guiding, Lessons and Bike hire
From beginner to expert, the Tweed Valley is the place to learn how to nail those jumps and drops – or simply find your flow. We’ve got industry-leading guides here too, all eager to share their knowledge of the area’s vast network of trails.
Lessons
Like most things in life, a little expert guidance never goes amiss. And as one of the UK’s premier cycling destinations, the Tweed Valley is home to some of the very best instructors in the business. All are on hand to help you not only have the best riding experience while here, but perhaps also return home with a few new skills under your belt! But don’t be daunted, whether young or rather more mature, a beginner looking for a confidence boost or an expert rider keen to hone race skills, there are instructors and courses for all:
Ridelines are tutors for British Cycling’s Mountain Bike Leader Awards and also run courses for trailside repairs, mountain bike navigation and suspension set-up. This comes in addition to long established work helping riders become more dynamic and confident in their riding through a variety of skills courses and private tuition sessions. Look out too for their excellent riding camps for kids in the school holidays – places fill up fast!
The founders of BASE College and at the front edge of mountain bike technique for over 15 years, Dirt School know a thing or two about coaching. Working with MBR Magazine, Scottish Cycling, Borders College, MBCUK and countless others, their award winning coaches offer everything from Kids Academy to private lessons, beginner skills days to professional tuition for the world's fastest racers.
Guiding
Maybe you simply want to get out there and ride, but are not sure where to begin? And is it mountain biking, gravel, or bikepacking you are looking for? No problem on every score. From Glentress and Innerleithen to the infamous Golfie, Thornilee, Yair and the big landscapes beyond, the local companies before offer guided rides to every secret spot and gorgeous corner of the Tweed Valley:
The valley’s ever expanding trail network holds many well known classics and plenty of hidden gems and the Tweed Valley Guides team live and breathe mountain biking and gravel riding in the area. Their intimate knowledge of the trail network and current conditions means they can build the perfect day riding for you and your cycling pals – whether that’s a day spent on less technical terrain taking in expansive views, or taming wilder enduro stages as you travel from one hill to the next.
Discover organised rides for the local explorer to the intrepid adventurer! The experienced crew at Ridelines have been guiding in the Tweed Valley since the very beginning, so they know all the secrets to a great guided mountain bike ride and how to get the most out of time on the bike. Their team building and corporate reward days at Glentress Forest are especially popular.
Glentress Mountain Bike Guides
For guided rides and coaching at one of the UK’s leading trail centres, local guide Pete Johnson offers two-hour sessions suitable for a range of abilities – with particular emphasis placed on helping younger and less experienced riders build confidence on the trails. Fun and flexible, these tailored sessions encourage families and groups to explore the forest at a relaxed pace, making them easy to fit into a day trip to the Tweed Valley.
With over 500 trails across Innerleithen and the Tweed Valley, choosing where and what to ride is a nice problem to have. Thankfully, Adrenalin’s local guides are on hand to help you maximise your time in the hills, with insider knowledge on all of the best tracks across the region. Half days, full days, one-to-one and group bookings are all available, with guiding tailored to everyone’s individual needs.
bike hire
If travelling to the Tweed Valley without a bike – or perhaps just keen to demo that special ride you’ve long had your eye on! – then we’ve got that covered too:
With more than 150 hire bikes to choose from, including brand new rides from the likes of Trek, Santa Cruz, Juliana, Whyte and Cube, this trailhead shop at Glentress has something for all – from standard hardtails to get you flowing on green and blue loops, to high-end full suspension bikes and e-bikes to have you powering down the forest’s most technical tracks. A top team of on-site mechanics offer full repairs and servicing at the trailhead too.
eBike Hire Scotland (based at Riders Retreat, Glentress)
A local rental service specialising in high-quality, electric mountain bikes ideal for tackling the rugged terrain and steep climbs of the Scottish Borders. All eMTBs are equipped with top-of-the-line components and cutting-edge technology, ensuring a smooth and exhilarating ride every time. Located at the base of Glentress Forest, it offers easy access to some of the best mountain biking trails in Scotland – with expert tips on the best local routes to boot.
A small range of Whyte bikes are available for hire – analogue and electric – at this excellent bike shop tucked behind the Traquair Arms Hotel in Innerleithen. First-class mechanic and servicing support is also on hand if needed.
An enviable selection of Santa Cruz, Forbidden and Ibis bikes for demo and hire await! Located at the heart of the area’s vast trail network, riders can get a thorough understanding of how a new bike fits and feels on trail – and if you’re looking for some extra support with bike set up on the hill, someone from the team can even join you for a ride and make tweaks to your setup as the day goes on.
On a prominent corner position on Innerleithen High Street, this Specialized dealer has bikes for sale and hire, as well as gear, clothing, accessories and general pearls of wisdom about local trails. The knowledgable team will kit you out with the perfect machine for your Adrenalin Uplift day – with a pro mechanic setup tailored to your preferences.
Further info
Don’t forget to also check out this excellent Tweed Valley ride guide from Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland. And if it’s self-guided route ideas you are after, then look no further than the excellent Bike Valley Trails, which offers off- and on-road options for every kind of rider.
