Carbisdale

The Carbisdale trails are a good place to start, whether you happen to be starting an epic day's biking, or having a first outing on a mountain bike. The stunning Carbisdale Castle - a youth hostel - is also on hand as an accommodation base and for bike hire, and there is a cafe for post-ride refreshments.

Like some of the centres in Scotland, this is a community-led project, with the trails designed by renowned trail builder Rik Allsop, of Drumlanrig fame. When he visited the site Rik says he was "very excited by the bedrock, and about the possibilities of creatinga wild and natural-feeling trail." Many of those who've ridden there will agree that this is exactly what he's done.

Blue and red routes both begin from the same point at Carbisdale, starting off on a tarmac road - an effective way of gaining height relatively comfortably, as Rik points out - passing Carbisdale Castle, and entering the forest on an old and established forest walk. This climbs up to a view point.

Then the real fun begins. Single-track, about a metre in width, begins to drop down the hill. There are tight turns and switchbacks, but it is a trail that flows nicely with the rhythm broken only by sections of bedrock that intrude into the track. These sections of rock also pose additional options for some more technical riding for those more experienced bikers. Caution is required here by novices.

A snaking, winding section of trail - known as Hissing Sid - carries you over more bedrock, and then - for those looking to extend their ride - comes a fork in the trail and the red deviation. The deviation takes you over a wooden causeway that leads on to a red-graded descent. For around 3kms the trail offers more descent with rock features, some of it naturally more technical than on the blue trail around 100 yards further down the hill.

Overall the Carbisdale trails offer challenging cycling for competent mountain bike riders with excellent views over the inner Dornoch Firth and Bonar Bridge. With optional rock features, wonderful views and technical descents such as ‘Goldie Rocks’,  ‘Hissing Sid’, ‘Little Red Riding Wood’ and ‘What Big Teeth’ along with forest road sections Carbisdale has something to offer everyone.

Other Info

Routes
Blue - A 2.5km route
Red - A 4.5km route

Bike Shops/Hire
Carbisdale Castle 0870 004 1109

Getting There

Ardgay is the nearest town or village. Take the train to Culrain Station. Drive north of Ardgay following signs for Carbisdale Castle Youth Hostel.

Distance from:
Bonar Bridge - 17 miles
Inverness - 47 miles
Edinburgh - 200 miles
Glasgow - 214 miles

Website

• www.forestry.gov.uk/mtbscotland