Glentress Masterplan

What is it?

Forest Holidays manages the Buzzard's Nest area It offers a variety of sustainable cabins installed in the woods. We’ve decommissioned the old free ride complex so Forest Holidays could start their development. This was always part of the masterplan. We kept it open as long as we could without compromising on visitor safety. In its place we have constructed green, blue, red and black taster trails on the lower activity areas. We’re also working on a skills area opposite the new car park at the bottom of the hill. It is adjacent to the start-finish line near the Gateway.

Current status - March 2025

The 56 cabins at Buzzard’s Nest opened in November 2024 and are very popular. This partnership with Forest Holidays has brought new guests to the Tweed Valley. It showcases the amazing landscape and exciting holiday opportunities in southern Scotland.

The car park at Buzzards Nest is only for Forest Holiday residents. Day visitors should park in the new car parks near the entry barriers.

What is it?

The skills area design features zones for:

• mini-MTB
• rollering
• cornering

This gives riders at all levels the chance to practice and develop their skills.

Current status - March 2025

You can find details of the skills area design on the Scottish Borders planning portal.

Visit the Glentress forest page for up-to-date information.

What is it?

This trail provides almost 4km of accessible trails to walk, wheel and cycle. The trail is on the east side of the valley. It ties in with several new sections of mountain bike and taster trails.

What is it?

• Green, blue, red and black network trails which link into the existing trail network and offer new descents. Several routes offer access to these trails. They also pass under the multi-user trail.
• Green, blue, red and black taster trails are short stand-alone loops. These trails begin and end at the south of the Peel Tower. They provide a way to sample each grade before committing to a network trail. The shared climb changes grade from green to black. It then splits at various points to separate green, blue, red and black descents. While these trails do not join the main trail network the multi-user trail offers access.

Current status - September 2024

In 2023, we ran a poll to name the new trails with over 1,000 participants voting. The chosen names are:

• Apple Peel (green): with a crisp surface as fresh as any Granny Smith, our new green graded trail runs along to the Peel building. It's ideal for a gentle cruise or anyone starting out in mountain biking.
• Turn and Burn (blue): the new blue trail runs very near the Eshiels Burn and features a considerable number of turns. This one is all about fun with big berms, easy jumps and incredible views. Strap in for take-off.
• Smells Like Tweed Spirit (red): our new red trail is a must-ride trail.It builds on the pioneering Spooky Wood style with a mix of features to keep you on your toes and put a smile on your face.
• Castle Black (black): our new black trail is like nothing else at Glentress. Enormous jumps and high speeds make this suitable for expert riders who love a bit of air time.