Explore the forest, and beyond at Glentress Forest
Forest Rangers
An entire forest at your feet. Let us show you around...
Our Forest Rangers are experts in helping you have fun in the great outdoors. They know the forests like the back of their hand and will help you to understand and connect with the forest. With experiences that are designed to show you the very best of our location, whichever activity you choose, you'll have an unforgettable experience.
Make sure you book in advance as our experiences are popular! Just choose your activity in my account.
Guided Woodland Walk
Suitable for families, groups and couples
With an entire forest waiting to be explored, it’s hard knowing where to start! Join our Forest Rangers for a guided tour, taking in some unforgettable views whilst learning a thing or two about the wildlife who call our forests home.
Mini Forest Rangers
Suitable for families and 5-11 year olds
Become a mini bird detective! Spread your wings and get ready to discover the world of bird spotting and migration. Through exciting games, crafts and immersive activities – put our feathered friends into the spotlight with help from your Forest Ranger.
Little Wild Ones
Suitable for families and pre-schoolers
When imaginations run wild, a love for nature begins to grow. And there’s no better playground than the forest! Your Forest Ranger will guide your tiny explorers through woodland activities and imaginative play – bringing stories to life as they find their first Forest Feeling.
Forest Survival
Suitable for families, groups and couples
It’s the simple things in life — like how to light a fire and build a woodland shelter. Learn it all with your Forest Ranger, then it’s time to relax around the campfire, toast some marshmallows and enjoy a well-deserved cuppa from freshly foraged herbs.
Nature by Night
Available September to March, suitable for all
Evenings in the forest just got even more extraordinary. Join a guided walk as you uncover the world of biofluorescence, using UV light to unveil a whole new world of wonders.
Outdoor adventures
In the forest
Archery and Axe Throwing
Try your hand at not one, but two target sports in our forest activity range, for ages 12 and above.
Close by...
Canoe the River Tweed. Climb local quarries. Take aim with archery or dive right in with a gorge walk. Embrace epic adventures close to the forest and experience the best of the Borders with our trusted partner, Biggar Adventure.
Choose from...
- Canoe St Mary’s Loch (30 mins from Peebles) | £42.40 per person
- Canoe River Tweed | from £47.50 per person
- Canoe River Clyde | from £47.50 per person
- Climbing & Abseil Blackford Quarry, Edinburgh | from £47.70 per person
- Climbing Peebles | from £47.70 per person
- Archery | from £37.70 per person
- Raft Building | from £42.50 per person
- Gorge walking | from £42.50 per person
Book directly with Biggar Adventure on their website.
Forest Spa
Unwind with a spa experience like no other, surrounded by the forest and a natural soundtrack outside. Switch off with soothing treatments designed for couples' time, group relaxation, or simply some time just for you.
You'll need to pre-book our in-cabin spa treatments to make sure we can get everything in place for your stay.
Book your spa experience
You'll need to pre-book our in-cabin spa treatments to make sure we can get everything in place for your stay.
Book your spa experience
Bike hire
No bike? No problem
Explore the trails of Glentress Forest with Hardtail Mountain Bikes from £35 or upgrade to a Trail E-bike from £80, all available to hire through our off-site third-party suppliers - Glentress Bike Hire.
Elvis Owl Nature Trail
Get hands-on in the forest with this brand-new, self-led Forest Nature Trail.
Explore the incredible wildlife around you, get stuck into activities and learn amazing things about nature.
Use your discovery pack and follow our five stepping stones to nature while you get to know your forest friends. See, hear and touch nature all around you... and have an incredible adventure in the forest.
Quiz nights
Come along to our Forest Quiz every Wednesday and Saturday! Grab a drink, choose your team name and put your knowledge to the test for a chance to win. It’s free and everyone’s welcome - with special rounds for kids! Join us in the Forest Retreat from 5pm.
Good to know...
You can reserve a table for the quiz by booking in for dinner at the Forest Retreat. Pre-order our Quiz Night specials in my account, or speak to our team while you're here.
Pottery painting
Head to the Forest Retreat and discover your creative side. Choose from a selection of our favourite woodland animals and experiment with spongy foam clay or paint a masterpiece to take away the same day.
Small Bisque - foam or paint | £6.95
Medium Bisque - foam or paint | £10.95
Large Bisque - foam or paint | £13.95
Rainy days
On rainy days, look out for TV messages for any indoor activities we're running. We also have plenty of board games in the Forest Retreat so why not pop in, pick up a game and grab a drink.
Build a Forest Friend
Looking for something to keep little hands busy indoors?
Head to the Forest Retreat, where mini explorers can build their own Forest Friend to join them on their adventures when they’re back outside. You can pre-book yours so they’re ready and waiting for when you arrive.
Local recommendations Glentress Forest
Pubs and restaurants
Traditional dishes, amazing views, or the perfect place to finish off a woodland walk. Take your pick from our top pubs and restaurants close to the forest to get a taste of the local.
