7Stanes - Great Riding or Scotch Mist?
In recent years, the 7Stanes mountain bike trails have become a must-do, drawing thousands of riders to Scotland to sample the varied delights they offer. But do the trails live up to the hype, or is it all a load of Scotch mist? Are they just "junk" mountain biking for those who can't be bothered to find their own routes, or do they offer a unique opportunity to explore Scotland's uplands?
Everyday Cycling's trail testers have been putting the reality of riding the Stanes to the test - read what they thought of two of the best known Stanes in our brand-new rider guides to Ae Forest and Mabie.
These trail centres offer very different riding experiences, though they are only 15 miles apart and situated just over the border in the SW of Scotland and are both very reachable by a large proportion of the population.
Ae Forest: A rough, tough centre, low on easy thrills but promising a testing and hard-core challenge for the more hard-bitten trail riders out there: Read our trail guide and review
Mabie: A very popular centre offering more subtle and delicate pleasures, with lots of sweeping singletrack and picturesque woodland: Read our trail guide and review