The Best Mountain Biking Trails in Scotland

I’ve lived in Scotland my whole life, so call me biased but I think it’s got some of the best mountain biking in the world.

Initially, I wanted to create a series that showcased Scotland as a mountain biking destination but the birth of our daughter made me think again in a way I hadn’t expected.

I suddenly gained new perspectives and different environmental concerns so the idea behind the series became more than just bike riding. I wanted to make the project carbon negative and build a story around sustainability so the trails could be there for her and generations to come.

Being able to ride locations like Beinn a’Bhùird is a privilege that we as riders can’t take for granted. We need to respect these fragile landscapes, ride the terrain, conditions and acknowledge the wildlife that they’re home to. The trail associations are working to sustainably build bigger trail networks and communicate the benefits that riding mountain bikes brings to the local communities. The best way we all can help is by appreciating and understanding the careful and passionate work that goes into that.

Below are six episodes that represent my six favourite riding destinations in Scotland: Perthshire, Aberdeenshire, the Cairngorms, the North West Highlands, Lochaber and the Tweed Valley. In each section you’ll also find the relevant komoot collection so you’ll be able to visit and ride them yourself too. What are you waiting for?

My three favourite riding locations in Perthshire showcase the region’s diversity. Dunkeld is famous for its natural, steep and hand-cut trails that are both rooty and rocky. Comrie Croft is a natural trail centre offering a blue, red and black plus a skills park and the trail centre is rideable year round. Aberfeldy is a developing bike park that offers a mix of riding. All the trails are lovingly hand-built and cared for by the local riding community.

In the UK’s largest national park, we head to Laggan Wolftrax, Laggan Brown, climb Dum-da-Lamph, ride at Glenlivet, head up the munro Sgòr Gaoith and on a local recommendation explore some new trails in Burnside!

Laggan is known as the UK’s most progressive trail centre, famous for massive rock slabs and technical ascents and descents. One of my favourite features is the ginormous rock slab, Air’s Rock. On the other side of the National Park is Glenlivet, they’ve been developing new trails and just this year they built an orange jump line!

We also had the chance to check out their Mini Downhill trail which is a hand-cut natural trail with a good size jump line. Sgòr Gaoith is one of my favourite munros in the Cairngorms, thanks to it being relatively accessible. Reaching the summit you have an incredible view and the descent is fast and technical all the way back down. Burnside is the trail network above Aviemore where the trails are rugged, burly and hand-cut.

Lochaber is like a mini-Alps, home to the biggest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis.

First off, you take on the rough red and black trails of Glencoe Mountain Resort, before climbing Binnein Mòr in search of big vistas. Upon summiting, you might get weathered out and have to make your way off the mountain. Finish by heading to explore Fort William’s Nevis Range (where I reminisced of racing in front of the home crowd at the 2009 and 2010 Downhill World Cups!).

Nevis Range has slowly been expanding its trail network so check out their black, Top Chief and the all-new blue, Blue Doon! Lochaber is an amazing destination to get into big landscapes, be it for an adventurous day out or lift accessed thanks to the offering in Glencoe and Fort William.

In this collection of Scotty’s Scotland Showcase we’re in Scotland’s MTB epicentre, the Tweed Valley where you can explore Glentress and Innerleithen. Glentress was one of the first ever trail centres I ever visited. It’s got something for everyone from the rider starting out on a balance bike right up to the seasoned pro. To showcase the variation on offer, we explored the range of Glentress’ offerings, machine-made trails, trail centre trails and hand-cut trails. I’ll admit it was fun just having a session in the Freeride park!

Next we head to the Golfy, made famous by the EWS. All the trails here are entirely natural and hand-built and maintained. Watching the scene develop here has been mind-blowing; it started out with one trail and has grown to multiple trails all over the forest. The passionate locals and trail association vigorously work to make it as good as it is. I rode three trails here, Avalanche is steep, technical and loose. New York New York is fast and flowing before diving in the trees where it gets tight. 2nd Base has huge hand-built berms that flow incredibly well. If you love natural trails then this is the place for you. Riding here brought back a lot of memories and I can’t wait to see how the Tweed Valley continues to develop as a destination for mountain bikers.