Leading the lineup are two massive mountain biking films. Anthill Films always deliver amazing action and their latest offering Strength in Numbers is no exception. From World Cup pros to novice bikers in Nepal it explores the shared experiences that connect us all as mountain bikers, our ride buddies, thrills, bikes, dirt and jaw dropping locations. Next up is the Red Bull Behemoth, Where the Trail Ends. Big mountain riding doesn’t get any bigger than this. It makes Rampage look like a kids’ outing on balance bikes. When it was shown at the Buxton Adventure Festival, special guest Danny Hart described the riding as insane and, if you’ve seen his World Championship winning run, that’s saying something.

Sticking to the trails, other standouts for me include Silvia: Winter Trails with Matt Hunter. With the recent weather and some great snow rides on my local Dark Peak trails, this film really resonated but I don’t think I’ll be taking a drill to my Nobbly Nics quite yet. I also love Sea of Rock. It’s a genuine mountain biking adventure as Tom Oehler and Harald Philipp take up the gauntlet thrown down 40 years ago to ride the tyre shredding limestone of Austria’s Mont Sommerstein.

It’s not all fat tyre action though (although you’ve probably already seen it along with millions of others); Martyn Ashton’s Road Bike Party deserves a big screen viewing. The skills on show are staggering but even more so is that the total damage for the film was one flat tyre. Testament to Pinarello and Lancashire’s Hope wheels. Cyclocross makes its ShAFF debut  in Rockville with Italian singlespeeders showing typical flair and style racing in the grounds of an abandoned 16th century villa. Definitely more appealing than my ‘cross outings this winter at glamorous venues such as Graves Park and Boggart Hole Clough.

If you’re after a hit of urban fixed wheel, Line of Sight gives an on-the-wheel experience of the mind blowing bike handling of cycle courier “Alleycat” racing. The riding of the racers is impressive enough but, especially when you see his camera rig, the fact that filmmaker Lucas Brunelle keeps up is staggering. Slowing down the cadence a bit, Janapar – Love on a Bike, is a Round the World Cycle film with a romantic twist. It’s a wonderful film where you can’t help but engage with the characters and agonize over their decisions with them. It also contains one of the most ill conceived first meetings with potential in-laws ever.

Finally I’d recommend donning your sallopettes, crashing Ski and Board 2 and watching Shaun Palmer – Miserable Champion. 7 times world champion, 6 X-Games Golds, 38 elite victories and 117 career podiums in seven different sports. If there’s gravity, high speeds and a significant chance of maiming involved on snow or dirt, Palmer was, and is, your man.

Sheffield Adventure Film Festival is Friday 1^st March until Sunday 3^rd March

www.shaff.co.uk

Tickets are £7.90 or £5.70 concessions.

Pop into Square Wheels bike shop in Strathpeffer, pick up a trail map (you’ll need one if only to find the start of the trail), have a chat and then head into the woods to explore. Although the way-marked riding is more suited to intermediate riders and above, there’s loads of trails for all abilities and ages.

Boardwalk in Contin Forest. Image by Ben Freeman via Flickr.

How to get there

Take the A835 road west from Contin to a point about 200 metres beyond the 30 mph speed limit. At the green Forestry Commission Scotland sign, turn right. Continue along this road for half a mile past some wooden buildings to the car park.

The Strathpeffer trail mascot. Image by Ben Freeman via Flickr.

Sat Nav: Contin

Facilities

Parking and toilets.

Trails

The main way-marked 16 km red grade trail is a great ride. With its roots, rocky slabs, plenty of tight singletrack and steep ups and downs, it’ll put a big grin on your face. It’s best in the dry or when frozen but still fun in the slop.

Strathpuffer 2006: Watersplash. Image by Douglas Cook via Flickr

Nearest bike shop

Square Wheels, Strathpeffer

Square Wheels has the reputation of being a small but perfectly formed and very friendly shop. Image by Ben Freeman via Flickr.

Other info

If you like the riding and have a masochistic streak a mile wide, how about taking on the mid-winter Strathpuffer 24-hour race. The 2013 edition happens over the weekend of January 26-27.

Useful links

Forestry Commission guide to Contin Forest Walks (start point of Strathpeffer mountain bike trails.)
Strathpuffer 24-hour race.

He’s probably not heading for the trails… Image by Strathpeffer Village via Flickr.

Just a few miles south of Glentress, without its own facilities or green or blue runs, it tends to be quieter and frequented by more experienced riders. It’s got a brilliant red cross-country trail though and superb downhill runs.

