MTB guide to Fort William with Hannah Barnes
As we rolled out of the lift station the change in temperature could be felt instantly, we had gained the last 532 m in the comfort of a Gondola and now we were rewarded with epic views over Aonach Mor, 7 miles north of Fort William. Joined by Specialized Racing’s Hannah Barnes one by one we dropped into the infamous rocky Red Giant, 532 m of rocky fun, and began to seriously abuse our bikes!
You are sure to have heard of Fort William, every June the UCI World Cup Downhill descends upon the quiet tourist town, bringing thousands of fans, racers and brands to the iconic Nevis Range downhill track. The legendary World Cup DH track drops 555 m in only 2.82 km and is a fearsome challenge for ambitious riders, and while it can be ridden on enduro bikes a big hitting DH bike is the weapon of choice. There is a lot more to Fort Willaim than the WC Downhill track though, and it makes a great destination’ for trail riding. We caught up with local Hannah Barnes to find out more about the ‘Outdoor Capital’
Who is Hannah Barnes
Hannah Barnes races for Specialized Racing team and is a fully fledged ambassador for MTB adventure. Her global travel exploits and adventures have inspired a generation of women (and men) to pursue a life behind bars. Hannah now lives in an amazing log cabin not too far from Fort William and was the perfect guide to show us round.
Riding the Red Giant
The ultimate draw of Fort William is undoubtedly the chance to ride the lift assisted Red Giant trail, built in 2009. For those who love gravity thrills and high-speed rock hopping this is a mountain bike nirvana. Dropping 532 m the trail is a true test of brakes and nerves. Big rocky slabs punctuate the fast trail and have to be negotiated carefully to avoid going over the bars. Small arrows are painted on the rock surface to guide you over the correct line, but there are many lines for those with an adventurous (or foolhardy) spirit. There are also jumps and drops for those who like to feel some air beneath their wheels. Long sections of boardwalk carry you fast over the open moorland, and the views over Aonach Mor are spectacular. The trail is a tough one for its ‘red’ grade, but can be negotiated by intermediate riders with care. The start is only a two-minute ride from the lift station so can be repeated to your heart’s content.
Riding the Witches Trails in Fort William
For those who don’t want to ride the Gondola, or don’t like hammering through rocks, then the network of Witches Trails just above the Nevis Range car park is the perfect way to while away a summers day. With 5 flowing trails, suitable for riders of all levels there is plenty of choice for mixed ability groups. The trails are well surfaced and feature berms, rollable drops and easy trail features and there are also two skills loops for getting your technique dialled. We really enjoyed the 8.5 km Witch’s World Champs trail and the 10 Km Ten Under The Ben Route.
The secret stuff…shhhhh.
For those who know where to look, the Witches trails are full of short ‘off-piste and off the map’ trails that are perfect for getting loose on the bike. These trails have been used as stages for many Scottish based enduros, and are the homeland of the Dudes Of Hazard and it’s easy to see why they are so good at riding tight technical trails. Rooty, tight and technical is the best way to describe these short sections of Scottish Gold. If you want to explore these more secretive trails have a chat with the guys in Nevis Cycles and they will tell you where to head.
Where to eat in Fort Willaim
When it comes to the best coffee and cake in Fort William, Hannah would highly recommend the newly opened Delicraft half way down the High Street. Delicraft has a wide range of awesome cakes and snacks and the coffee is excellent. If you are riding the Gondola there is also the Snowgoose Cafe at the top station or the excellent Pine Martin Cafe at the base of the Gondola.
Nevis Range Gondola Opening Times and Prices
The Nevis Range Gondola is open year round (weather permitting) but is only open for bikes between Saturday 7th May – Sun 18th September. Between those dates the gondola is open every day other than certain race, maintenance and bad weather days, (closure dates can be found here). A full day (multi-trip) pass costs £32 for adults and £21.50 for 12-17 year-olds and discounts are available for consecutive days. Full information on the Nevis Range can be found on the Nevis Range website.
When you are done with the Fort William trails
If you have explored enough and are looking for more adventure we would highly recommend visiting the nearby riding destinations of Laggan and Kinlochleven. The Laggan Wolftrax trail centre is around 50 minutes drive from Fort William and features some of the most fun and technical trails in Scotland. The ‘Black’ trail is a masterpiece and there are plenty of trails to keep you busy for a full day. Kinlochleven also has some of Scotlands most scenic and challenging natural trails, but you will need to be handy with a map and know how to ride rocky trails.
What bike to bring to Fort William
The Witches trails can be ridden on a hardtail, but to get the best out of Fort William a trail bike is better, or even a 150-160 mm full suspension bike if you want to take in the Red Giant trails. For those who want to take on the legendary DH track then you should be experienced enough to know if your bike is up to it.
What else is there to do in Fort William?
If you fancy a day off the bike, then the possibilities in ‘Scotlands outdoor capital’ are endless. There are hundreds of mountain walks, outdoor activities and adventures to be had, all within a short drive. You could try Canyoning or even hike up Scotland’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. The main street has all you need if you want to buy some outdoor gear, and the many walking shops will advise you on where to go should you want to head into the mountains.
Fort William is a great destination for the start of a Highland adventure, with trails to suit all levels and the added draw of a lift assisted mountain side. You could easily while away 2-3 days riding here, or longer if you don’t mind heading a bit further afield to explore.