Strathearn, Perthshire
Comrie Croft combines a compact riding destination with a place to spend the rest of the day. The reimagined farm at Braincroft contains woods, meadow, accommodation and several independent businesses, with a bike shop and trail network at its heart. That arrangement suits a group whose ambitions differ: some can practise near the base while others head higher into the Strathearn hills.
The operator describes more than 21 kilometres of trails across the site, rather than one compulsory circuit. Its map separates blue, red and black descents, access climbs and the Slow Worm near the front field. Think in terms of linked sections and repeatable sessions. The hill offers progression, but moving to a harder colour should follow a controlled first run rather than a desire to ride everything on the map.
430 m
The front-field trail offers an approachable all-abilities starting point. Its position near the Croft’s main facilities helps families organise a shorter session without immediately climbing into the upper network.
Official route information →Blue · 688 m
A named blue section on the lower mapped network. Use it as part of a manageable first outing, following the marked connections and deciding on another lap after assessing how the group feels.
Official route information →Blue · 969 m
Another named blue section, mapped at just under a kilometre. Its length is a section measurement, not the distance of an entire outing including the climb and connections.
Official route information →Red · 730 m
The map places this red section higher on the hill. Include the access climb in your energy and time plan, and recognise the step up from blue before choosing it.
Official route information →Black · 699 m
The coaching team identifies this as technical riding at the demanding end of the Croft’s progression. Approach it with established skills and enough energy to inspect unfamiliar features, rather than making it a tired final challenge.
Official route information →The mapped network is formed from named trail sections linked by climbing routes. Follow the directional arrows and distinguish the climbing line from dual-use connections.
Begin on Slow Worm if the group includes new riders or children who need a visible, approachable session. The Croft’s camping information describes parents being able to watch children ride around this front-field area. For riders ready to venture farther, choose blue sections and return before fatigue makes another climb feel compulsory. Agree the meeting place with companions before heading up the hill.
Experienced visitors can link red and black sections using the mapped access climbs, leaving room for reconnaissance before repeat descents. The official map shows a yellow climbing route and a separate dual-use connection, so follow the arrows rather than improvising an uphill shortcut on a descending trail. A Flow School session is useful if you want to work on a specific progression rather than simply accumulate distance.
Use Comrie Croft, Braincroft, Crieff, PH7 4JZ as your destination. The operator confirms plenty of on-site parking and four electric-vehicle charging points. Official directions →
Use Comrie Croft, Braincroft, Crieff, PH7 4JZ as your destination. The operator confirms plenty of on-site parking and four electric-vehicle charging points. A general day visit to the grounds, trails, shops and café does not require an accommodation booking. Reserve overnight stays separately; staying at the Croft and arriving to ride for the day are different arrangements.
The Croft’s own transport information identifies bus connections including Stagecoach service 15 from Perth. Plan the return as carefully as the outward trip and verify the current stop and service with the transport operator. Hiring on site can simplify a bus-based visit, because a passenger connection should not be taken as a guarantee that your own mountain bike will be carried.
Find the planning area on a map →Comrie Croft Bikes operates the on-site shop and hire service, with bikes for different riding needs including children’s bikes and e-bikes. Explain your planned riding before selecting a rental. Online hire bookings close 24 hours before collection; within that window the shop asks visitors to telephone or enquire in person. That makes a spontaneous visit possible to discuss, without guaranteeing the right size will be waiting.
Flow School offers beginner courses, children’s Mini Shredders sessions, private coaching and multi-day camps. Arrange instruction around what you want to improve and the actual members of the group. Booking a coach is different from booking a bike, and both need enough time around collection, fitting and meeting the rest of the party. The farm shop provides another practical stop beside the riding businesses.
Comrie Croft Bikes provides on-site rental. Online bookings close 24 hours before collection; within that window contact the shop directly about availability.
A day visit to the grounds and trails does not require an accommodation booking. Reserve camping and other overnight accommodation separately; shop, café and hire schedules have their own hours.
The wooded hill and open front field make for different conditions within one visit. On a damp day, judge the upper technical riding independently of how comfortable the easy field session feels. Keep enough daylight for climbing and returning to the base. The operator publishes separate hours for its businesses; its current winter café pattern is weekends, so do not assume a weekday shop visit also guarantees a hot lunch.
Comrie Croft offers bookable camping beside its wider accommodation and riding facilities. Reserve the appropriate pitch and read the site’s arrival and camping rules before travelling. Official campsite information →
Comrie is the nearby village base, while the Croft also offers its own accommodation for a stay close to the riding. For a meal without leaving the site, Gorse Café has published seasonal opening information on the Croft’s contact page. Plan food around the service that is actually available, or bring a picnic. A shop open throughout the week and a café serving on fewer winter days are useful to distinguish.
Nowhere Sauna offers a non-riding activity at the Croft’s mill pond: a bookable wood-fired outdoor sauna, with shared and private arrangements described by the venue. Reserve a session rather than assuming it is included in a trail visit or overnight stay. It gives companions their own activity and a defined meeting time, helping a mixed party build a full day without everyone following the same bike route.
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Displayed distances are straight-line estimates using OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), not road journeys. Ask the property about secure bike storage and wet-kit arrangements before booking.
RIDE PREPARATION
Consider what suits the route, forecast and your own experience.
The Croft says a general visit to the trails and grounds does not need a booking. Bike hire, instruction, sauna sessions and overnight accommodation are separate services to arrange.
The named descents have individual section distances. Your outing also includes access climbs and connecting trails, so do not treat a short descent measurement as the total ride distance.
Slow Worm is the front-field all-abilities option, with the nearby main facilities making it easier to organise a shorter visit. Choose blue sections farther up only when the group is ready.
Online booking closes 24 hours before the hire start. Within that period, telephone the bike shop or enquire in person; confirm availability and size rather than assuming a walk-in bike.
The Croft’s current published winter café hours are weekends. Check the café service for your date and carry food if necessary, even when the bike shop or farm shop is operating.
Glasgow
Stirlingshire
Perthshire — Pitlochry and Dunkeld
Central Scotland & Perthshire
Central Scotland & Perthshire
Choose manageable family trails, fit children’s bikes, pace the day, assess clubs and coaches, and make a separate safe plan for dogs.
Develop braking, cornering, climbing and technical riding through deliberate practice, with sensible progression for roots, rocks, steeps, wheel lifts and jumps.
Book the right uplift, riding pass, hire bike and coaching session, check equipment and carriage rules, and plan a controlled first bike-park day.
Trail conditions change — check the official page before you travel.
Open official site →