new cycling maps published by Sustrans and CycleCity Guides, demonstrating the impression it’s already making on the cycle industry.

Sustrans’ Digital Manager, David Harris, said, “Beds for Cyclists is my go-to website for booking accommodation when I’m planning a cycle trip, whether I’ve already decided on a route or am looking for inspiration.

“It’s easy to find cycle-friendly places to stay, whether searching by location or route name, by browsing the results on the map. The mobile-friendly version is a bonus when you’re out and about.”

Travel writer and cycle blogger, Kerry O’Neill, said, “I wish I’d known about Beds for Cyclists sooner. I’ve cycled across Scotland, up and down the valleys of Wales and from Bristol to Rome and this kind of site would have made my life so much easier – and that of my poor bike which often ended up locked to railings outside!

“Beds for Cyclists doesn’t feature places that merely tolerate cyclists – it features hosts that positively welcome them. So if you love bike touring, and folks who love bike tourists, browse Beds for Cyclists today.”

When booking a place you’ve found on Beds for Cyclists you can be confident you’ll get a warm welcome and a cosy bed after a hard day’s cycling! 

www.bedsforcyclists.co.uk

Keep in touch with their news releases on www.twitter.com/bedsforcyclists and www.facebook.com/bedsforcyclists

Looking for somewhere to ride this weekend?

Here in at-a-glance map format is a complete index to our popular Trail Guide so you can get the essential information you need on any area you’re considering heading to.

Compiled by the indefatigable Nik Cook, the Bikemagic trail Guide gives you the essential info you need on over 50 trail centres and other mountain biking hotbeds.

View Bikemagic trail guide in a larger map

Thanks to Mpora & Bikemagic intern Matt Blair for assembling this map.

Pop into Square Wheels bike shop in Strathpeffer, pick up a trail map (you’ll need one if only to find the start of the trail), have a chat and then head into the woods to explore. Although the way-marked riding is more suited to intermediate riders and above, there’s loads of trails for all abilities and ages.

Boardwalk in Contin Forest. Image by Ben Freeman via Flickr.

How to get there

Take the A835 road west from Contin to a point about 200 metres beyond the 30 mph speed limit. At the green Forestry Commission Scotland sign, turn right. Continue along this road for half a mile past some wooden buildings to the car park.

The Strathpeffer trail mascot. Image by Ben Freeman via Flickr.

Sat Nav: Contin

Facilities

Parking and toilets.

Trails

The main way-marked 16 km red grade trail is a great ride. With its roots, rocky slabs, plenty of tight singletrack and steep ups and downs, it’ll put a big grin on your face. It’s best in the dry or when frozen but still fun in the slop.

Strathpuffer 2006: Watersplash. Image by Douglas Cook via Flickr

Nearest bike shop

Square Wheels, Strathpeffer

Square Wheels has the reputation of being a small but perfectly formed and very friendly shop. Image by Ben Freeman via Flickr.

Other info

If you like the riding and have a masochistic streak a mile wide, how about taking on the mid-winter Strathpuffer 24-hour race. The 2013 edition happens over the weekend of January 26-27.

Useful links

Forestry Commission guide to Contin Forest Walks (start point of Strathpeffer mountain bike trails.)
Strathpuffer 24-hour race.

He’s probably not heading for the trails… Image by Strathpeffer Village via Flickr.

Located in the Tweed Valley, Glentress has the reputation of being one of, if not the, best trail centre in the UK. The facilities are brilliant and the trails, from green through to black, are genuine mountain biking trails with no forest road bimbles.

How to get there

From Edinburgh join the A703 to Peebles just south of the Edinburgh City Bypass (A720). Note that the road becomes the A701 between Penicuik and Leadburn, but reverts to being the A703 from Leadburn to Peebles.

At Peebles, take a left at the roundabout where the A703 meets the A72. Follow the A72 east towards Innerleithen. Glentress is signposted, with the 7stanes trails signposted a little further on. Follow the road for around 3.5km. The entrance to Glentress is on the left.

Sat Nav: EH45 8NB

Facilities

Car parking and bike wash. The Peel Gateway Building with toilets, showers and changing rooms. Bike shop and bike hire and the Glentress Peel Cafe.

