Scotland is known for its breathtaking scenery and rugged, natural trails – the Glasgow area is no exception. There are a variety of different mountain bike trails near Glasgow to choose from, all with their own characteristics and difficulty. Here is a summary of TrailCoach’s hand-picked top MTB riding spots near Glasgow.
Cathkin Braes
Based on the outskirts of south-east Glasgow in the town of Castlemilk, Cathkin Braes is not only one of the most popular mountain bike spots in Glasgow but is also the home of TrailCoach’s Kids Club and the go-to location for our Coaching sessions. The main features include 2 cross country loops, three newly constructed descending trails with varying difficulty, a Velosolution pumptrack, and even a dual slalom track. The terrain for the majority of the trails is purpose laid gravel, providing plenty of grip for beginner riders. There is also a large skills area consisting of drops, rock gardens and small jumps.
Our top pick for trails is the orange Airspace trail, a wide 500m trail consisting of large jumps and fast hairpin berms top to bottom. The pumptrack is also world-class hosting the Red Bull pumptrack championships in previous years, which solidifies Cathkin Braes is a must-visit for beginner mountain bikers in Glasgow.
Aberfoyle
One of our favourite venues for mountain bike trails near Glasgow is Aberfoyle – less then an hour away from Glasgow but well worth the journey, home to some of the most technical and steep trails in Scotland. Without a doubt the Aberfoyle trails are best suited for advanced riders, however, there are some less technical loops on the Southside of the village which is why this is one of our favourite Kids Club venues, as well as a brilliant little bikepark on the east side of town, just off the main walkway.
The typical terrain is mud and rocks on the descents, with fire roads making up the majority of the climbing. Must ride trails include Rodeo, Nimmo’s and Bathouse. The must-ride trail would be Golden owl which is impossibly steep, littered with mud, rocks and tight natural turns. We usually have a yearly festive slip and slide in Aberfoyle, which always ends in stoke induced carnage!
Kilpatrick Hills
If you are a fan of muddy, technical trails and natural, fast descents, then the Kilpatrick hills should be on your visit list. This is also the location where we introduced Harris to the team! Only a few miles West from Glasgow, it can be considered the local to many mountain bikers living there. There are over 20 trails of varying difficulty, with an abundance of natural red and black trails.
The Kilpatrick Hills is definitely not a trail centre, the trails are built and maintained by local riders and the terrain reflects that; muddy and loose dirt with a selection of flat and bermed turns giving various grip, rewarding more technically able riders. The TrailCoach top trail would have to be Minceurs and Tatties. At nearly 1km long taking nearly 20 minutes to descend, it is an epic natural trail beginning with fast natural turns and jumps, leading into steep rocky switchbacks then finishing on flat out moorland all the way to the car park. Definitely worth the long climb up!
Mugdock Park
Situated only 5 miles from Glasgow City Centre outside a town called Milngavie, Mugdock park is the perfect spot for those looking for mountain bike trails near Glasgow with plenty of options for all abilities. The terrain at Mugdock is varied to suit all abilities, from the main paths consisting of purpose-built gravel, to more off-piste muddy trails where grip is limited, which is why it is one of the main venues for our Kids Club.
Although there isn’t much in terms of elevation, there are plenty of meandering trails which makes the most of what is there. There is a visitor centre for stocking up on coffee and cake mid-ride, and plenty of parking. The Trailcoach top trail would be Broon Streak which is by far the most technical trail in the area, an impossible shute to start of the trail, followed by some brilliant muddy turns and tight off-camber straights.
Carron Valley
Under an hour from Glasgow, Carron Valley is one of the most popular mountain bike destinations due to there being over 20km of flowy trail centre singletrack, and spectacular views of the Carron Reservoir.
The terrain is mostly man-made gravel, with the exception of one small trail making Carron Valley perfectly suited to beginner riders, and can be challenging at pace for intermediate riders.
The top trail for us is Runway, which even though could do with a renovation, is stoke inducing with high speeds, jumps, drops and flowy turns.
Campsie Hills
Nestled in the suburbs just north of Glasgow, the trails at Campsie Glen and Lennoxtown are a hidden gem for intermediate and advanced riders alike. With 3 main trails on each hill, there is plenty to make up a day of riding. On the Campsie Glen side, the trails can be accessed by either a short push up the walker’s path from Clachan Of Campsie or if you prefer to ride the Crow Road will take you straight up to the trailhead. All of the trails share similar terrain; loose mud mixed with bedrock make for a fun unpredictable ride.
Across the road, Lennox forest shares the same terrain, but the trails differ in that they are steeper, rockier and faster running. There is no competition for the Trailcoach number one trail, it would have to be Tweaker. Not only was it built by Trailcoach founder Ramsay, but there’s endless fun to be had in the sloppy turns. If you want to see more, check out Ramsay’s video testing out the new Hope R8+ around Lennoxtown.
Other Minor Mountain Bike Trails near Glasgow
There are many other mountain bike trails near Glasgow to ride if you are nearby. There is no shortage of trails within an hour of Glasgow to shred, however, you can hire one of our knowledgeable guides to handpick the best riding in Glasgow.