A restaurant, deli and bar in nearby Peebles. Serving local, fresh, seasonal produce, cooked simply, without fuss.
A cycle-friendly pub with a beer garden.
Places to visit
There's lots to explore just a short drive away, from ancient holy sites and local culture, and of course, lochs.
In 1881 Peebles Hydro was built, offering a hydropathic hotel due to its very own private spring, Shieldgreen. Today, the draw is rather different: Shieldgreen now supplies the gleaming copper stills of their very own gin and tonic: 1881 Gin and Tonic 81.
There are currently access restrictions around the tower but all other areas of the site are accessible. Visit an ancient holy site associated with miracles and the grave of a saint.
Less than ten minutes' drive from Glentress is Kailzie Gardens, a botanic garden and arboretum. With 20 acres of gardens and woodlands created by generations of passionate gardeners, there’s an 18 hole putting green and pétanque rinks (also known as Boules), a children’s nature trail, and family-friendly fishery (for both bait and fly-fishing). You can even fly-fish on the River Tweed in the Kailzie Gardens’ private stretch of river.
The largest natural loch in the Scottish Borders, St Mary’s Loch is also home to a sailing club offering a range of activities including windsurfing, kayaking and rowing. Temporary memberships are available for just one day or up to a fortnight.
St Ronans overlooks the Leithen valley and was originally constructed by the Earl of Traquair as a retreat for visitors travelling to drink from the sulphurous springs. Explore and sample the spring water on tap! The centre is host to the unique ‘Cleikum Ceremonies’, held in the town every July and founded by James Hogg. Sir Walter Scott also visited St Ronans as a young boy and wrote a novel about the town in 1824.
Novelist, journalist and politician, John Buchan, was passionate about the Tweedale area -home to his parents’ families and a regular holiday destination for his family. This museum explores his life and legacy and the huge contribution he made to Scotland, the UK and the world.
Meet the adorable, 30-strong herd of Alpacas, lovingly cared for by husband and wife duo, Jean and Stuart. They offer visits and treks with the alpacas. Trek the Tweed Valley on a slow amble with alpacas, up to the hills above to take in spectacular views. There are two treks a day running from Friday to Monday, with the first at 10:00am and the second at 2:00pm. You can also visit the alpacas from Tuesday to Thursday at Velvet Hall.
Walking trails
Buzzard’s Nest Trail | 4.9km
Explore the diverse species of Glentress Forest, including areas of Scots pine, Douglas fir and Norway spruce. After a hike up to the slopes of Cardie Hill, find amazing valley views. Worth the effort, we promise!
Glen Trail | 3.3km
‘Dougie Bank’ lies just above the ponds, full of Douglas fir trees that are nearly 100 years old. Discover the Glentress Burn, passing the ponds, before winding up through the Douglas firs above.
Ponds Trail | 0.9km
Take a short walk around the peaceful Glentress ponds in a sheltered corner of the forest, where Douglas Fir once stood before a big storm. Stroll around an oasis of ash, birch and pine that is home to herons, bats and red squirrels.
Tower Trail | 9.3km
Take a longer walk and explore more quiet and mature woodland. Climb to the top of Glentress Forest, past the Iron Age settlement at Shieldgreen Tower then take in incredible views. You might even spot Buzzards and Roe deer along the way. Climb to the top of Glentress Forest, past the Iron Age settlement at Shieldgreen Tower and take in spectacular views over Peebles and Soonhope Burn.
Tweed Valley Time Trail | 3.8km
Take the moderate Time Trail from Buzzard’s Nest, which skirts around the edges of our cabins. Glimpse the area’s Iron Age past on this high level trail above the Tweed Valley, with spectacular views over Peebles to the Caddon Hills.
Around 3.8km long, this scenic walk takes around 1½ hours and, with a mostly firm, gravel surface, this is suitable for most walkers. Some sections are slightly uneven, and there are some long slopes with the odd steeper section.
Cycling trails
This multi-use route links the neighbouring towns of Peebles, Innerleithen and Walkerburn, and passes through the village of Cardrona on quiet roads. The tarmac path follows the picturesque River Tweed for much of the way, liking off to Glentress Forest, on to further walking and biking trails at Innerleithen. It’s an excellent route for families and recreational cyclists – made even better by a new spur that travels north (off road) to the village of Eddleston.
Tweed Cycle Way | various routes
The Tweed Cycle Way is a 152km long, waymarked cycle route, running through the heart of the Scottish Borders along the River Tweed. Dip in and out of this route for a leisurely bike ride through riverside towns, with hills and forest as far as you can see.
Mountain biking trails
Apple Peel | Green
The new green graded trail runs along to the Peel building and is ideal for a gentle cruise or anyone starting out in mountain biking.
Castle Black | Black
The new black trail is like nothing else at Glentress. Enormous jumps and high speeds make this suitable for expert riders.
Green, Blue, Red and Black Taster trails
These short stand-alone loops begin and end to the south of the Peel Tower and provide a way to sample each grade of the network trail. The shared climb gradually changes in difficulty from Green to Black grade as the climb goes on, before splitting at various points to separate Green, Blue, Red and Black descents.
