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Innerleithen XC

Grade: Red (Difficult) Red (Difficult)
Distance:19.00 km

As befits one of Scotland’s foremost downhill centres, the Innerleithen XC cross-country trail is not for the faint hearted. It includes a leg-burning, lung-busting climb to the summit of Minch Moor and then some thrilling singletrack descending, with jumps, drop-offs and optional features that are well-deserving of their black grading.

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Postcode: EH44 6PW

Route Details

  1. Settle in for a big climb through the forest. Occasional rock step-ups will keep you on your toes.
  2. A short section of twisty downhill adds technical interest before another plod up a forest road, then singletrack.
  3. At 470m there is a shortcut that avoids the last 100m of climb, but best to carry on if you can, soon reaching open moorland, and the summit of Minch Moor.
  4. Enjoy the view before diving down some fast flowing singletrack across the moor. Cross the Southern Upland Way onto a section of jumps, drops and berms before a blast down through the trees to a fire road.
  5. Follow the forest road for 1.5km to the start of Plora Craig, a tight technical section with rocks and roots. Razor Rock is a testing black-grade option with rock gardens and steps. Continue on faster singletrack until a short climb brings you back to the forest road. Follow this to the start of the last descent.
  6. Cadon Bank is a real rollercoaster. Watch out for 3 big rock-drops near the top (chicken runs to the left), then hold on tight as the trail swoops through big dips and bombholes all the way to the finish.