The
trails at Drumlanrig are much more natural than those at most of the
Stanes, we haven't hauled in stone surfacing or made much use of
mechanical excvators. This translates into a much more technical ride
with plenty of roots and tight twisty turns (leave your big hit free
ride bike at home). In the dry the trails rail and flow but it can get
quite sketchy in the wet, it's like having a whole new skill level to
enjoy.
Green Routes
1. The Policy (3
km) - Easy
Trail: A short ride
on country roads, around the policy area of Drumlanrig Castle.
Suitability: Families & novice cyclists.
Hazards: Trail on quite public roads.
2.
Burnsands (13 km) - Easy
Trail: This pleasant cycle takes you through the quaint hamlet of
Burnsands. You are rewarded with superb views of the Lowther Hills above
the Nith Valley which sprawls out beneath you.
Suitability: Families & novice cyclists.
Hazards: Trail on quiet public roads.
3.
Rocking Stone (5 km) - Easy
Trail: A gentle cycle through mixed woodlands, which will lead you
past three lochs and an erratic, bolder area known as “the rocking
stone”.
Suitability: Families & novice cyclists of reasonable fitness.
Hazards: Trail on bumpy forest track and quite public roads.
4.
Low Gardens (8 km) - Easy
Trail: A meandering cycle past lochs, burns & rivers, heading
towards the old kitchen gardens, known as “Low Gardens”.
Suitability: Families & novice cyclists of good fitness.
Hazards: Trail on bumpy forest track & quite public roads.
Red Routes
5. The Old
School (20 km) - Hard
Trail: Natural single track, which is less than 40cm wide, with
technical swooping trail, narrow wooden structures, drop offs, berms and roots
galore.
Suitability: Experienced mountain bikers with good skills, ability
and fitness.
Hazards: Narrow track with natural obstacles.
N.B. There is a halfway point bail out (but the second half lap
makes a great ride).
Blue Routes
6. Copy Cat (9 km)
- Moderate
Trail: This trail follows the red way-marked route on bumpy forest
tracks, and also incorporates easier parts of the red route, which narrows to a
1m wide woodland trail. This is an ideal route for groups with different
riding ability.
Suitability: Regular cyclists.
Hazards: Loose surface, ruts and potholes are expected.
Narrow trail in places.
7. Secret Forest (11 km)
- Moderate
Trail: Cycle deep into the woodland, past majestic cottages and
farms, and discover the hidden secrets of these woodlands.
Suitability: Regular cyclists, low gears recommended
Hazards: Loose surface, ruts and potholes are expected.
Steep climbs and long descents.
Black Route
8. Hells Cauldron (8 km)
- Hard
Trail: This is an unforgiving trail with very narrow tracks, steep
climbs and descents with technically challenging obstacles and
terrain, testing the best of riders.
Suitability: Expert mountain bikers.
Hazards: Riders should be highly experienced, but should expect to
fall off.
N.B. This route is an add-on to route 5 - please begin by following Route
5 through to Route 8.
Basically,
this is where it all started! 'Way back in the day', when Kirkpatrick
Macmillan put cranks and pedals onto a hobby horse and pedalled into
the history books as the inventor of the bicycle. Macmillan served his
time as a blacksmith at Drumlanrig and there's still a forge onsight,
along with a museum honouring Macmillan and the development of the bike
towards todays technical marvels. If you're gonna come and ride the
trails at Drumlanrig you might want something a little lighter and more
manuverable the Macmillans velocipede 'cos the trails are as
challenging as cross country trails can get.
One
off the nice things about Drumlanrig is the modular nature of the
trails, Rik has designed the trails to blend into each other; so if
you're a blue grade rider you can sample a little red before committing
to the whole trail and likewise the black. Once you get to know your
way around you can cut and paste a cracking, looping ride to suite your
day around the abilities of your group. 
