Into the Backcountry: Mountain Biking in Scotland

There are few places on earth that can match the beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Combine that with some of the most liberal land access laws in the Western world, and it’s little wonder Scotland can lay claim to some of the best mountain biking on earth.

Trail centres are the obvious place to start mountain biking – the grading systems offer the perfect introduction to the sport. But once you’ve exhausted your favourite route, it’s time to head out and explore some natural singletrack – the kind that led the International Mountain Biking Association to hail Scotland the world’s top mountain biking destination.

It’s the abundance of natural singletrack in the Highlands that has really put Scotland on the cycling map. In particular, Skye, Wester Ross and Lochaber have become synonymous with the backcountry biking movement. If you want to leave behind the crowds and experience natural trails in their most visceral, dramatic form, this is the place to be. Here you will find endless miles of empty trails in stunning scenery. Rugged mountains drop down to white sand beaches and though the climbs may be steep, the descents are breathtakingly good. A word of warning though, the riding here is steep and technical, and you should be prepared for the fact that every so often you’ll have to carry your bike up a slope, jump a stream or wade through a river.

Fraser McGlone is a professional mountain biker who lives and trains in the Highlands, and says the wild nature of the riding is what makes the area so special. “Riding in the Highlands is a free range version of riding compared to man made trail centres – you are properly out in the wild with nature. You can go on big adventures without seeing a single person and cover a huge variety of terrain that just can't be replicated anywhere else. Whatever the weather, the scenery is amazing and it’s just so good to get into the mountains.”

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"Just being a tiny little ant in these huge landscapes puts everything in its place" – Andy McKenna, Go-Where Scotland

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Andy McKenna, founder of Go-Where Scotland, a mountain bike holiday company specialising in exploring the Highlands, agrees. “I find backcountry riding so special – just being a tiny little ant in these huge landscapes puts everything in its place. We have clients visit us from all over the world, and whether they want to kip in a candle-lit bothy or a five star hotel, the one thing everyone takes away is just how unique the riding in Scotland is.”

Backcountry riding is all about adventure. It’s about getting out into the hills with your friends and exploring new areas. The advantage of a bike is you can cover long distances in a relatively short amount of time – and in Scotland that means you can go from mountain to river valley to coast in a single day. Just two hours north of the Central Belt is all you need to travel to find yourself in another world. There’s not much better than sitting round a stove in a bothy with your pals drinking whisky after a long day on the bike. It’s a mini adventure without the massive price tag, and you can do it every weekend safe in the knowledge you’ll get a different experience every time.

Although adventure is where the appeal of backcountry lies, there are a few sensible precautions you do have to take. Do your research before you go – there are plenty of websites and guidebooks that offer reviews so you know what you’re letting yourself in for. You’re in Scotland – at some point on your ride it’s inevitable that it is going to rain. Or snow. Or blow a hooley. Or all three. Pack for every eventuality and cram as many spares in your bag as you can carry. This style of riding isn’t designed to be easy, so make sure you carry enough food and water to keep you going and always, always pack a map of the area. Lecture over. Now go ride your bike.