Newcastleton's new MTB flow trails: Hidden Valley and Swarf Hill. Riding the red grade route

[@MeantforDescent]

Love riding in the Scottish Borders? Check out my Glentress vid at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoGoXoeCrJiVi80

[@mickliddane4299]

I’m new to trail riding so a beginner and from the northeast where’s good to go

[@MeantforDescent]

Hi Mick. In the North East the most popular spots are probably Hamsterley, Chopwell Wood, Kielder and Thrunton Wood. If you're prepared to put some more miles in, Newcastleton's great, fun but Glentress is so much better. The Golfie and Innerleithen in the Tweed Valley are also great. You could hit Dalby Forest in North Yorkshire, and probably should at least once, but I've always found it lacks excitement. I'm sure there are probably lots of great off piste trails, but I haven't explored them. Another alternative is to head over to the Lakes and ride Whinlatter. If you'd like to, you can find videos of Glentress, Hamsterley, Chopwell and Whinlatter elsewhere on my channel. There's also a bikepacking vid from Kielder, but that's less trail and more adventure.

[@u700495]

Lovely edit mate. Nice music. Commentary. Bang on. Subbed!

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks, Kenny. Much appreciated.

[@dylanking372]

Great to watch. Have written off Newcastlton so many times as having always thought it was dull, but after watching this am going back to have a look. It's on the doorstep too! Thanks

[@MeantforDescent]

Have you made it yet, Dylan? I'm hoping to head back shortly to check out the newest section of Hidden Valley.

[@JMJC1]

Your editing, voice over and music choice are excellent, subbed.

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks. Really nice of you to say so. Much appreciated.

[@MtBArN]

Not been there in a few years, will need to head back doon for a sesh. Cheers for the vid!

[@MeantforDescent]

No problem. I really enjoyed it. Hope you do too.

[@MegaMissfitz]

Just been mountain biking tonight with a hoody on just to be on the safe side! Not the best decision ive ever made in my life! Sweet dreams 😤😤😤

[@CallumTech]

amazing! I might be going tomorrow to try out my new bike. you just gained a new subscriber!! keep up the good work well done!

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks Callum. I love Newcastleton; it's a a great place to ride. I hope you have a blast. Hidden Valley is amazing. Definitely worth the trip and definitely worth a push back to the top.

[@EMTBRyan]

Looks an awesome ride out!!

[@MeantforDescent]

Agreed. We need to go back and ride Hidden Valley again. Well worth the drive out there.

[@simondewhurst3137]

Love your videos and your commentary is always funny and informative. Awesome!

[@tritonsyc]

Inspired, must visit when we are allowed out again

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks, Graeme. There are some great trails up there. Starting in the village makes it feel like a bigger day out, too.

[@garyalexander3281]

Excellent trail video, like the editing which goes well with your narration, look forward to seeing more 🚵‍♀️

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks, Gary. It's really nice of you to say so. More in the pipeline, including a couple of "how to" vids.

[@mikefandango3343]

Get in m8 eight yrs since I’ve been. After this I’m heading over!

[@MeantforDescent]

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did, Mike. Hidden Valley and Swarf Hill are super fun.

[@Twedymoto]

Great video, thanks for sharing! Newcastleton is my hometown and it's been a while since I've ridden there. IMO, the Swarf and Hidden Valley used to more fun with rocks, drops and tables but that does look smooth and fast! Will have to get up and try it for myself!! :D

[@MeantforDescent]

No problem. Thanks for watching. I was up there very recently and Hidden Valley has now been extended by a few hundred metres. It's not technical, but it's a lot of fun to ride. So much so we made a couple of runs from top to bottom.

[@SorinVBogdan]

Awesome video pal

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@TonysComfortKitchen]

Hidden Valley now has an extension added. Not very long but excellent to ride. Unfortunately the next section (the bog?) was closed due to forest work, and there was a detour but still enjoyable

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks Tony. Going to try and get up there soon to take a look.

[@jimbobjamber9276]

New to the channel- great presentation style. Trails look great as well, my type of riding!

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks, David. I'd recommend Newcastleton if you've not been. It's no BikePark Wales, but it's a lot of fun. More so in the summer. ;)

[@tomreynolds8198]

Great video.

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks, Tom. Much appreciated.

[@craigmaddison8254]

Good video mate, have'nt been to Newcastleton for more than 10 years, looks canny up there noo.

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks, Craig. Before this visit it'd been ten years or more since I rode there last. There definitely wasn't a skills area at the time and the north shore was still around. It's a much longer trail now, and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I'll certainly be back.

[@beemtb6996]

Great vid, like the narration and great looking trail 🤙

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks Steve. It is a great trail. I really enjoyed riding it and I think another visit could be on the cards in the not too distant future.

