Reviews for Carron Valley Mountain Bike Trails

Summary:
Good Improvements

Review:
I was a bit disappointed that a few of my fave sections were closed for a few months but my word it was worth it.

The powers that be have smoothed out the loose rocky downhill sections in Eas Dubh and the Runway making them much faster and have added a few wee drop offs / jumps just to mix things up a bit.

Its not a Glentress rival but its on my doorstep and I love it.

Give it a go!

Summary:
no bad

Review:
i found the trail ok, the xc bit was good excercise, but the jumps wernt to my ultimate satisfaction,me and some friends have been a couple times, we had to bunny hop the jumps to get good air, if the lips were better on the take offs it would help, i can understand they are mainly made for xc riders wih hardcore hardtails, but not my favourite trail, berms could be smoother

Summary:
Da Valley

Review:
You can tell that alot of effort has went into the Carron Valley, and the passion of the trail builders is clear. However the reason I went was because of the hype when it first open "Oh its the new Glentress" and " It will blow the stanes away", so I was a bit disappointed, as I expected something on Red routed at Glentree Standard. I was a good ride, but there wasn't many technical features, although the funpark at the end was cracking, I could spend a day messing sround on it!

Summary:
Quite short but fun

Review:
Was delighted to hear of this new trail as its pretty much on my doorstep - only 20mins drive away. The closest bit of singletrack for me used to be found down the 7stanes so a trail this close to home is greatly welcomed, and long overdue!!

At 5.5 miles its about half the length of most of the 7stanes ones, with about half of it being fireroad. Sections of the forest road is quite rough in places but smoother overall and the climbs up them are not too tough. The sections of singletrack were also quite loose in places - its only just been opened and so should improve, but overall I was very impressed with the layout and variety of trails.

Most of the sections are quite fast flowing especially canonball run where you'll pick up a good bit of speed. Was a tad let down with Eas Dubh which didnt really get going and was too short and should be extended, but liked the final "funpark" section with plenty of good flowing jumps and fast berms. The trails lack the drop-offs of other red routes but it does have quite a lethal rock section on eas dubh which takes you by suprise and should probably have a chicken run for the faint hearted.

The place is not too busy at the moment but this will change as it is in easy reach of glasgow and edinburgh riders. Did a lap in just under 40 mins so it is ideal just to take a breather in the carpark and shoot back round and get to know the trail better, its also good that you can miss out the top red section and just do canonball and funpark if u dont have the legs to reach the top again!!

Couldn't help but notice the huge potential for future development -the setting really has the ability to become a new glentress. The future for Carron valley looks bright and i'll certainly be back up on a regular basis, its about time we had something like this in central scotland!!

PROS: nearby, scenic location, big carpark, fast trails, great future potential

CONS: new trail so a bit loose, trails need to be longer - too much fireroad, not as technical as a red route should be (a few more features are needed)