Guide to Callendar Estate MTB trails near Falkirk. All year round XC trails and some off piste too.

Visitors guide to Callendar Estate MTB trails near Falkirk, Scotland.
Great place for XC trails in Central Scotland. the trails are hard pack one way singletrack and are perfect for families and learners looking to progress their skills.
There are also some more natural rocky and rooty trails for more experienced riders up in Auchengean Wood as part of the red route and some off piste sections too. These were used for previous Falkirk Funduro events.
There are currently plans to expand the existing trails and to incorporate black trails and longer red and orange sections.
The_Flowing_Scotsman
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[@stuartlawson7442]

10 minutes from my house and only ever walked this, however seeing everyone on their bikes doing this has made me order one 😂 just waiting on it arriving and I’ll be up here 👍 great video

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Thanks very much! New bike day is always a good day👍🏻

[@robertt11000]

Inspired by ur video I went today. Constant drizzle but didn't stop me enjoying it. Hadn't previously heard of this place. Started Mtb this year and progressing steadily but didn't have the confidence to send the gaps on Jack's trail. Thanks for highlighting great places to ride. I also left my bike at Greenrig cycles for a

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Good to hear from people starting out. Stick with it you'll be sending those gaps in no time👍🏻

[@RicardoPetrazzi]

Thanks for doing this video, much appreciated. So many MTB vids but many lack anything for the beginner or novice. Well done mate.

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Thanks again 👍🏻That's partly why I started the channel as I was looking for guides for born again bikers and novices looking for guides for where to ride. Funnily enough I'm due back here again later this month to ride some new trails that will be opening soon.The blue and green are still opened and excellent to warm up on and progress skills. You'll be wondering why you left it for so long. Good luck!

[@MarcBowker]

I have a bike on order & been looking for trails to get back into mountain biking. These trails look amazing, will definitely be planning a trip here, great video thanks!

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! It's a good place to get back into MTB and tune up those skills. Good luck 👊🏻

[@markoos72]

15 mins up the road from me-trails are good fun and coffee and cake is good too

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Yes that's always a bonus! The plans look promising for extending the trails👌🏻

[@markoos72]

@@TheFlowingScotsman yeah-already filled out the survey-here's hoping

[@bigstoozeradventures]

That was such a good watch. Thank you so much for sharing. Will be giving that a wee spin tomorrow. Much appreciated. You have a new subscriber.

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Thanks I'm glad you enjoyed it! I've not been back for ages so keep an eye out for the new red trail up in Auchengean woods. Thanks for the support 👍🏻

[@bigstoozeradventures]

@@TheFlowingScotsman Cheers for the update. Much appreciated. Stoozer

[@deangardner4947]

Im going there on Saturday 👍

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

@dean gardner if you haven't been before the green loop in Canada wood is a good warm up before hitting the other trails. Weather looks good too👍🏻

[@Suede137]

Nice video! Usually hit up Carron Valley for practice and fitness and Comrie for a bit more technical stuff. Good to see what’s out there.

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Thanks! Yeah I agree with that. I've got more rides planned hopefully soon that will cover a variety of styles of trails.

[@Suede137]

The Flowing Scotsman after a fair few injuries I’ve come to appreciate the flow a lot more but yeah man good stuff. Keep it up!

[@ianwiltshire1929]

Love this place, even my 11 year daughter asks to come here now with her hard tail 👍

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

That's great! Great place to get their confidence and skills up 👍🏻

[@middleagedmtber2164]

Cheers for this video mate, I'm going to take my 7yro to this park when covid tiers end .Looks a lot of fun .I live in Bathgate area ,so not to far away .

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

It's a great place to start them out. I didn't cover the green loop in the video but start with that to warm up and take it from there.

[@BenjaminRetr0]

Well, I know where I'm riding on Saturday! Was gonna head to Glentress, but fancy somewhere new!!

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

@Benjamin Swindells I like it for a few laps if I don't fancy too long a drive. Nice flowing xc style trails. Check out Jack's track, the orange trail. It's short but has good features although you can't make out the gap jumps from the video at the end. Maybe worth checking them out first before you hit them to judge your speed.

[@BenjaminRetr0]

@@TheFlowingScotsman I used to hit up Cathkin Braes for some good XC laps, but since we moved out of Glasgow, one been riding now Glentress, Beecraigs and even Carberry Estate. Callendar Estate and Glentress are both about 50 minutes drive, so, for the sake of seeing somewhere new, I'm definitely going exploring this afternoon! I saw a couple of clips of Jack's Track, it looks nice, and looking to hit some gaps and jumps! Don't suppose there's anywhere else you'd recommend for good jump progression within an hour and a half or so of Livingston? (Preferably table tops rather than gaps ;) ) I'm sorely needing to get some proper jump practice in as it's one area I'm severely lacking. :(

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

@@BenjaminRetr0 Cathkin Braes is probably your best bet for that. They spent close to a million on three new trails and a skills area that opened late last April. Down by the new velosolutions pumptrack and car park there are a series of progressive table tops that you can loop round and practice on. After that there is the orange jump line up the hill. All the jumps are tables or rollable step ups. They were made by architrail trail designers and are well made with proper lips and good landings. I've covered 2 of the other new lines in a previous video and will try and cover the jump line in the future. It's not my forte but I'm getting there. If you haven't been since then it's worth going back and probably less than 40 mins from Livingston. The gap jumps on Jacks track look quite big when you are next to them but they are well made and don't require much input if you are carrying the right speed.

