Mountain Biking
The Lodges are close to some of the best Mountain Biking in Scotland including the 7 Stanes. The 7 Stanes are 7 forests located across the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway which have been specifically developed for cycling and mountain biking.
There are five 7 Stane forests located in Dumfries and Galloway, Dalbeattie Forest and Mabie Forest are the closest to the lodges.
Dalbeattie Forest
Dalbeattie Forest (30 minute drive) has a range of graded trails varying from the easy green-graded Ironhash Trail to the more challenging, adrenaline pumping red-graded Hardrock Trail. There are even some black graded sections like the infamous Slab for those more brave.
All the mountain bike trails begin at the Richorn Car Park and the Forest Tea Room is nearby providing breakfast rolls, lunches, wraps, freshly made scones, home made cakes and refreshments. The tearoom is open Monday - Saturday from 10am until 4.30pm and from 11am until 4.30pm on Sundays. If you need any tuition Bottle Green Biking offers mountain bike tuition and guiding for all ability levels at all of the 7 Stanes sites.
Mabie Forest
Bored of Dalbeattie Forest? Mabie Forest is also close by (40 minute drive) and is just a few miles south of Dumfries. The trails at Mabie range from beginners trails to trails for expert riders. All the trails start from Mabie Forest Car Park and there is also a skills area, play park, cafe, bike hire and shop on site.
If you just fancy a gentle cycle there are also a number of cycling trails linking Dalbeattie to the villages of Colvend, Sandyhills and Kippford.
National Cycle Routes
We also have two national cycle routes running through our region. The closest to the lodges is the National Cycle Route 7 which is a long distance cycle route that runs from Sunderland to Carlisle. Along the way it passes through Dumfries, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright and Gatehouse of Fleet.
Further Afield
There are many other areas to go cycling in Dumfries and Galloway. At Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate there is a fantastic mountain bike trail which has hosted the MTB National Points Series and the Scottish Cross Country MTB Championships. From Drumlanrig Castle on to St John's Town of Dalry, there is also a pleasant cycle route following quiet countryside roads.
Ae Forest, Kirroughtree Forest and Glentrool Forest are all 7 Stane forests in Dumfries and Galloway, all offering a varied range of mountain biking trails for different levels of ability.
Clatteringshaws Loch in the Galloway Forest Park also has a couple of nice cycling routes you can try.