Mountain biking in Scotland

Page sponsored by Highlands and Islands Adventures

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Scotland is fast becoming a world-renowned mountain biking destination, with the Fort William round of the world cup in its tenth year, the world championships here in 2007 and Scotland being voted two years running as ‘Global superstar’ by the International Mountain Bike Association.

Scotland is a unique country in many ways, but most importantly the way that the access laws of this small country work. As a mountain biker you have the right of access onto any trail or path as long as you ‘act responsibly’. This is fantastic privilege that allows visitors and locals alike to explore and enjoy their surroundings by bike.

As well as the endless natural trails on offer in Scotland, there is a fantastic network of man-made trail centres. At a trail centre you are likely to find (but not in all cases) graded trails from green (easy) through orange, red to black (difficult), a café, shop, bike hire, trail information and on some occasions an uplift service too. These trail centres are a great way for people to get into the sport of mountain biking, or if you are unfamiliar with an area, you can turn up knowing you will have somewhere to ride your mountain bike.

Another way to get the most out of your mountain biking experience in Scotland is to join a guided trip, whether it be a day trip in Inverness or a full week’s adventure riding an all-mountain coast-to-coast; either way you will benefit from the guide’s local experience, contacts, knowledge of flora and fauna, as well as where the good cake stops are!

Equally, if you would like to learn more about how to ride your mountain bike, then Scotland is the place to do it. Scotland is known around the world for its mountain bike training scheme, the MBLA (Mountain Bike Leader Award), so when you are here riding your bike, why not fit in a day’s skills training - it will be time well spent!

So no matter your ability level or which area of Scotland you are travelling to, you will find your own two-wheeled adventure!

Words by Euan Wilson, owner of Highlands and Islands Adventures, www.mtbholidayscotland.com

Photos by Andy McCandlish www.andymccandlish.com