Scotland's Million Pound Trail Centre 1 Year Later... Still Great?

[@paulmarshall4403]

Discovered Tarland this year after a couple of days riding classic big natural trails around Ballater. It was like a big bowl of ice-cream after a steak dinner.

[@streetpigeonmtb]

What a great way to describe it!

[@MindfulTrailBiker]

Speed turned up to ludicrous!💥 I don’t think I’ve ever felt as in the “flow state” as I have on high pressure. Tarland has to be the best flow in the UK and they are doing an incredible job of maintaining the trails and continuing to invest in the trails and reward the community for getting involved. It’s a real testament to what is possible when a clear vision is set and action taken! Hats off to all involved!

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Absolutely buddy! What a place 👌

[@Codeset08]

Tarland is incredible so much fun did a trip round Scotland last year and thanks to this channel I added it to my list of places to visit and it did not disappoint, luckily I had an ebike for the climb.

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Yes buddy! So glad you had a good time 😁

[@planetrock8733]

I just got back from 3 days camping in Tarland. What a place, loved it. The speed at times just had me hanging on for dear life.

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Ha ha. For sure! It's so fast!!!

[@rmutch63]

Epic. As a novice rider Tarland is my regular trails. Builds confidence like nothing else.

[@streetpigeonmtb]

What a great place to have as a local 👌

[@MegaKDUB1]

Great video Street Pigeon as always! I did my 1st Tarlands trip a week ago, and it was as good as all the hype suggests. High Pressure is absolutly well worth the climb! Feels like you are gliding down those immpecable berms all the way like greased lightening! I did come off though farther down on a smaller trail closer to the car park😬Rear brake system on the Voodoo needs re doing...also anyone finds any of the skin off my arm mail it to Fife! I will be back up there though without a doubt and with more elbow pads! Cheers

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Nice man! It's such a great place 👌

[@DesScott1992]

Cracking video mate, i need to get back up to tarland as i haven't been since opening.. Keep up the great work!

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Cheers man. Deffo worth a revisit. It's still a blinder!

[@ianhorsekelly9144]

I was up their that day, My little silver Transit Courier van was parked near the toilets and start of the climb. Done the bottom to top on a switched off e-bike...4miles exactly and 50mins of climbing on a 23kg bike lol It got really warm and was busy when i left. Glad you had a great day as I had a blast :-)

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Nice man. Glad you had a good day 👌

[@TrailTrackerSwitzerland]

Flow state most definitely achieved 👍I've got a day planned on one of my favourite flow trails this month and this just added to the stoke. Thanks Jamie!

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Whoop! Enjoy Darren. Sometimes flow is just what is needed 👌

[@EthanWaters-vv1pj]

A go pro don’t do it justice to how fast and twisty it must of been to the human eye , another great video I’ll have to go there myself one day looks amazing

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Deffo get yourself there if you can. It's so good 👍

[@stevo_fpv933]

Tarland is so good and my local trails. Still not bored of them after going a load the past year. The new trails at Inchmarlo, Banchory are worth a look on the way past also.

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Cheers buddy. Will deffo check them out 😁

[@DizRidesMtb]

Those trails are Epic n look amazing bro . Great vid bruv .

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Thanks man. Hope you get to ride them one day 👌

[@garyalexander3281]

Loved riding both Tarland and Heartbreak Ridge on my holiday to Ballater last year, great to see trails running well such amazing flow, osmo action 4 handles very well. Thanks for sharing Jamie now off to motivate myself for my big ride from Bridge of Orchy to Glencoe and back tomorrow - cheers! 😁

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Brilliant! Have a good one tomorrow. Safe riding 👌

[@garyalexander3281]

@@streetpigeonmtbWill do Jamie thanks and recommended! 👍

[@pmacfto]

Did that one Saturday and HBR and Mastermind on the Sunday - great weekend! It was roasting hot the day we were there too and even on an eeb I was knackered at the end - although it's less physical than most places as it's smooth but the jumps more than make up for it :p Just a different type of trail centre and worth the trip from Edinburgh! Glad I stayed overnight locally though - it's quite the drive.

[@streetpigeonmtb]

It is a fair drive! I'm staying overnight next time. Deffo going back though 👌

[@rupertbrock417]

It definitely looks fast and fun

[@streetpigeonmtb]

It is that!

[@Canigetanawwwwyyyyeeeah]

Picked yer day with the weather there chief. Chuckled when you said it was hot lol been an awful summer 😂

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Ha ha. Yup, never happy 😆

[@ShaneyBCM]

I went around the same time as you last year in the first month or so of opening on my trek roscoe 9, during the 20twenty demo weekend so got to ride a few different bikes, went back again a couple of weeks ago this time on my trek rail ebike, like you said very different than I remembered, I thought it was quite tame before since I rode fortwilliam alot last year but yeah this time I found it a bit of a challenge at times, great trails though. So well built it feels safe to ride them blind at a decent pace.

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Yeah. There is nothing to really catch you out which is good given the speed you get to! Looking forward to riding the new trails 👌

[@shannonmtb]

Love Tarland Trails....still looks fantastic! Me and my lad went last year and are planning to go again this year 💪

[@streetpigeonmtb]

I was so impressed by how well maintained it's been. A real credit to the management and everyone who has got stuck in. Legends.

