Drumlanrig...

Saturdays MTBscotland forum rideout was to somewhere very special...
Down in Dumfriesshire is the Estate of Drumlanrig
another scenic area of Scotland the drive down there with friend Andrew on Saturday was as scenic as the destination...


crossing the River Nith its trees this now are cloaked in Autumn colour...

entering the estate a grand driveway leads to its mansion castle and car park,

home of the Buccleuch family and surrounded by scenic woods and the nearby rolling Lowther Hills the area is very scenic...



the Estate grounds have a mountainbike trail centre...
trails that are a bit different to the Forestry Commission trail centres and quite special,alot narrower and with alot of exposed tree roots make these trails a bit of a challenge and therefore very rewarding to ride...the old stables and out buildings are now shops,The Scottish Cycle Museum-sadly closed for the winter
In 1839 the Bicycle was created by a local blacksmith Kirkpatrick Macmillan...
so a fitting place to come cycling today...
a cafe and Riks bike shop

Shop owner Rik Alsopp is well known in the mountainbike scene for his trail building here in Scotland and he built the trails here at Drumlanrig...
there are trails for all ability's,easy routes for family rides, and there are red and black grade trails...and what amazing trails...twisty undulating singletrack with rooty technical sections and the odd rock section makes this place one of the favourite destinations and must do rides for mountainbikers...

trails which keep you focused- quite hard today when the trees were draped in Autumn colour which seemed to glow in the sunshine...



meeting friend Dave we rode round into the woods on what was a fantastic ride...


the short fireroad sections allowed you to soak up the Autumn colour around us..

some lovely old trees here...including redwoods...

and every so often at the sides of woods are stunning views across the countryside...

choice of bike to ride here is up to the individual but a hardtail bike is great for these trails...

returning to the House we went for a Cuppa and some food at the cafe we were joined by Rik for a brew and it was great chewing the fat with the guy who built these great trails...top bloke and he has invited us to a guided ride around on our next visit...
heres some film of the trails...and something nice we saw while driving home...