Glentress Forest

Glentress Forest lies east of Peebles in the Scottish Borders, about 30 miles south of Edinburgh. It forms part of the Tweed Valley Forest Park alongside Traquair Forest in Innerleithen. The forest sits at the southern end of the Moorfoot Hills and is reached from the Glentress hamlet on the A72 road. Remains of an Iron Age hill fort stand at the top of Janet’s Brae, offering views over Peebles. The forest was planted in the 1920s after the First World War created a timber shortage. Some original Douglas firs from that time still grow here. During the 1930s unemployed men worked here in a Ministry of Labour camp at Eshiels. The forest is home to one of the 7stanes mountain bike trails run by Forestry and Land Scotland. Five waymarked routes and a freeride park cater for different abilities. Historic cycle trails let families explore the forest’s past. The blue, red and black routes challenge riders with varying terrain. The red route features a fast section called Spooky Woods with many banked turns. The green skills loop helps beginners practise on rocky and wooden sections. In August 2023 the UCI MTB World Championships were held here, with Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Tom Pidcock winning. Visitors find wide forest tracks winding through Douglas fir and other conifers. The Iron Age fort at Janet’s Brae gives a high viewpoint over the valley. Mountain bikers follow trails marked for skill levels and scenery. The freeride park offers jumps and technical lines for experienced riders. Families can ride gentler paths through quieter parts of the forest. The work camp at Eshiels tells part of the site’s 1930s history. The Tweed Valley’s hills and forests surround the trails in every direction.