more stats
4,310 ft
Distance
245 ft
Climb
-90 ft
Descent
00:13:21
Avg time
155 ft
Altitude change
679 ft
Altitude min
870 ft
Altitude max
679 ft
Altitude start
835 ft
Altitude end
3.602%
Grade
-16.536%
Grade max
22.798%
Grade min
2,487 ft
Distance climb
1,191 ft
Distance down
632 ft
Distance flat
00:13:21
Avg time

The Face Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
  • Riding Area
    Forest of Ae
    Ae
  • Difficulty Rating
    Red Rate
  • Local Popularity
    85 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 85 in E-Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #147717 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #248255 in E-Biking
  • National Ranking
    #5,322 in Mountain Biking · United Kingdom [+]
    • #9,330 in E-Biking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Uphill Only
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Ride in Rain
    Yes
  • Land Owner
    Forestry Commission Scotland

The tempo changes dramatically as you start the testing climb on the other side of the river crossing. There’s no chance of carrying speed here, as it starts steep and rocky with some very tight turns. Things ease slightly in the middle section, before a final steep snap leads you gasping out onto the open hill. There’s some respite downhill before a better chance to recover (and regroup) for a short spell on contouring forest road.

source: 7stanes - Ae
Access Info

Part of Ae red route (Ae Line)

Tags
Creek crossingTight and twisty

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 24 rides
  • 14 miles avg distance
All
  • 171 rides
  • Last: Oct 17, 2026
update trails status or condition

The Face Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jul 15, 2026 @ 12:24pm (Europe/Isle_of_Man)
Jul 15, 2026
 No sign of downed trees mentioned in previous report. Must have been cleared meantime.
Jan 26, 2025 @ 9:42am
Jan 26, 2025
 reporter Trees down in the upper section are passable, but you will get wet feet!
Oct 22, 2023 @ 3:24am
Oct 22, 2023
 Running Really Nicely
Nov 15, 2022 @ 9:18pm
Nov 15, 2022
 Clear and running well.
Aug 28, 2022 @ 1:57am
Aug 28, 2022
more »
Status:
on Jul 15, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.21 (3 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to the-face trailhead (55.233090, -3.610850)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      No photos have been added for The Face yet, add a photo.

      Videos

      4 more »
      youtuber Is This Classic UK Trail Center Still Thriving...
      mtb
      23:58 | 46 | Aug 24, 2026 , Ae
      Kidlandlee Uplift - Alan
      mtb
      4:02 | 253 | Feb 12, 2011 , Ae
      me crashing into a skateboarder
      mtb
      0:24 | 800 | Jan 24, 2009 , Ae
      bing
      mtb
      0:21 | 210 | May 4, 2010 , Ae
      4.7 ★★★★★
      3 Ratings
      5 ★ 67%
      4 ★ 33%
      3 ★
      2 ★
      1 ★

      2 Reviews & Comments


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      Nearby Trails

      Forest of Ae

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is The Face located?
      The Face is located in Forest of Ae, Ae, United Kingdom. It is part of the Forest of Ae trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 55.23309, -3.61085.
      ▼ How hard is The Face?
      The Face is rated as Red difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 3.602%. The climb difficulty is rated Black Diamond.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for The Face?
      The Face has 245 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 90 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 679 ft to 870 ft.
      ▼ Is The Face a point to point trail?
      Yes, The Face is a point to point trail. The direction is Uphill Only. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is The Face?
      The Face is 4,310 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on The Face?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on The Face. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access The Face? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to The Face are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride The Face?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 13 minutes to ride The Face. The trail is 4,310 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is The Face?
      The Face is a very popular trail. There have been 2,151 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 2,072 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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