The cycle

Learnie Red Rocks

Location: Black Isle Map: Download from forestry.gov.uk Distance: 7 miles (11km) Time: 2 hours Terrain: Blue MTB grades; mainly singletrack THE Learnie Red Rocks trails, which opened in 2006, are ideal for novices and mid-level bikers. Sixteen kilometres of lovingly crafted trails, graded green or black, await your knobbly tyres. Well signed throughout and with sea views and jumps galore, this really is a gem of the north.

Start at the free car park on the A832 between Fortrose and Cromarty (NH 736 614) where you can warm up on the dirt jump park. There are plenty of variations to choose from. A good one is to take in the Callachy Hilly Climb first. Head up the forestry road and take the first right and, further on, turn left. A slow but steady cadence will take you ever upwards through larch. The top, reached in under 30 minutes, is marked by a crossroads where you start the swooping blue-graded Callachy Downhill.

Then you could take in the blue Muirhead Climb to get the heart beating faster. Cross a road to pick up the blue Firth View for more excellent bends and grand views. Recrossing the road leads to the option of taking in the Callachy Downhill again or the magical, invigorating 1.2km orange-graded trail.

The generally excellent trail centres across Scotland are offering more and better options to hone riding techniques safely; along the coast in Fochabers the locally adored Moray Monster Trails has recently opened a new skills area.

FERGAL MacERLEAN