Mountain Biking

Get ready for the rush as you ride our incredible downhill mountain bike trails in Sutherland. With the second-longest single descent route in the UK you know it’s going epic!

Mountain Biking

Mountain Bike holidays

Are you looking for the best of mountain biking in the North Highlands for a true adventure experience?

Look no further. We have two fantastic mountain bike centres based in the east of Sutherland:

Highland Wildcat Trails – Golspie

  • 27.6km of trails
  • Suitable for moderate (Blue) to severe (Black) riders
  • Longest Route – Black Trail (13.6km)
  • Highlight - Second-longest technical single-track descent in UK (7km)
  • Trail Guide – highlandwildcat.com
  • Facilities – Car park available at the foot of the trails

Balblair Mountain Bike Trails – Kyle of Sutherland

  • 10.5km of trails
  • Suitable for moderate (Blue) to severe (Black) riders
  • Longest route – Rock Hard (1km)
  • Trail Guide - forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/balblair
  • Facilities – Car park available at the foot of the trails

If you are looking to explore off the beaten trail then there are numerous mountain paths and rugged tracks across Sutherland and Caithness which lend themselves well to mountain biking and cross-country cycling.

We would recommend using OS maps and Trailforks to help you plan your trip. Visit Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland's ‘Do the Ride Thing’ site for all the information you need on mountain biking outdoor access rights in Scotland.

For those looking for family-friendly adventures and gentle trails then we have plenty of low-level paths and routes shared with walkers which are accessible to cyclists. Many of these routes can be accessed through the Huli Route Planner which creates personalised cycle routes for free.

If you are interested in road cycling in Caithness and Sutherland check out our road cycling page.

Mountain bike hire and sales

There are several rental options for bikes around Sutherland and Caithness, including mountain bikes and electric mountain bikes, so you don’t have to worry about taking all your equipment with you if you’re strapped for space or travelling on public transport.

Scotrail does have a limited number of bike spaces available on the Far North Line.

If you are looking to purchase a bike while you are travelling, new or second hand, then there are also several options for sales.

Heaven Bikes – Bonar Bridge and Dornoch

  • Mountain bike rental
  • E-bike rental
  • Hybrid bike rental
  • Gravel and adventure bike rental
  • Children’s mountain bike rental
  • Infant balance bikes rental
  • Bike servicing and repairs
  • Bike sales
  • Delivery/collection available in local area – additional charge

Dornoch Bike Hire – Dornoch

  • Mountain bike hire
  • E-bike hire
  • Hybrid bike hire
  • Tandem bike hire
  • Children’s bike hire
  • Helmet and combination lock included in hire
  • Delivery/collection service available on request – additional charge

Sam’s Bike Shed – Golspie

  • Bike hire
  • Bike repairs and servicing
  • Collection and delivery included
  • Bike sales

Barnes Bits & Bikes - Scourie

  • Bike sales, repairs and servicing
  • Build services
  • 2nd hand bike sales

The Bike Shop – Thurso

  • Bike sales
  • E-bike sales
  • Shop and repair services

The Spot Cycles – Wick

  • Mountain bike sales
  • Traditional bike sales
  • Adult and child sizes available
  • Shop and repair services

Mountain bike experiences

Whether you are looking for guides, coaching, organised ride days, events, local clubs or more, there are so many ways to make the most of your mountain biking experience.

Although some of the following suggestions are not mountain biking specific, they will offer you the contacts and local information to help plan your trip.

Clubs

East Sutherland Wheelers

Wick Wheelers Cycling Club

Caithness Cycling Club

Ride events

There are often organised cycle events and courses throughout the year in Sutherland and Caithness. We would recommend checking our What’s On page to see what events are coming up along with local club and trail centre pages.

Mountain Bike Safety

We would highly recommend that you plan your mountain bike holiday in advance and take into account your skills and knowledge before attempting any routes. If you are a beginner mountain biker you might want to consider a guided trip or coached skills day to get you started with everything you need to know.

Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland have produced a variety of excellent resources and guides specifically for mountain bikers:

For any outdoor adventure in Caithness and Sutherland

We would recommend:

  • Always tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back
  • Carry a communication device with you and know how to contact the emergency services (more below)
  • Prepare appropriately for your activity and the weather – map, equipment, clothing, food and drink etc.
  • Be prepared to change your plans at late notice if something unexpected comes up

Contacting Mountain Rescue

If you get into difficulty on your mountain biking day and need emergency assistance you will need to contact Mountain Rescue:

  • Dial 999 and ask for the Police
  • Ask the Police for Mountain Rescue
  • Give Mountain Rescue as much information as you can about your location and situation

Mountain Rescue are a voluntary organisation across the UK who rescue those in need at wild and remote locations. Visit Assynt Mountain Rescue to find out more about our local rescue team and consider donating to their cause.

More mountain biking

Check out Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland’s great website on all the trails available in Scotland. They have a ride guide for the North Highlands where you can discover more trail centres and mountain bike experiences near Caithness and Sutherland.

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