Trail builder, Pete Laing, tests one of his creations

The trail-building frenzy that is the Scottish Seven Stanes project continues apace with news of the latest strip of dirt to be threaded around the Tweed Valley countryside. Innerleithen’s top-notch downhill venue is to be further bolstered by the addition of an entertaining cross-country loop in the style of Glentress’ tasty trails.

Funding to build the 18km red route comes out of the £2 million pound Seven Stanes coffer, and will be designed and built by local trail builder Pete Laing. The trail will start and finish at the Red Bull downhill course, taking in Minch Moor and the Southern Upland Way before plunging back to the start along a primo section of singletrack. Pete’s plans for the final pitch include numerous jumps and berms designed to give cross-country riders a peephole into downhilling without the need for specialist equipment and frontal lobotomy.

The trail will be fast and rolling, without too many of the hairpins that can make the Welsh trails somewhat laborious. Jeremy Thompson, Borders Forestry Recreation Manager, says the rider’s wish is his command; “Over the past few years we’ve been getting loads of feedback from cross-country bikers on what they like to ride. They want tough, technical, lung-busting rides with an emphasis on fun, and I’m sure we can fit the bill at Innerleithen. The new trails at Glentress, just five minutes up the road, have helped raise riding standards, and it’s our intention to continue this trend.”

“We get quite a few riders coming to the Red Bull site just for a look, but many are put off from trying the downhills as they can be quite punishing. Once the new red route descent is finished, riders will be able to get a taste of what downhilling is like. If they like what they see, they may even think about taking up downhilling, which can only be good for both disciplines.”

Site manager at the Red Bull venue is Neil Stoddart; “The proper downhill trails will be untouched by the new developments and the races and weekend rides will continue as normal.

“The new trail and downhill-lite™ descent will offer a half-way house to those at the harder edge of cross-country riding, and enable them to take their riding a bit further without committing themselves straight away to hardcore DH. You never know; some of the downhillers may even want to build up more fitness on the cross-country route.”

The Tweed Valley is one of the cornerstones of the Seven Stanes project, which aims to provide seven, purpose-built mountain bike centres throughout the Scottish Borders.