How to get there

From Edinburgh join the A703 to Peebles just south of the Edinburgh City Bypass (A720). Note that the road becomes the A701 between Penicuik and Leadburn, but reverts to being the A703 from Leadburn to Peebles.

Caning it in another downhill race. Image by Pete B Robinson Photography via Flickr

At Peebles, take a left at the roundabout where the A703 meets the A72. Follow the A72 east towards Innerleithen.

Go past Glentress and continue along the main road to Innerleithen.

Once in the village, turn right following signs to Traquair. The car park is on your left at the T-junction.

Sat Nav: EH44 6PD

Facilities

Just parking onsite but you’ve got all the facilities of Glentress just up the road.

Trails

The 19km red graded cross-country trail is not to be taken lightly. Half is predominately climbing including the ascent to the summit of Minch Moor, which is long, steep and technical.

Innerleithen’s downhill races are popular with riders and photographers. Image by Zorker via Flickr

You get payback though with some thrilling singletrack descending. There are jumps and drop-offs and some optional black graded features. If you’re not too confident in your skills everything, apart from the rock drops at the top, can be rolled at a mellow pace.

Most riders come to Innerleithen for the downhill though and you won’t be disappointed. There’s a plethora of classic trails and four tracks crafted by renowned local trail builder Dik Hamilton.

If you go fast enough, the colour can’t keep up. That’s Einstein, that is. Image by Pete B Robinson Photography via Flickr

There are signed push-up paths from the car-park but it’s 300 m vertical and you’re looking at 45-60 minutes of slog. Far better check out the Uplift Scotland link below or contact David ‘Tally’ Tallontine on 07709 144 299 and save yourself the leg work.

Nearest bike shop

Alpine Bike, Innerleithen

Other info

Parking is £3 for the day and, as quite a lot of racing and events take place there, it’s worth checking the sites below.

The chaps from local lights company Full Beam, out for a pootle. Image by Steve Wyper via Flickr

Useful sites

7stanes, Glesstress & Innerleithen
Uplift Scotland
Innerleithen Mountain Bike Racing

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Located in the Tweed Valley, Glentress has the reputation of being one of, if not the, best trail centre in the UK. The facilities are brilliant and the trails, from green through to black, are genuine mountain biking trails with no forest road bimbles.

How to get there

From Edinburgh join the A703 to Peebles just south of the Edinburgh City Bypass (A720). Note that the road becomes the A701 between Penicuik and Leadburn, but reverts to being the A703 from Leadburn to Peebles.

At Peebles, take a left at the roundabout where the A703 meets the A72. Follow the A72 east towards Innerleithen. Glentress is signposted, with the 7stanes trails signposted a little further on. Follow the road for around 3.5km. The entrance to Glentress is on the left.

Sat Nav: EH45 8NB

Facilities

Car parking and bike wash. The Peel Gateway Building with toilets, showers and changing rooms. Bike shop and bike hire and the Glentress Peel Cafe.

Trails

Mist through the trees. Image by Addy Pope via Flickr

Kicking off is is the skills area that has green, blue and red loops with features that are representative of what you’re likely to find on the trails for real. A great way to make sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew. You can start the green trail from either the Buzzards Nest car-park (4.5km) or from Glentress Peel (3.5km), either way it’s completely different from most green trails and, although never steep or technical, it twists and turns and genuinely feels like mountain biking.

Concentrate! Image by aliweb_gt via Flickr

There’s 16km of blue graded trails equally spread between and upper and lower loop. It’s a definite step up from the green and is fast and flowing. Check out YouTube sensation Callum riding Berm Baby Berm:

Onto the 18km red and, with 65% singletrack, it has everything a red trail should: tough climbs, fast descents, jumps, berms, elevated timber, roots and rocks. Cross-country riding at its very best.

The 29km black packs in 75% singletrack and is a genuine epic. With infamous sections such as Deliverance, The Bitch and Britney Spears, it’s just one technical challenge after another.

Recovering at the top of the black. Image by thekelticfringe via Flickr

Unfortunately the timber features in the Ewok Village have been removed but, for those who love to balance on logs, they still make an appearance elsewhere on the trail.

Finally, for those who like to jump, there’s a Freeride Park with a range of jumps, drops and north shore features.

Nearest bike shop

Glentress Peel Bikes (onsite)

Other info

Car parking is £3 for the day.

If you’re traveling from a distance, Peebles has lots of accommodation. The Prince of India does a good curry and one of the pubs does karaoke, but we’re darned if we can remember which one. It was a big night…

The Glenress Peel Cafe. Image by William Hook via Flickr

Useful sites

7Stanes Glentress & Innerleithen
Forestry Commission guide to Glentress

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Considering how near Pitfichie is to Aberdeen, it has a surprisingly ‘out in the middle of nowhere’ feel to it. It’s lacking on the facilities front so big crowds won’t be a problem. It’s a really pleasant place to ride with some fairly serious downhill runs and the chance to get in some XC miles. There’s probably not quite enough to fill a whole day but it’s worth popping in.

