For anyone who’s a keen mountain biker, Scotland is a dream as it has some of the best mountain biking trails in the UK. It has everything you’d want from a ride; forests and moors, lochs and hills, glens and coastline, all wrapped up in some of the most fantastic scenery in the UK. It’s also home to some of the best places to go mountain biking, with plenty of trails, tracks and bike paths whether you’re wanting a cycling trip with the family or looking to try your hand at bikepacking.
We’re going to look at some of our favourite places that show off this beautiful country, let’s take a look.
SOUTHERN SCOTLAND
7Stanes have mountain biking centres across southern Scotland that cater for everyone, from beginners and families to experts, with plenty of opportunities to learn new skills. Here are our favourites:
- Glentrool – Steeped in history and situated in the middle of Galloway Forest Park, Glentrool has trails that take in Loch Trool before passing below the Merrick – the highest mountain in southern Scotland. It’s the start of a 36-mile offroad trail through the heart of the forest; whether you’re after an easy 3 miles with a gentle track suitable for families, or the full 36 miles with longer climbs and deeper descents.
- Mabie – Mabie Forest, with its fantastic views of the Solway firth, is a great setting. Its well-maintained trails, great facilities, beautiful scenery and diverse wildlife make it a stunning place to cycle, whatever level you are.
- Kirroughtree – Whether you’re new to mountain biking and want a relaxing ride through Bargaly Glen on quiet roads, or you need a black grade trail that will test your skills with fast flowing tracks and exposed rocky challenges, this is the place for you. It has plenty of things for the whole family and is the UK’s first Dark Sky Park. It’s also part of the ‘Stay the Night’ scheme that lets motorhomes and campervans park overnight for one night.
THE CAIRNGORMS
The UK’s largest national park has everything from forests to mountains (it has some of the highest in the UK) with a few lochs thrown in. You’ll get some incredible views and really good technical ascents and descents. Two trail centres to look out for are:
- Laggan Wolftrax – this purpose-built trail centre, halfway between Fort William and Aviemore has 20 miles of purpose-built trails through Laggan Forest; from the easy Wolf Cub Green route, which is ideal for children and beginners, to the Wolf of Badenoch Black with its drop-offs, rock slabs and boulder fields. It also has walking trails for non-cyclists and is near the Pictish-era Dun da Lamh hill fort.
- Glenlivet Bike Park – The purpose-built mountain bike trails at Glenlivet have fantastic views and run close to one of the highest villages in Scotland – Tomintoul. With trails graded from blue to orange, there’s something for everyone and they’re nested – so you can all start out on the blue together and choose whether to head onto the red/orange. There’s also a pump track and a skills area where you can practice your technique away from the main routes.
THE HIGHLANDS
Fort William is one of the most famous mountain bike destinations after the UCI DH Mountain Bike World Cup was held there nearly 20 years ago; an event that attracts over 20,000 fans. The dramatic landscape of mountains and lochs, and equally dramatic weather, really lend themselves to mountain biking, with world cup – standard loops and hidden wild trails that are a regular feature on Enduro races. It still caters for all abilities though, with plenty of family friendly trails.
THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU SET OFF
SAFETY AND PREPARATION
When you’re planning a trip, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Wear a helmet.
- Make sure your clothes/bike/equipment are appropriate for mountain biking, and the conditions you’ll be riding in.
- Do your research and plan your route according to your skills and ability.
- Take plenty of water and snacks.
- Prepare for emergencies so include a first aid kit, map, phone/radio/spare tubes, a repair kit, sunscreen and insect repellent.
- Always tell someone where you’re planning on going.
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
It’s important that you think about the environmental impact – and the impact on local communities – when you’re planning your trip:
- Leave no trace – take all rubbish away with you, don’t disturb the wildlife and stick to the trails.
- You could use biodegradable lubricants/bike cleaning products when possible and choose clothing made from recycled/organic materials when possible.
- Use public transport to get to your cycling destination.
- Volunteer with an organisation that focuses on trail maintenance and conservation.
- Carry out regular bike maintenance so it consumes less energy.
- Support local businesses.
It’s not easy to talk about the best places to go mountain biking in Scotland because the whole of Scotland is made for it, for example, the ancient highland paths offer up some fantastic views, just remember to brush up on your navigational skills as they’re not the kind of place you want to get lost in.
Scotland’s progressive access rights mean you can ride your bike most places, you just need to do it responsibly – which means sticking to routes that don’t cause damage to the land, or cause problems for other users such as farmers, walkers and hunters.
When you’re planning your trip, you need to take every eventuality into consideration, and this includes looking at cycling insurance. It’s not just for theft and damage, you could be involved in – or even cause – an accident, and what about all your accessories and tech? We’ve created three standard policy levels that all include benefits such as Theft, Loss and Accidental Damage, and Emergency Recovery* and you can tailor your policy to suit your needs, for example, you may need cover for Competitive Use. Take a look at our website, or give us a call for a free, no-strings quote today.
*UK only
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