[@shannonmtb]

@@streetpigeonmtb yeah I believe the car parking charges pay towards the maintenance so all good. Those berms make you feel like a biking hero don't they 😂💪

[@streetpigeonmtb]

@shannonmtb they really do! Yeah, the use the funding incredibly well 👌

[@kaneda4102]

That’s on my bucket list but bloody heck that’s a 9 hour drive for me.

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Probably best do a trip away. Very close to Aboyne and Pitfichie so you could do a brilliant trip for sure 👌

[@johnweir8936]

If travelling that far well worth spending a week or so in the area , lots of trails near by Aberdeenshire 👍🏻

[@streetpigeonmtb]

@johnweir8936 yeah. I have so much to explore up there!

[@johnbrown3951]

The weather was always like that growing up in Tarland fifty years ago, only there were no such things as mountain bikes or man made trails apart from the one I built in my garden for me and my mates who invented cyclo cross before it was a thing.

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Sounds like a great place to grow up 👍

[@johnbrown3951]

@@streetpigeonmtb It really was.

[@bestdayevermtb2]

Hope that wasn't the Scottish summer finished already? Looked on map could do loop to Fort William then to Tarland Trails then back to Maidens.

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Jokes aside it might have been 😆 It's currently about 11 degrees! Absolutely baltic. Please bring sun. I deffo think Tarland should be an option for you 👌

[@the_Monkee]

Would really like to ride Tarland. Only got a cheap hardtail (£1000) so not sure how good it would be for it.

[@streetpigeonmtb]

It would be fine mate. Honestly, give it a go. The trails are very flowy so you will not get caught out with a lack of suspension 👌

[@MindfulTrailBiker]

Perfect trails for a Hardtail, go get some!

[@SwayDizzle83]

Mate, I abuse a £500 hardtail at Tarland at least once a week without any problems 👌

[@jasonyeoman-tr2fx]

Had a trip here a few weeks ago, did Sgor Gaoith, Heartbreak Ridge, then our final day at Tarland Trails 2. Definitely the cherry on the top. What a fantastic facility and only £5 for a days parking. Brilliant 🚵‍♀️

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Yeah. It's just a top place 👌

[@Pieterpittigeportiepeperpathe]

You say "not like I remembered" a couple of times. Why do you think this is the case? Did the trails change, or is it your progression and a different bike? About the bike: How would you compare the Aeris 9 with it's closest relatives, the Aeris AM and Aeris AM9? I am curious. I'm riding an Aeris AM9 at the moment and I'm building up an Aeris9 and a Zero AM.

[@streetpigeonmtb]

I think they were different because they are a bit more ridden in, but also you just forget what they are like. I often remember trails from the videos I make, however the action camera always changes the perspective a bit so you imagine them a bit differently. Aeris 9 is a different beast from AM and AM9. Heavier, more planted, and a lot stiffer in the rear section. It doesn't steer quite as well on flatter trails but is a machine on steep and/or chunky. If the new Aeris AM is a trail bike then the Aeris 9 is an Enduro/Park/DH bike.

[@Pieterpittigeportiepeperpathe]

Thanks 👍

[@docspuddin]

How many differnt runs are there Jamie ? Look like I need a road trip :)

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Hey there. Here is the Strava link if it helps. This route ticked off every descent once 👌 strava.app.link/Kd1jGMAviKb

[@docspuddin]

Aww cheers Jamie ..6 hour drive..I best make it a weekend then 😅

[@streetpigeonmtb]

@docspuddin Most definitely!

[@1comie]

Needs more trails

[@streetpigeonmtb]

There more on the way 👍

[@1comie]

@streetpigeonmtb yeah saw one being built next to Chris's thingy.. I just felt there wasn't enough to keep intermediate or better riders coming back. I might be wrong, just IMO. Hopeful tho 👍

[@lewisdinnebier7931]

You need to sort out the metering as it likes to expose the sky correctly and leave you literally in the dark! Most of the time its under exposed for you or your bike!

[@streetpigeonmtb]

How would I do that?

[@lewisdinnebier7931]

@@streetpigeonmtb set your exposure compensation to 0.7 maybe? Newer cameras might have a setting for spot metering? Have a look at the settings :)

[@endurokid82]

Great riding and great video, but you’d still look better not tucking your ears in your hat 😆

[@streetpigeonmtb]

😆 Fair play!

[@donnpassMTB]

Didn't like it. It doesn't feel 1 million trails at all... a bit boring trails tbh. just normal flow trails, nothing special disappointed

[@streetpigeonmtb]

Where do you like? Are you more of a tech rider?

[@donnpassMTB]

@streetpigeonmtb Yeah, im a bit more tech with a bit of l flow and jumps, towards enduro love tweed walley, dify and off piste. Don't get me wrong, trais are builds nicely, but it's just to smooth family friendly :)

[@streetpigeonmtb]

@donnpassMTB fair play. I'm based in Tweed Valley son used to natural. I still love these trails though. Think it's because they are so different to what I usually ride 👌