Trails

Mist through the trees. Image by Addy Pope via Flickr

Kicking off is is the skills area that has green, blue and red loops with features that are representative of what you’re likely to find on the trails for real. A great way to make sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew. You can start the green trail from either the Buzzards Nest car-park (4.5km) or from Glentress Peel (3.5km), either way it’s completely different from most green trails and, although never steep or technical, it twists and turns and genuinely feels like mountain biking.

Concentrate! Image by aliweb_gt via Flickr

There’s 16km of blue graded trails equally spread between and upper and lower loop. It’s a definite step up from the green and is fast and flowing. Check out YouTube sensation Callum riding Berm Baby Berm:

Onto the 18km red and, with 65% singletrack, it has everything a red trail should: tough climbs, fast descents, jumps, berms, elevated timber, roots and rocks. Cross-country riding at its very best.

The 29km black packs in 75% singletrack and is a genuine epic. With infamous sections such as Deliverance, The Bitch and Britney Spears, it’s just one technical challenge after another.

Recovering at the top of the black. Image by thekelticfringe via Flickr

Unfortunately the timber features in the Ewok Village have been removed but, for those who love to balance on logs, they still make an appearance elsewhere on the trail.

Finally, for those who like to jump, there’s a Freeride Park with a range of jumps, drops and north shore features.

Nearest bike shop

Glentress Peel Bikes (onsite)

Other info

Car parking is £3 for the day.

If you’re traveling from a distance, Peebles has lots of accommodation. The Prince of India does a good curry and one of the pubs does karaoke, but we’re darned if we can remember which one. It was a big night…

The Glenress Peel Cafe. Image by William Hook via Flickr

Useful sites

7Stanes Glentress & Innerleithen
Forestry Commission guide to Glentress

View Larger Map

The Mull of Kintyre is an incredibly beautiful place but as it’s a peninsula, you’re looking at a long drive to get there. You wouldn’t make the journey to Campbeltown primarily to ride the 5km of trails but, if you were touring the area and happened to have your bikes, they’re worth a spin round.

Kintyre and Arran. Image by Draig via Flickr

Beinn Ghuilean dominates the skyline above Campbeltown and, for the sake of a 20-minute grind out of town, its views and trails are worth the pedal.

How to get there

Head down the Mull of Kintyre to Campbeltown. Once there, head to the Quays on the seafront and turn left. The Aqualibrium (Leisure Centre) will be straight in front of you. Pick up the map from the Aqualibrium to find the start of the trails.

Sat Nav: PA28 6EG

Facilities

Full facilities at the Aqualibrium

Trails

Kintyre hills. Image by The Antrim Rambler via Flickr

Use the 20-minute ride out of town to warm-up and then hit the Blue Trail. It’s short and sweet at 2.7km but pretty good fun and suitable for all. The 2km Red Trail is a bolt-on to the Blue and includes some berms, boardwalks, moderate steps and drop-offs. Nothing to be overly wary about but enough of a challenge to have some fun on.

Nearest bike shop

The Cycle Shop, Campbeltown Tel: 01586 554 443

Other info

Keep an eye out for walkers on the trails as they’re not bike only.

Useful sites

Forestry Commission guide to the Wee Toon Trail
Aqualibrium, Campbeltown

Location Map

View Larger Map

Three trail centres for the price of one with plenty of variety and the opportunity to pick and mix trails to create your ideal ride. Cross-country riders with a liking for technical trails might be a little underwhelmed but, on the whole, there’s something for most types and levels of riders and about 30km of marked trails to explore.

At the top after a big slog. Image by daguerrotype74 via Flickr

How to get there

Fochabers and Elgin both lie on the A96 Inverness – Aberdeen road. Craigellachie is on the A95 to the south.

Ordiequish: Turn south off the A96 by the chip shop in the middle of Fochabers (look for the blue sign). Stay on this road for around 1km, going through Ordiequish and Upper Ordiequish until you reach the car park.

Whiteash (Winding Walks):Follow the A98 out of Fochabers towards Buckie for around 1km. The Winding Walks car park is on the right (south) side of the road.

Ben Aigan: Turn off the A95 Keith to Craigellachie road near Mulben. Coming from Mulbin, the car park is on the right; from Craigellachie it’s on the left.

Sat Nav: Fochabers

Facilities

Each of the three trailheads is just a car park but there are full facilities at Fochabers.

