Mountain Biking
Mountain Biking in Black Isle — Learnie Red Rocks
Scotland's northernmost proper trail centre — surprisingly good
Overview
Learnie Red Rock near Rosemarkie on the Black Isle is Scotland's northernmost purpose-built trail centre. The blue and red loops through Learnie Forest are well-constructed with proper flow features and technical sections. Small by comparison to the central belt centres, but the standard of build is a genuine surprise for a venue this far north. Easily combined with Chanonry Point for the best dolphin-watching spot in Scotland.
Learnie Red Rock is Scotland's most northerly secret. The standard of trail building is genuinely impressive for such a remote venue — proper berms, technical features and flow trails rather than the rough natural tracks you might expect. It's a 35-minute drive from Inverness for a decent half-day riding session, and the dolphin-watching at Chanonry Point (5 minutes away) makes the trip a genuine wildlife and riding combination. Worth knowing about if you're based in Inverness.
Grades available
Signature trails
Learnie Red Loop
redThe main Learnie circuit — well-built red singletrack through Learnie Forest with proper berms, technical rock sections and flow sections. Better built than you'd expect for this far north and a quality half-day session for red riders.
Blue Connector
blueThe introductory blue loop giving access to the trails for riders building up to the red circuit. Good quality surface and well-marked — a proper blue-grade introduction to the Learnie system.
Black Features
blackShort black technical features integrated into the red circuit for riders wanting additional challenge. Rock drops and steeper technical lines that can be sessioned separately from the main trail.
Trail centres in Black Isle — Learnie Red Rocks
Best for
- Red/black progression
- Inverness-area riding
- Combined wildlife trip (Chanonry dolphins)
- Quick half-day session
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:17
- Sunset
- 21:10
- Civil dawn
- 04:28
- Civil dusk
- 21:59
NOAA Solar Calculator · 5 May 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How do I get to Learnie Red Rock from Inverness?
- From Inverness, cross the Kessock Bridge to the Black Isle and follow the A832 to Fortrose (30 min). The trail car park is on the minor road to Rosemarkie from Fortrose, approximately 2km from the town. Satnav to Learnie Car Park, IV10 8TA.
- Can I see dolphins near Learnie Red Rock?
- Yes — Chanonry Point, 5km from the trail car park, is one of the UK's premier bottlenose dolphin-watching spots. The Moray Firth bottlenose dolphin population is resident year-round but most active and visible May–September around the incoming tide at Chanonry Point. Combining a morning ride with an afternoon dolphin watch is highly recommended.
- Is Learnie Red Rock suitable for beginners?
- The blue loop at Learnie is suitable for competent beginners who can handle blue-grade trail features. Complete novices would be better starting at a larger venue with better beginner infrastructure (like Glentress or Laggan). The red circuit requires confident red-grade riding ability.
- What is the best time to ride Learnie Red Rock?
- April to October gives the best conditions. The forest trails drain reasonably well but can be muddy after prolonged rain. Summer gives longer daylight for evening sessions from Inverness. Combining with dolphin-watching at Chanonry Point works best May–September on incoming tide.