fort william the trails

Fort William’s Nevis Range is famed as a World Cup venue and all three race courses (DH, XC and 4X) are open to the public to ride. There are also skills loops, XC trails and blue descents accessed from the forest road. If you really want to test your skills, you can jump on the gondola to ride Top Chief, a singletrack descent packed with 543m of gravity-fed fun, or take on the ultimate challenge – the World Cup downhill track! Further down the hill there are a couple of fun new black sections – Cackle (close to the North Face car park) and Black Crane, which are steep, natural and rooty, with rock gardens, plus short red and blue sections. These can be incorporated into longer rides using the fireroad links.

essential info

FACILITIES Bike hire, bike wash, cafe, parking, toilets, showers, gondola uplift (open May to September, but check it’s running before you visit). NEARBY BIKE SHOP Nevis Cycles (on site), 01397 705555, www.neviscycles.com Off Beat Bikes, 01397 704008, www.of beatbikes.co.uk MORE INFORMATION www.nevisrange.co.uk/bike 01397 705825 www.ridefortwilliam.co.uk GETTING THERE Situated to the north of Fort William, the Nevis Range is clearly signposted. Postcode: PH33 6SW

BROOMSTICK BLUE 1.8km

Flowing singletrack by the river. Turn it into an 18km+ loop using forest roads and one of the blue descents.

BLUE ADDER 3.4km

This blue descent has a fast top section and 80m of bermed boardwalk.

VOODOO 3.5km

The old Cats Eyes green trail has been upgraded, with built-up berms for maximum flow and fun.

THE WITCH’S WORLD CHAMPS 8.5km

Originally built for the 2007 XC World Champs, with a long, steep climb and descent.

10 UNDER THE BEN 10km

A mix of singletrack and forest roads, based on the route used for the titular XC marathon. Don’t get caught out by Nessie, a black descent.

TOP CHIEF 5.5km

Formerly called the Red Giant, the re-graded Top Chief is accessed via the gondola and drops 543m. It’s littered with berms, large rock-rollers, steps and drop-o s.

WORLD CUP DH 2.8km

Britain’s only UCI World Cup track, with big rocks and unavoidable trail features.

JUMP LINES 0.5km

A one-dot and two-dot jump trail run parallel to the bottom of the DH.