These trails don’t directly link into the main trail network, but can be reached via the Multi-User Path, which passes above these trails.
Smells Like Tweed Spirit | Red
Building on the pioneering Spooky Wood style, this trail has a mix of features to keep you on your toes and put a smile on your face.
Turn and Burn | Blue
The new blue trail runs very near the Eshiels Burn, and features a considerable number of turns. This one is all about fun with big berms, easy jumps and incredible views.
Dog-walking trails
Bring your furry friend on an adventure and explore one of the many forest trails, where acres of woodland and country roads make a great spot for a scamper.
Neidpath Castle and Viaduct Circular
Starting at the Swimming Pool car park (fee required), the trail winds along the bank of the River Tweed, passing Hay Lodge Park, Fotheringham Bridge, The Dookits, and Neidpath Castle.
You'll then cross the river via Neidpath Viaduct, and return to the start of the walk along the river bank and over Tweed Bridge. Stop off here and enjoy views over the water.
Go Ape
Take a trip through the trees, full of adventure! Save 10% on your Go Ape experience when you stay with us, including on Saturdays.
Look out for our emails with offers and activities to book before your stay – they'll include your unique discount code. Your nearest Go Ape is right on your doorstep in Glentress Forest, where you can experience:
- Tree Top Challenge | from £36
- Zip Line Experience | from £25
Activities nearby
Discover local activities and adventures in, or close to, Glentress Forest...
- Peebles Hydro Gin Tasting experience – get a taste of the locally made tipple, just five minutes’ drive away from the forest
- Peebles Hydro Gin Making Experience – create your own gin and bespoke label for a one-of-a-kind souvenir
- Ridelines Mountain Biking – exclusive sessions for our guests.
- Biggar Adventure – outdoor activities close to the forest, from canoeing and climbing to archery.
- Kailzie Equestrian Centre
- Velvet Hall Alpacas, Innerleithen
Wildlife and trees
Wildlife at Glentress Forest
What can you spot?
Red Squirrels
Keep an eye out for the telltale signs that a Red Squirrel has nibbled the seeds from the pinecones beneath the trees – Glentress Forest lies within a ‘Priority Area for Red Squirrel conservation’ (PARC), so they’re a very important neighbour!
Ospreys
Glentress Forest is home to a huge variety of birds, from Buzzards to Crossbill and Waxwing. Particularly exciting visitors are the Ospreys, which cruise the River Tweed’s route searching for fish, and nest in the forest between May and September.
Want to learn more about the wildlife here? Book onto a Forest Ranger experience and discover all the secrets of Glentress!
Trees at Glentress Forest
Trees you'll find in the forest
Scots pine
Scots pine is one of only three native conifers, and our only native pine. You'll spot this all-year round as its needle-like leaves are evergreen. It’s the perfect habitat for iconic Scottish wildlife such as the red squirrel, as well as animals like the pine marten and Scottish wildcat. Scots pines in southern England are also the main caterpillar foodplant for the pine hawk-moth.
Hazel
With nuts that are eaten by people, squirrels and hazel dormice, the Hazel is a great source of food and shelter for many other creatures. It’s also home to lots of fungi, mosses and lichen.Hazel supports lots of species of butterfly and ground-nesting birds, and with its bendy stems, it’s used for lots of weaving, thatching and even in gardening – it’s a conservation hero!
Norway Spruce
The festive-looking Norway spruce is a familiar non-native tree in the UK. It’s fast-growing, with friendly winter colour, needle-like leaves and a rich, sweet smell. Norway spruce trees provide a habitat for a variety of wildlife, including beetles, weevils and hoverflies, and its cones are very popular with squirrels.
Sitka Spruce
With needle-like leaves that are sharp, straight and flattened, the Sitka Sprice is much more prickly than the similar Norway Spruce. Sitka spruce trees grow close together, forming a dense canopy which few plants can grow beneath. This dense foliage provides cover from the wind and rain for larger mammals, while birds of prey and smaller birds, such as crossbill, tree creeper, coal tit and siskin, can use it for nesting.
Supporting the forest
We’re more than just a holiday
Nestled within inspiring natural spaces, we offer a unique way to experience and enjoy the UK’s forests, helping you experience and reconnect with nature.
We look after the land we love for us all, protecting wildlife and helping to preserve the forest for the future. By putting nature centre-stage, we give you the best of the outdoors. A sense of freedom and a unique experience, where you feel connected to the forest and to each other. Because you don’t just visit the forest, you really feel it.
And once you’ve found that Forest Feeling, you’ll never let it go.
Let's look after what we love
Help to care for the wildlife around you in small, but important ways. You'll find it's as good for you as it is for nature!
Give nature a helping hand by....
- Creating habitat piles using old logs and branches
- Picking up any litter you see – the forest and wildlife will thank you for it
- Turning off the lights when they’re not in use to reduce energy use
- Using the bins provided to separate your waste and recycle properly