Get away from the crowds at Pitfichie

How to get there

Follow the B993 out of Monymusk towards Alford. After approximately two miles turn right at the sign for Whitehills Cycle Trails. Follow this road for about half-a-mile to the car park.

Sat Nav: Monymusk

Facilities

Parking and an information board.

Trails

First up, you’ve got the 15km blue-graded White Trail. It’s mostly forest road but odd bits of double-track keep things interesting and the views are good. It’s a fairly long ride that would probably be a bit much for younger kids.

Although relatively short at 7km, the red-graded Red Trail has a fair bit of technical interest. It branches off the White Trail and has some rocky slab sections including the Devil’s Staircase and some berms and jumps. A dab free ride is quite an achievement, especially after conquering the first climb.

Finally, the Orange downhill runs are old skool, rooty, rocky and natural tracks with some intimidating drop-offs and a very steep finish.

Get some XC miles under your belt on Pitfichie’s blue and red trails (© Douglas Cook)

Nearest bike shop

Alpine Bikes, Aberdeen
Edinburgh Cycle Co-Op, Aberdeen

Other info

Kirkhill isn’t too far away if you need to fill up your day. Check out the Bikemagic Trail Guide.

Useful links

Forestry Commission guide to Pitfichie

Location map

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The Mull of Kintyre is an incredibly beautiful place but as it’s a peninsula, you’re looking at a long drive to get there. You wouldn’t make the journey to Campbeltown primarily to ride the 5km of trails but, if you were touring the area and happened to have your bikes, they’re worth a spin round.

Kintyre and Arran. Image by Draig via Flickr

Beinn Ghuilean dominates the skyline above Campbeltown and, for the sake of a 20-minute grind out of town, its views and trails are worth the pedal.

How to get there

Head down the Mull of Kintyre to Campbeltown. Once there, head to the Quays on the seafront and turn left. The Aqualibrium (Leisure Centre) will be straight in front of you. Pick up the map from the Aqualibrium to find the start of the trails.

Sat Nav: PA28 6EG

Facilities

Full facilities at the Aqualibrium

Trails

Kintyre hills. Image by The Antrim Rambler via Flickr

Use the 20-minute ride out of town to warm-up and then hit the Blue Trail. It’s short and sweet at 2.7km but pretty good fun and suitable for all. The 2km Red Trail is a bolt-on to the Blue and includes some berms, boardwalks, moderate steps and drop-offs. Nothing to be overly wary about but enough of a challenge to have some fun on.

Nearest bike shop

The Cycle Shop, Campbeltown Tel: 01586 554 443

Other info

Keep an eye out for walkers on the trails as they’re not bike only.

Useful sites

Forestry Commission guide to the Wee Toon Trail
Aqualibrium, Campbeltown

Location Map

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Three trail centres for the price of one with plenty of variety and the opportunity to pick and mix trails to create your ideal ride. Cross-country riders with a liking for technical trails might be a little underwhelmed but, on the whole, there’s something for most types and levels of riders and about 30km of marked trails to explore.

At the top after a big slog. Image by daguerrotype74 via Flickr

How to get there

Fochabers and Elgin both lie on the A96 Inverness – Aberdeen road. Craigellachie is on the A95 to the south.

Ordiequish: Turn south off the A96 by the chip shop in the middle of Fochabers (look for the blue sign). Stay on this road for around 1km, going through Ordiequish and Upper Ordiequish until you reach the car park.

Whiteash (Winding Walks):Follow the A98 out of Fochabers towards Buckie for around 1km. The Winding Walks car park is on the right (south) side of the road.

Ben Aigan: Turn off the A95 Keith to Craigellachie road near Mulben. Coming from Mulbin, the car park is on the right; from Craigellachie it’s on the left.

Sat Nav: Fochabers

Facilities

Each of the three trailheads is just a car park but there are full facilities at Fochabers.

Trails

Starting off from the Ordiequish car park, you’ve got the three blue grade trails, Soup Dragon, Godzilla and The Haggis. Of the three, The Haggis is probably the pick and you can link off it Ben Aigan. Unfortunately, at the time of writing (31/10/12), both The Haggis and the link trail were closed for harvesting.

Also at Ordiequish lurks the infamous black grade Gully Monster. Only 2km but steep, twisting, committing, vertiginous and with a heart fluttering drop. There’s also a skills area to play on.