Trails

Starting off from the Ordiequish car park, you’ve got the three blue grade trails, Soup Dragon, Godzilla and The Haggis. Of the three, The Haggis is probably the pick and you can link off it Ben Aigan. Unfortunately, at the time of writing (31/10/12), both The Haggis and the link trail were closed for harvesting.

Also at Ordiequish lurks the infamous black grade Gully Monster. Only 2km but steep, twisting, committing, vertiginous and with a heart fluttering drop. There’s also a skills area to play on.

From the Winding Walks car park you’ve got the 8km red grade Forchabers Ring trail. There’s a lot of variety packed in and the fun sections later on make the massive early forest road climb worthwhile.

From the high point of the Ring, there’s the 0.75km Forchabers Freeride. Wide but occasionally high north shore opens its account and then the bottom is jumpy and bermy. Enjoyable and spits you out halfway down the Ring descent.

From Ben Aigan you again earn your height on forest roads before picking up the 8km red grade Ben Aigan Hammer. Once on the singletrack, it’s an unbroken loop and although rocky and including some boardwalk, is never too demanding.

You can leave the Hammer and choose to hurtle down either the fast and fun black graded Mast Blast (closed until December 2012) or the testing Bunny downhill run which includes some wicked rock gardens and some sizeable jumps.

Moray beech woods. Image by Angus Mackie via Flickr

Nearest bike shop

Rafford Cycles, Forres Tel: 01309 672 811

Other info

Parking is free. You can link up and ride all the trails for a truly epic day but, before making plans, check the Forestry Commission site for closures.

Useful sites

Forestry Commission guide to the Moray Monster Trails
Moray Mountain Bike Club

View Larger Map

Just outside of the city, Kirkhill is a popular destination for locals. Although the way-marked trails are very limited, with a bit of exploration or some local knowledge, there’s plenty of great riding to be found.

How to get there

From Aberdeen, head north on the A96 towards Inverness. The forest is on the right-hand side of the dual carriageway, about 8 miles from Aberdeen, and a short distance before the turning for Blackburn.

The trails around Kirkhill pass through dramatically rural countryside.

Sat Nav: BLACKBURN

Facilities

Just parking.

Trails

Riding in the forest. Image Marc Roberts via Flickr

The main trail is the blue grade 12 km Kirkhill Loop. It’s mostly easy (dull) fire road but it’s a good way to recce the forest and find the hidden trails. There are two spurs off the trail. The North is fairly tame double-track but the South is more fun with some steep rooty and rocky sections and it spits you out next to the Fun Park.

Although only 2 km long, as the name suggests, it’s fun! It’s never too steep and all the jumps are rollable so, how fast you take it and whether you get airborne, is entirely up to you.

Nearest bike shops

Alpine Bikes, Aberdeen
Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op, Aberdeen

Other info

Parking is £2 for the day

Useful sites

Forestry Commission guide to Kirkhill
Cycle Grampian’s guide to Kirkhill

Location map

View Larger Map

If you’re after manicured man-made all-weather singletrack, you’re probably better off heading to one of the nearby 7 Stanes centres but, if you want to log some miles on some quality semi-natural trails, there’s plenty of good riding to be had around Jedburgh.

Scottish borders mountain biking. Image by aliweb_gt via Flickr

How to get there

Jedburgh is on the A68, which runs between Newcastle and Edinburgh (roughly 55 miles from Newcastle and 45 from Edinburgh). Once in Jedburgh, turn into town and park in the main car park beside the Tourist Information Office.

Sat Nav: TD8 6BE

Facilities

There are no trail head facilities as such but full facilities in Jedburgh.

Trails

The two Family Trails and the long Justice Trail are all reasonably way-marked but we’d recommend taking a map just in case you miss a turn. They’re not graded and, as they’re shared with other users including horse riders, keep an eye out. All the trails can get a bit boggy and cut up so they’re best ridden in the dry.

Jedburgh. Image by Karen Bryan via Flickr

The first Family Trail is the 10.5km Dere Street Dash. You gain most of your height early on tarmac and forest roads but there is some wide-ish singletrack. Despite the family moniker, young kids would struggle but it is novice rider friendly.

There are two loops in Lanton Wood of 6.5km and 3.8km which have some roots and rocks and are a technical notch up from the Dere Street Dash.

