Muck N' Mac Fest 2026

What's it called when you mix mud with tar? 🤔 The Muck n' Mac Fest, of course! 🏴

Head to the Scottish Borders for a weekend of gravel like no other! 🚵 Early May, you'll pitch your tent in the gardens of Traquair House, a manor that has survived 900 years of history without aging a day 🤌. We're talking about the oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland, no less! 🏰 Here, there's no endless tarmac ❌: you'll ride a mix of muddy forest trails 🌲, technical tracks, and country roads, all topped off with steep gradients. Yes, it's a menu worthy of a gourmet restaurant 🍽️ but in gravel form. All with a route that will make you buzz from the first to the last pedal stroke! 🤩

On the cards: a two-day gravel weekend in the stunning Tweed Valley 💚. But first, let's talk about the name! "Muck" is the mud, the real kind, that sticks to your tires 🛞 and splashes everywhere when you speed through puddles 💦. "Mac" is the macadam, road sections that let you catch your breath between climbs 🛣️. So yes, you might think it comes from macaroni (especially after an exertion when your stomach is growling 🍝), but no! It's just the perfect recipe for a gravel cocktail: 65% muddy trails + 35% tarmac = guaranteed fun! There are several options available. The classic Weekender format: Each day, you'll tackle several enduro-style timed sections, interspersed with linking zones where you can chat, enjoy the amazing scenery, and catch your breath 😎. Two distances await you: 75 km per day (with 1,600 m elevation gain, you have been warned!) or 45 km for those who prefer to take it easy without straining the muscles 🔥. The big novelty for 2026: the BORDER.200! 💪 A challenge of 200 km and 3,500 m elevation gain starting on Saturday. It's tough, really tough: an endurance test for the big bosses of gravel who want to push their limits 🫡. You can even opt for the "BORDER.200 Weekender" and follow up with the long course of 70 km on Sunday.

Big plus: an adapted course is also offered, because everyone deserves their share of Scottish adventure! 👏 But the Muck n' Mac Fest 🎪 is much more than cycling! In the evening, it's a full festival vibe: live concerts (blues, rock, electro... something for everyone's tastes 🎸), film screenings 🎬, yoga sessions, and breathing exercises in the open air 🧘, nutrition workshops, massages for your burning calves, and plenty of surprises 🔥. Mini-riders under 14 years old can enter for free 🐀 and will enjoy a program of activities just for them (bike workshops, games, etc.). Camping is included in your ticket ⛺ and if you want to snooze peacefully away from the speakers, a quiet zone will be available for the early-to-beds 😴.

Once you've crossed the finish line 🏁 and after enjoying all the festivities in the event village 🎊, take the opportunity to explore the surroundings! The Scottish Borders are full of treasures 💎: the village of Innerleithen (a stone's throw from Traquair), the centuries-old forests 🌳, and of course the famous Tweed Valley, a true paradise for cyclists (it's no wonder it hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in 2023!). A mandatory cultural stop: visit Traquair House and its legendary gates, the Bear Gates, closed since 1745 when the 5th Earl vowed not to reopen them until a Stuart returned to the British throne... Spoiler alert: they're still closed 🚪. And for your taste buds, be sure to try the locally brewed beer since 1965 from the oldest operating brewery in the United Kingdom 🍺. All this, always with moderation. Excessive alcohol consumption is dangerous for the health ⚠️.

In May, do whatever you like... but if you miss the Muck n' Mac, you'll regret it all year! 🤪