Mountain Biking
Glencoe perhaps doesn’t immediately strike you as a great place for mountain biking. After all, the hills are a bit steep! However, there’s a wide range of riding possibilities in the area to suit all abilities.
There’s everything from exploring the quiet backwaters of Glencoe & Ballachulish villages, through to the infamous Devil’s Staircase or the World Cup Downhill Course at nearby Nevis Range. All in all, some of the best mountain biking in Scotland.
The forest rides at Leanachan near Fort William have really put biking on the map in Lochaber. Having hosted a round of the World Cup for the last few years, it is also the venue for the World Championships in 2007.
Glencoe Mountain Resort is also developing a downhill mountain biking track.
The more casual rider will enjoy some of the forest trails at Glenachulish, Duror or Inchree, or perhaps the 20 mile road trip around Loch Leven. The island of Lismore is ideal for exploring by bike.
Off Beat Bikes in Fort William provide hire bikes as well as the usual range of accessories and repair services.
Nevis Cycles in Inverlochy, Fort William, also provide hire bikes, spares and repairs and is run by keen cyclists.
No Fuss Events have organised a series of classic mountain bike events in the area, including 10 under the Ben and the Relentless 24.
The local bike club, West Highland Wheelers, is very active and was the driving force behind the establishment of the Downhill Course at Nevis Range. They run a series of (fun!) races and time trials throughout the year in which visitors are welcome to participate.
Clachaig Inn offers bike storage facilities, as well as a work bench and a few tools should you need to make a few running repairs. Clachaig is also recognised by VisitScotland’s ‘Cyclist’s Welcome’ Scheme.
For more route information in the area, try Ride Fort William.
We've also put together a few route descriptions which we hope will inspire you to head off and explore the hidden corners of Lochaber. Whilst not intended to be a comprehensive route guide, the routes should be apparant, especially when viewed in conjunction with a O.S. map.
Glencoe & the Devil’s Staircase.
A legendary route which seems to be written up by every bike magazine there is on a regular basis. Improvements to tracks in the glen of Glencoe have made this round trip a more pleasant experience. From Clachaig, ride up to the A82 and cross over onto the short section of the old road by the photogenic Loch Achtriochtan. Pick up the new track which runs parallel to the main road as far as the farm and then rejoin the old road along the floor of the glen. You’ll need to join the A82 briefly as you approach the gorge, but take a rough track up to the left after the cottage of Allt-na-reigh to again use the old road as it crosses the Study. The old road seems to rejoin the A82 again further up, but you can pick up a more overgrown section just after the large lay-by on the left which will bring you out just short of the West Highland Way at Altnafeadh.
It’s a walk for most of the way to the top from here, though the first section can be ridden if your legs and lungs are big enough. But it’s well worth the slog. Take time to enjoy the view of Rannoch Moor and the Buachaille behind you. From the top, disengage your brain and go for it. Nearly 5 miles of descent, quite technical at times, to the village of Kinlochleven, dropping some 550m of vertical height. The last section on the dam access road is a blast – and consequently quite dangerous. Watch out for snakebites, rim dings and West Highland Way walkers. Return from Kinlochleven on the fairly quiet tarmac road.
Ballachulish Jump Track
Built in 2002 by the foreshore at Ballachulish, this short course features doubles and triples, table tops and berm walls. A lot of fun squeezed into a small area. Join the local kamikaze kids. Call in on your way back from Glenachulish Forest or on your way round Loch Leven. Find it by turning left onto the dirt track at the Isles of Glencoe Hotel and turn in before the dinghy park.
Loch Leven Road Loop
A pleasant 20 mile round loop starting and finishing in Glencoe village and following the shores of Loch Leven leaving no need for a route explanation. Can be ridden in both directions. Enjoy views of the Mamores heading out to Kinlochleven and views of Beinn a' Bheithir on the return (but do keep an eye on the road!) There’s pubs and shops in Kinlochleven if you’re out for a pleasant pootle. Alternatively, if you’re on a mission you should be able to break the hour for the round trip but beware some of those climbs – they start to add up after a while.
Blackwater Dam Loop from Kinlochleven
A hidden gem! A steep up to start and a steep down to finish and very moderate gradient in between.
Start with the tarmac climb to Mamore Lodge and hang a right on the dirt track out towards Luibeilt. All in all, it’s a long (long) hard climb to Rob Roy view at about 415m above sea level. Descend towards Loch Eilde Mor but turn off onto a small path part way down the hill. This takes you to the head of the loch and a small dam. From here, there’s an old access track next to the pipeline which feeds into the Blackwater. Follow this, or a path which runs along side it, all the way out to the Blackwater. The views down to Loch Leven are simply stunning and though the gradient is very gradually downhill all the way, there’s still a bit of sport to be head.