All of the Family Trails form part of the 40km Justice Trail. It’s a big ride out and, although not technical, shouldn’t be underestimated. You’ll find some bumps, jumps and berms, some nice singletrack but also a fair bit of mindless slog. All things considered it’s a decent “true cross-country” ride but definitely best ridden in the dry.

Nearest bike shops

Simon Porteous Cycles, Kelso Tel: 01573 223 692
Teviot Cycles, Hawick Tel: 01450 377611

Other info

Pick up route maps from the Tourist Information Office and, as they are a bit tricky to find, get a pointer to the start of the trails.

Useful sites

Jedforest Trails
7 Stanes guide to Jedforest trails

Location map

View Larger Map

Claiming the longest descent in the UK from the summit of Ben Bhraggie (1300ft to sea level) and the longest technical singletrack climb, the Highland Wildcat bike trails are in one of the remotest areas in Britain.

Stunning riding across the tops.

Scenically stunning, the trails, officially opened in 2006, are a community funded project and there are ambitious expansion plans for the future. For uncrowded quality riding with something for all abilities, a visit should definitely be on your mountain bike to-do list.

How to get there

From Inverness, keep heading north on the A9 for 50 miles to Golspie. Both the red and black trail start in the town centre.

For the blue go to the Highland Wildcat car park near Big Burn. Drive north out of Golspie and then turn sharp left up a tiny lane signed “Backies” under a railway bridge. Follow this to a car-park on your right.

So much fun your vision will go all zoomy.

Sat Nav: Golspie

Facilities

Shops and toilets in Golspie.

Trails

The 6.5km blue trail starts off with a pleasant singletrack climb through woodland that joins you up with the red and black routes. More climbing then takes you out onto the open hillsides with stunning views out to sea. There are some fairly low key technical features such as some rock steps but these can easily be avoided. You can then extend the ride to the top of the Ben by following the double track road or keep following the blue and it’ll take you back down the way you came up. It’s a fun descent but watch out for riders coming the opposite way.

There be rocks.

The 7.5km red trail climbs out of town and then hooks up with the blue. They part company on the forest road with the red plunging downhill and then the fun starts. Berms and jumps come one after another and, for a cross-country trail, they’re on the big side. There are plenty of rollable drops too but, hit them fast, and you’ll find the air whistling beneath your wheels. The trail ends with some pleasant natural feeling riding.

The 13.6km black is one of the hardest trails in the UK. It’ll test your full range of riding skills and fitness. Leaving the red, it takes you right to the top of the Ben, negotiating steps and highly technical climbing the whole way. Take a breather, admire the view and then knuckle down for the fast and airy descent. They are chicken runs for the big kickers and drops, You’ll be a long way from home, so don’t let machismo get the better of you.

Golspie’s trails have great views.

Nearest bike shop

A long way south so bring your spares and tools.

Other info

Ballblair and Carbisdale (Kyle of Sutherland Trails) are about 23 miles to the west.

Useful sites

Highland Wildcat trails
Scotland Mountain Bike guide to Golspie

Location map

View Larger Map

Tucked away in the north west corner of the North York Moors, you probably wouldn’t make the trip to Guisborough Forest to ride the two designated trails. However, the black especially is worth riding and there’s tons of additional riding in the area so filling a day would be easy.

How to get there

From Guisborough take the A171 west to the A173. Follow the A173 for 300 metres and look for the entrance to Guisborough Forest and Walkway Visitor Centre on the left side of the road.

Sat Nav: TS14 8HD

Facilities

Parking, toilets, visitors centre, new cafe and some picnic benches

Trails

The 7km blue trail is currently closed at the time of writing for harvesting but, unless you’ve a fetish for fire road climbing, it’s best avoided anyway. The 12km black trail is a technically challenging gem though. The initial climb, although on solid surfaces, is steep, long and you really feel as though you’ve earned some gravity-based fun. Thankfully you get it but, if you haven’t got your root riding mojo firing, you’re not going to enjoy it.

Nearest bike shop

Bike Scene, Guisborough www.bikescene.co.uk

Other info

Tap some local knowledge or just explore likely looking lines to get the most out the area. The MTB Guisborough site is a good place to start and you can get some ideas from their Strava routes.

Useful links

MTB Guisborough

Official Guisborough Forest trail information

Forestry Commission – Guisborough Forest

Location Map:

View Larger Map