Forest of Ae (FAOBAM)
- Location
- Ae village, Dumfries & Galloway, southern Scotland
- Season
- Year-round, weather-dependent
- Lift access
- No โ pedal up (some weekend uplift events run independently)
- Trails
- Multiple waymarked routes + the Ae DH (downhill track)
- Easiest grade
- Blue (Ae Valley Trail)
- Hardest grade
- Black (Ae Line / DH track)
- Day pass
- Free to ride (Forestry & Land Scotland trails); car park charge applies (Free + parking)
- Nearest airport
- Glasgow Prestwick (PIK) / Edinburgh (EDI)
The Forest of Ae โ locally 'FAOBAM', short for Forest of Ae Bike Park Mafia, the riders who keep it alive โ is one of Scotland's 7stanes mountain biking centres. It sits in Dumfries & Galloway and the rides range from the long blue Ae Valley Trail loop to the Ae Line red and the legendary Ae DH track, a proper black downhill course that has hosted British national rounds.
Ae is not a beginner's bike park. The Valley Trail is fine for families, but the rep of the place comes from the DH โ fast, root-laced, big features. If your home riding includes drops, doubles and off-camber roots in the wet, you'll love it. If not, ride the red first to feel the dirt before you commit to the DH.
Full-face and pads for the DH. Long pedal-up to the start of every run โ so a bike that climbs is useful, or share a shuttle with mates. Spares: Scottish rocks eat brake pads and tyres.
It's free. No uplift ticket, no booking. The DH track is one of the most respected in the UK and the surrounding forest is genuinely beautiful. Mid-week it can be properly quiet โ just you and the trees. David's ridden here multiple times with his Clonmel crew.
Practical context: there's no on-site shop and no cafรฉ at Ae itself, so bring food, water, spares and a basic first-aid kit. Mobile signal in the forest is patchy. The 7stanes network also includes Glentress, Innerleithen and Mabie nearby โ many Irish riders do a multi-park road trip from one ferry crossing rather than just one centre. Local riders run regular weekend uplift days via independent shuttle operators; check the FAOBAM social channels before you go to time a trip around one.
Top trails to ride
- Ae DH Black (DH)
The headliner โ historic British DH course, big features, ride it scoped first. - Ae Line Red
Long red descent, technical roots, the warm-up before the DH. - Ae Valley Trail Blue
Flowing forest loop suitable for stronger families.
Getting there from Ireland
From Clonmel: easiest is Dublin โ Cairnryan ferry (Stena/P&O), then ~1hr drive east to Ae. Total around a day each way. Many Irish riders do long weekends here in vans.
Where to stay
Ae Forest cabins, B&Bs around Dumfries, or vans/camping at trail centre car parks (check rules).