Mountain Biking
Mountain Biking in Fort William
The only gondola-served downhill in the UK, on a track that has hosted the World Cup
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 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
orangeThe 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. Orange (extreme) on our scale. 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.
Top-station blue descent
blueNevis Range says it has three trails accessible from the gondola top station; the blue is the progressive way down for riders building up to the more technical lines. Gondola access required — check the current trail list with Nevis Range.
Trail centres in Fort William
Best for
- Downhill riding
- Gravity riders
- World Cup track experience
- Scenic riding
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:27
- Sunset
- 16:41
- Civil dawn
- 06:47
- Civil dusk
- 17:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 October 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 nevisrange.co.uk for current dates and bike transport prices.
- Is there a World Cup at Fort William every year?
- No. Fort William has hosted the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup many times, but it is not a fixed annual fixture. Check the UCI calendar and nevisrange.co.uk before planning a trip around a race. During any race weekend the DH track is closed to public riding.
- 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.
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