[@ElizabethFarley44]

Really helpful, thanks. Please keep publishing :)

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks, Elizabeth. I'm working on some video from Hamsterley Forest in Durham at the moment. Hopefully, that should be published before Monday.

[@robomcfc]

That buzzard has had my helmet a few times scares the life out of you. There is talk of revamping another route soon so keep your eyes peeled. Also There is bike hire from rock uk - whithaugh park.

[@MeantforDescent]

I've heard similar rumours. I can feel another video coming on. ;)

[@col72]

Looks mint ,new subscriber 👍

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks. Much appreciated. It was a great day out. I can't wait to do it again.

[@col72]

@@MeantforDescent I'm new to all this and I live near guisborough so going to go there when lockdown ends fella,been watching loads of vids on KZbin for tips lol.

[@MeantforDescent]

It's on my list, but I've not been yet. You'll have to let me know how it goes.

[@col72]

@@MeantforDescent ok bud.

[@jonnoedge167]

Great channel... Going Newcastleton today. Will you be doing more of the 7 Stanes? I'm looking to do them all over the next couple of months

[@MeantforDescent]

Thanks Jonno. Yeah, I've ridden most of them, and I did head up to Ae a little while ago to get some footage, but that didn't end well. You can see why in this video... kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnyrmax8dsegqLM I definitely intend to visit them again, but it might take a little while. I hope you enjoy Newcastleton, those new section are great fun.

[@dickheadcentral6974]

Hi love the channel, looking for somewhere new to ride. Been hitting hamsterley alot love the place but want somewhere new to try. What do you recommend within the Midlands or North to Scotland etc thanks

[@MeantforDescent]

Hey. Thanks. I'm pretty sure everyone's been to Glentress, but that has to be one of my favourite places to ride. The Tweed Valley is bursting with trails, so even if you have there's guaranteed to be something nearby that you haven't ridden. In the North East, I'd suggest Chopwell, it's always great fun but needs a good time investment to find all of the trails, or Thrunton; there are some good trails up there, too.

[@dickheadcentral6974]

@@MeantforDescent appreciate the reply, everyone seems to point to this glentress, think I need to take a trip next weekend 😁. Thanks alot

[@MeantforDescent]

No problem. I'm usually a little quicker than that, though. You won't be disappointed with Glentress. The red trail is excellent, and it takes in the Freeride Park part way around, too. I've got a video of it here... kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoGoXoeCrJiVi80

[@dickheadcentral6974]

What gets your voted newcastlon or glentress.. Need to make my mind up by the morning 😬

[@MeantforDescent]

I'd be heading to Glentress. It's an absolute blast and you won't be disappointed.

[@dickheadcentral6974]

@@MeantforDescent glentress it is thank you, love the videos 👌

[@MeantforDescent]

Cheers. Hope you enjoy it. The red trail's great fun.

[@lauragould7145]

What happened with the buzzard?!

[@MeantforDescent]

Gambling addiction, apparently. Couldn't keep up the payments on the nest and the bank repossessed.

[@lauragould7145]

Meant for Descent 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 but seriously?! How do you know when there’s an angry buzzard that needs to be avoided?! Hmmm...I think I’ve just answered my own question! 🦅😱🚵🏼‍♀️💨

[@MeantforDescent]

It's a Forestry Scotland site, and they put signs up and close parts of the route when there are aggressive nesting birds about. Worth a visit, even with the detour.

[@mikeep666]

I'd go flat conrners over berms.

[@MeantforDescent]

Ooooh, that sounds like a can of worms being opened there, Mike. I'm prepared to conceed that they both have their place. ;) Cheers, Chris.

[@gr1809]

Wtf, an angry buzzard... Is that a code for something because I've lived in the country side all my life and never heard of an angry buzzard Tracks look really impressive compared to years ago... I need a new bike

[@MeantforDescent]

I know. Sounds mad, but it's true. It was nesting and attacking people who got too close. Spoke to one guy who'd had more than one run in with it. He said it was dive bombing him, hitting his helmet. The trails are a blast though.

[@gr1809]

@@MeantforDescentNest must be fairly close to track and felt threatened. Use to go to Newcastleton 3-4 times a month (just live 40 mins away). Was always a favourite but then dam kids came and took all my time and money 😂😂. However, their old enough now so new bike here I come Maybe see you up there one day, dodging buzzerds. 👍

[@MeantforDescent]

Yeah, I love Newcastleton. Even more fun on a new bike. ;)

[@simoncumming152]

Has the route been downgraded to blue? There's nothing red / tech about this trail at all. Definitely been dumbed down for the worse.

[@MeantforDescent]

Not as far as I know. When I was there it was still graded as red. There are obviously fewer technical features on the new sections, but there's a lot more trail there than I've managed to cram into 12 minutes.