Glentress offers exertion for great reward as cyclists and walkers come together
You have some of the best trails in the country for those who love two wheels and adrenaline but there are also well-laid out walking routes.
These different ascents and descents, whether by pedal or on foot, do cross but there is plenty of warning and much common sense seems to make everything run smoothly.
On arriving at the Buzzard’s Nest car park the walker can feel a little bit out of place as spanners and Allen keys are put to good work on all things bike.
But it is really only a few yards until the peace of the forest is reached. Higher up, as the Shieldgreen Centre is passed, views across the Tweed Valley make this a great place for a stroll.
The exertion is not absent and by the time the return is made legs will be aching a little.
I first went to Glentress with the attitude that the mountain bikers were not to be trusted but have come to learn that they do stop and avoid hitting others at speed.
The walker too needs to be mindful of this and stick to the right tracks.
In other parts of the country I have witnessed a lack of respect for others, whether it is as simple as walkers failing to close a gate or letting dogs run loose near sheep or landowners padlocking gates on a right of way or erecting signs which wrongly say there is no access.
The land access legislation which Scotland has seen in the last few years has done much to improve things but
there are still, as always, lessons to be learned. A good way to see how balance and respect can be achieved is to go down to Glentress and see how things work.
This route follows the Tower Trail and can be extended by starting at Glentress Peel – the main hub for the forest.
Whichever way you go there is more to experience than the trails themselves; the tranquillity of walking up high is largely unhindered by the bikers and when high up you get a good sense of just how vast the wonderful Borders countryside is.