Mountain Biking
Mountain Biking in Fort William
The only gondola-served downhill in the UK — and a World Cup venue
Overview
Fort William and Nevis Range offer the most dramatic mountain biking setting in Scotland. The Nevis Range gondola accesses Scotland's only gondola-served downhill — the World Cup DH track beneath the gondola — plus 12km of bike park trails. The free Witch's Trails in the forest below have proper red and black singletrack. Combined with Ben Nevis in the background, the riding environment is unmatched.
Fort William is unique in Scotland — the only place you can access proper gondola-served downhill, and a venue that has hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. Riding the World Cup DH track after watching the pros on it is a genuine bucket-list experience. The Witch's Trails below give solid cross-country riding in one of Scotland's most dramatic settings. This is not a resort for beginners — the terrain is technical and the gradients significant.
Grades available
Signature trails
World Cup DH Track
blackThe UCI World Cup downhill course at Nevis Range — open to the public when not in competition use. Fast, technical, with proper jumps, berms and rock features built to World Cup specification. One of the UK's premier downhill tracks. Gondola access (paid) required.
Witch's Trails Red
redSolid red singletrack through the Nevis Range forest below the gondola — free to ride, no uplift required. Good natural trail character with technical sections, roots and gradient. The best free riding at the venue.
Gondola Flow Trail
blueThe bike park flow trail from the gondola top station — well-built berms and rollers giving a smooth, progressive descent for riders building up to the more technical lines. Gondola access required.
Trail centres in Fort William
Best for
- Downhill riding
- Gravity riders
- World Cup track experience
- Scenic riding
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:25
- Sunset
- 21:10
- Civil dawn
- 04:37
- Civil dusk
- 21:57
NOAA Solar Calculator · 5 May 2026
Frequently asked questions
- Do I have to use the gondola at Fort William?
- No — the Witch's Trails below the gondola are free to access by climbing or driving to the forest car park. However, to access the bike park trails and World Cup track, the gondola (paid, bikes carried) is required. The gondola operates seasonally — check nevismountain.co.uk for current dates and bike transport prices.
- When is the Fort William World Cup?
- The UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Fort William typically runs in late May or June each year. During race weekends the DH track is closed to public riding. The track is open for public use at other times in the season — nevismountain.co.uk lists track open days.
- Is Fort William suitable for cross-country riders?
- The Witch's Trails give reasonable XC riding for competent red riders, but Fort William is primarily a gravity and downhill venue. For full XC trail riding, the Cairngorms, Perthshire or Tweed Valley offer more varied XC options. Fort William suits gravity riders and those who want the DH experience.
- Can I combine Fort William riding with Ben Nevis?
- Yes — many visitors ride Witch's Trails one day and walk Ben Nevis another. The two trailheads are 10km apart. Fort William has good accommodation and is a proper Highland town with facilities. Allow two or three nights to combine both activities properly.