Home > Activity and Adventure | Culture and Tranquility

Glentress Forest is not just the no. 1 visitor attraction in the Scottish Borders, but it was also voted the top UK trail in 2003 and is Scotland's most popular mountain biking centre.

From forest walks and drives, to horse riding and the Tweed Valley osprey watch facilities, and an unrivalled range of 45 miles of dedicated trails for mountain bikes, it is easy to see why this is such a popular destination.

The Helly Hansen V Trail challenges the most experienced mountain biker (look out for the Britney Spears, a bermy singletrack) but there are gentler routes and a skills loop for the novice. Not to mention a great café at the Hub in the Forest (run by two former British mountain biking champions), cycle shop, bike hire and changing facilities.

But Glentress is only part of the network in the South of Scotland; Traquair Forest at Innerleithen (where the famous Downhill site is based alongside the new black graded XC route) is also within the Tweed Valley area. The other trails are at Dalbeattie, Mabie, Kirroughtree, Glentrool and Newcastleton.

Golfers are now well-catered for in the area with the addition in 2003 of a new 18-hole course at Cardrona, a challenging par 73 set in spectacular countryside. The course at Peebles itself, founded in 1892, is considered one of the finest in the Borders for the quality of its turf, greens and the stunning views. It is a prime example of a challenging Scottish upland golf course. Slightly older (1890) is the 18-hole moorland course at West Linton, which in 2004 won its application for the Scottish Golf Environmental Excellence Award and the pan-European Committed to Green Certification, making it one of only 24 golfing facilities in Europe (12 in Scotland) to attain the Committed to Green Certification. There is also a 9-hole course in Innerleithen.

Devotees of other interest can swim, bowl, play tennis or enjoy leisure activities at the Gytes Leisure Centre in Peebles, in the region.

One of the most popular activities in Peeblesshire is walking - there is even an annual Festival of Walking in the Borders (which started in West Linton in 1995). From short town walks, to more challenging forest and hill walks, to long distance walks, the visitor will find plenty to keep their boots busy.

Various town walks are promoted in Innerleithen, Peebles and West Linton - for example the 5 mile Tweed and Neidpath Castle Walk. The John Buchan Way is a 13 mile walk opened in 2003 that explores the countryside between Peebles and Broughton. Or try a 5 mile route, the Upper Yarrow Valley Walk, starting at the Glen Café (car park and public toilets) on St. Mary's Loch and continuing round the Loch of the Lowes. The walk is part of the Southern Upland Way, a 212 mile journey from coast to coast which passes through Tweeddale at Traquair as well as St. Mary's Loch.

Or come walking in the beautiful glen of the Holms Water near the village of Broughton, at the Glenholm Centre, an ideal place to come for a quiet stroll and picnic by the river or a more strenuous hill climb.

Cyclists too can enjoy quiet Borders roads with many trails established out of Peebles, varying from 7 to 26 miles; or attempt the 90 mile Tweed Cycleway, from Biggar to Berwick!

And if that seems a bit tame for you, then consider what can be done at Cardrona.

Kayaking, open canoeing, archery, quad-biking, climbing, mountain biking, horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, falconry, 4x4 off-road driving and many more activities can be arranged for groups of visitors.

Now, explore the rest of this website for places to relax, eat and stay after your hard day walking, mountain biking, bird-watching, riding, golfing...