[@s3ra9h1m]

Auchingean woods (red trail) is currently closed from 22nd June for atleast 5 weeks due to major upgrades. Should be reopen any week now. Head over to Kilbean Woods if heading up that way but be mindful of the cows mating right next to the gate latch. Not kidding, two cows mating right up next to the gate while holding it open for a lovely looking lass coming the other way with rosey cheeks, absolutely hilarious 😂😂

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Thanks for the heads up on both counts😂

[@92redferrari]

Hi.thanks for sharing looking for something nearby Perth & Kinross so hope to get here soon. Have no suspension on bike but the green and blue trails look doable.

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Absolutely I've seen people on enduro style bikes holding up people on gravel bikes going round these trails. Requires a bit of peddaling to keep your speed and flow through the corners. My quickest times were on hard tails with xc levels of travel.

[@92redferrari]

Thanks for the info I'll start with the calendar trails and probably hire once I try the Comrie croft ones

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

No problem.....Good luck!. It's a good place to progress and you can hit them as fast or slow as you like and they still work out. I'm heading back there soon to try the revamped and new red trails.

[@theMisadventuresofaLittleWolf]

i live 10 minutes away and still dont know where half the trails are. good vid, cheers!

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Thanks! They'll be building more trails next year too.

[@kylanmcgowan3859]

Any advice on trails for beginners? From glasgow fancy some ware away from glasgow this video looks a decent place.

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Carron Valley, Comrie croft and Cathkin Braes are all good for beginners but with good options for progressing skills. There are videos showing sone of the trails there on this channel if you want to check them out before visiting. For absolute beginners Callendar green loop and blue are excellent to get you up to speed and Cathkin has good options for sessioning skills in smaller sections. Good luck!👊🏻

[@kylanmcgowan3859]

I will have a look at your videos and take it from there, thanks alot

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

Nice guide, will be heading there at some point once we are less restricted for travel. Looks mostly xc

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Thanks man. Yes it's mostly hard pack xc style trails as the gradient is pretty limited. They have reversed the red climb since this visit and put a few new sections in. Plans for some more trails this year last I heard. Don't expect anything gnarly. If you are used to steeper rougher enduro style trails this might not do it for you.

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

@@TheFlowingScotsman yeah I suspected the gnar would be held back but still fancy a spin to get some intel. I get asked a lot about good beginner local mtb trails and would like to point people this way but would like to ride it first. I've added my sub and going to get through your back catalogue when I get a chance.

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Nice one. Definitely recommend it for learning or getting back into MTB. Same here just subbed back👍🏻

[@TheBikingVikingDude]

@@TheFlowingScotsman maybe see you out there someday, not Callander but somewhere out there😁

[@AtifMetal]

Thanks for this great and very informative video man! I live in Cumbernauld and never knew this trail centre existed! I've been looking for more trails local to me and your video has made me facepalm myself :P. I'm definitely going to come here on a dry weekend soon! Also, what bike are you riding in this video? I love the blue on it :D

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Glad to help out! It's stormy this weekend right enough but hese trails are bombproof so no need to wait for a dry weekend as they are hardpack singletrack gravel and grip better with a bit of rain. I feel like I'm overdue a visit again 🤔

[@AtifMetal]

@@TheFlowingScotsman Great to hear! I might go next weekend if it's drier. Might even see you there one day :P

[@cris_2222]

There’s a nice loop that goes from the car park and you end up in the car park, not much of a climb either...

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

If that's the one that takes in 'Tamfourhill blast' it's a good one to warm up on. You can carry a fair bit of speed around it too.

[@cris_2222]

Maybe, I’m not actually sure about the names there. Definitely good trails though 👍

[@jasonbrown9439]

Good video and looks good trails maybe try it out, What bike were u using

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Thanks! Riding a YT Jeffsey 2018 there. I've been quicker round most of it on a hardtail though as it's quite smooth hard pack singletrack.

[@jasonbrown9439]

I have a medira big 7 600 will this bike be suitable ?

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Yeah that will be fine. Start with the green loop first to warm up and then cross the road to try the blue and maybe the red if you are happy with the blue. Nothing to catch you out. I wouldn't send it down Jack's track the orange trail without checking it out first unless you are comfortable with gap jumps. Have a good ride🤙🏻

[@jasonbrown9439]

The Flowing Scotsman yeah the Merida big 7 600 is more cross country I guess have you got other areas I could go with more xc tracks

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Cathkin Braes near Glasgow, Carron Valley in Central area or Beecraigs Country park in the East will give you plenty of xc riding options to try out.

[@saladface8515]

Is the accent put on?

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Nope.

[@RoysDhanya]

Are those trails free or paid?

[@TheFlowingScotsman]

Free parking and free to use. Not sure if the parking or trails are opened during lockdown though.

[@AntonRamsay]

Free parking. Still open in lockdown as I've just started riding and been up here a few times the last fortnight 👍