If the gates are open, you can cross the dam itself. Otherwise, follow the path beneath the dam wall until it joins the access road. This short section of the route is not rideable.
Return via the access road and enjoy the last steep section from the penstock, which is the bottom of the Devil’s Staircase ride. Watch out for trials bikes, Landrovers and WHW walkers on this section.
Glenachulish Forest Rides
Forest Enterprise marked routes in the forest above the Ballachulish bridge. Start at St. John’s Church on the A82 along from Ballachulish village or alternatively follow the signs to Glenachulish just after the golf course on the Oban road. The riding tends to be mostly on forest road. However, the climbs are challenging, the descents fast and it’s a popular spot for a quick blast.
Liddesdale Loop Road ride
A superb road ride covering some 40 miles through a quiet corner of Lochaber. Expect to see more wildlife than people, particularly once you leave the main Strontian road.
Park at Corran Ferry and take your bike across for free. The ferry runs every half hour. Turn left and follow the A861 along the loch side heading for Strontian. Expect a climb once the road leaves the coast and turns through Glen Tarbert, but all this height is lost on the other side with a descent back to the sea loch at Loch Sunart. Just before Strontian, turn left towards the Mull ferry at Lochaline. The road again coasts around the loch and then there’s the grinding climb at Liddesdale. The summit is about 280m above sea level and is usually a very welcome site. But again, the pain is worth it as the road descends, steeply at first to the junction with the B80432 where you turn left to Kingairloch. From here it’s a roller coaster with a downhill gradient back to the sea. Follow the coast north back to the junction with the A861 just at the entrance to Glen Tarbert again.
Lochaline Forest and Post route 
Lochaline is a little over 30 miles from Corran and yet is seldom visited by many riders, even the Fort William locals) as it’s just too far off the beaten track. Little do they know what they’re missing! There’s plenty of tracks to explore and an O.S. map (sheets 49 & possibly 47 will help). My favourite provides a mix of tarmac and dirt and has 2 big climbs and 2 equally big descents. At about 40 miles round, it’s caught a few ‘fit’ riders by surprise.
All Lochaline based rides should start and finish with a mug of tea and a bacon buttie at the catering van at the ferry jetty and fortunately there’s plenty of parking here. From here find the B849 to Drimnin. The road is virtually traffic free and on a good day the views along the Sound of Mull are fantastic.
It’s about 10 miles to the small village at the end. Before the end of the tarmac turn right and follow the dirt track up and past the house at Mungosdail. After the house there’s a forest gate. Carry on through this and along the forest road, gently climbing as you go. Look out for a green path on the left (GR 583534). This is the old post route over the hill and despite what your lungs and legs may tell you it is rideable to the edge of the forest, just short of the top.
Once through the forest gate, head to the top of the hill. The track is vague on the descent - you need to head for the next forest gate on the other side of the hill, slightly off to the left. Careful with your navigation in low cloud! This usually involves some good route finding through the bracken and sheep tracks and the occasional journey over the bars. Once you’ve reached the gate (GR602551) there’s an ancient track which gives a great descent (particularly when dry) to the forest road at Loch Teacuis.
Turn right and follow the forest road, then tarmac to Loch Arienas. Just before the tarmac leaves the loch side you can pick up the Forest Enterprise marked route through the Savary Glen. This starts with a long gradual climb over 8km to the top of the glen at around 300m. The track branches left off the forest road and descends through the trees back to the B849. If you’re still going, turn left and hobble the short distance back to Lochaline for another visit to the catering van.
West Highland Way – Tyndrum to Fort William
Not much in the way of a route description required. The West Highland Way north of Crianlarich is quite ridable, whereas those who’ve tried the southern sections will vouch for the fact that an entire traverse just isn’t a wise choice.
The crossing of Rannoch Moor from Victoria Bridge to Kingshouse is a fantastic ride across the wilderness on a good day. On a bad day, it’s a bone shaker from hell that’s exposed to the worst of the weather.
The Devil’s Staircase at the top of Glencoe is a must, and the ride from Kinlochleven to Glen Nevis is also great fun once the first 700 feet of climbing are out of the way. The West Highland Way is popular with walkers, all heading north, so attach bell to your bike for this one.
Luibeilt Loop
There’s a couple of different options for big rides onto or across the edge of Rannoch Moor. For a round trip which can be done in a full day, buy a copy of the Route Guide.
An alternative to this route is to turn right at Luibeilt and head along to Loch Treig and then Corrour Station. From here you can pick up the track back SE to Rannoch, or to the Spean road at Moy Bridge. This opens up a superb 2-day route from Dalwhinnie, through the back of Ardverikie Estate (Monarch of the Glen country) with an overnight at the Corrour Hostel. Don’t be tempted to turn left at Luibeilt and ride into Glen Nevis though. Bottomless bogs await!