From the Winding Walks car park you’ve got the 8km red grade Forchabers Ring trail. There’s a lot of variety packed in and the fun sections later on make the massive early forest road climb worthwhile.

From the high point of the Ring, there’s the 0.75km Forchabers Freeride. Wide but occasionally high north shore opens its account and then the bottom is jumpy and bermy. Enjoyable and spits you out halfway down the Ring descent.

From Ben Aigan you again earn your height on forest roads before picking up the 8km red grade Ben Aigan Hammer. Once on the singletrack, it’s an unbroken loop and although rocky and including some boardwalk, is never too demanding.

You can leave the Hammer and choose to hurtle down either the fast and fun black graded Mast Blast (closed until December 2012) or the testing Bunny downhill run which includes some wicked rock gardens and some sizeable jumps.

Moray beech woods. Image by Angus Mackie via Flickr

Nearest bike shop

Rafford Cycles, Forres Tel: 01309 672 811

Other info

Parking is free. You can link up and ride all the trails for a truly epic day but, before making plans, check the Forestry Commission site for closures.

Useful sites

Forestry Commission guide to the Moray Monster Trails
Moray Mountain Bike Club

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Opened in March 2006 and designed by Paul Masson, who also designed the Laggan Wolftrax trails, a funding injection meant the existing network of trails, built predominately by local riders, could be repaired, upgraded and made to last.

Don’t expect long loops, as the trails are really a collection of singletrack sections linked by forest roads but it’s means you can mix and match them, re-ride your favourite sections and create the perfect ride for your taste and ability.

Blue, red and black trails

How to get there

From Inverness, take the A9 north until you reach the Tore roundabout. At the roundabout, follow the A832 towards Cromarty. The Red Rock car park lies just off the A832, roughly 3 miles past Rosemarkie village. Turn right off the A832 into the car park.

Sat Nav: Rosemarkie

Facilities

Just parking on-site but nearby Rosemarkie and Cromarty have toilets, shops, restaurants and pubs.

Trails

The 500m green-graded Home Trail is a short and enjoyable descent with some lumps that, if taken at speed, could see some air under your tyres. You’ve then got five blue-graded sections that, for novice and intermediate riders, are the gems of the centre. The Fir Hill section is probably the pick but all are spot-on examples of blue not having to mean dull.

You can mix and match the trails via Learnie’s forest roads

The 3.6km black-graded Learnie Hill section is an entirely different beast and up there as one of the most testing trails in the country. Awkward uphill rock features and then very tricky rock gardens as the trail tips downhill. Chuck in some roots on the fast singletrack sections between the rocks and you’ve got a jarring spin out. You’ve also got a fun rollable bike park-style run and a three-tier dirt jump area.

Nearest bike shop

Highland Bicycle Company, Inverness
Alpine Bikes, Inverness

Other info

Parking is £2 for the day.

Useful links

Forestry Commission guide to Learnie Red Rock Trails

Location map

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The bad news is that Basecamp MTB, who ran the on-site bike shop and cafe, haven’t renewed their lease, leaving Laggan currently devoid of facilities. However, the trails are still open, being maintained by the Forestry Commission and, according to the Laggan Forest Trust, they’re looking for a catering alternative until the new forest centre opens in two years.

Laggan Wolftrax is a great all-round trail centre, with a green, red and black trail, plus a bike park

How to get there

Take the A9 north of Perth, signposted for Inverness. Once you have passed Drumochter, take the turning for the A889 signposted for Spean Bridge and Fort William. At the next junction turn left onto the A86 signposted for Laggan Wolftrax. Turn left at sign for Wolftrax and left again into the car park.

Sat Nav: PH20 1BU

Facilities

A bit up in the air at the moment but, at time of writing and having spoken to the forest office, there are toilets and showers available. Check the links at the bottom of this page for announcements about catering but, for the moment, take sandwiches and a thermos.

The red route is split into twos sections

Trails

The 4.8km green route is definitely more than a forest road trail and, although easy riding, has enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. If you’ve had a bit of a drive, it’s an ideal leg loosener.

The 15km red route is a split affair with an upper and lower section. The upper, although sharing an initial climb with the black, is a fairly smooth and, dare we say it, slightly dull affair. You can certainly carry speed through it though. The
lower is far more fun and will definitely have you riding repeat laps. It includes the black-graded Air’s Rock, which is much like The Slab at Dalbeattie, plus plenty of rock gardens and an excellent bermy timber boardwalk to finish.

The 10km black route is a technical rider’s delight. Drop-offs, stone staircases, boulder fields, rock slabs and no chicken runs. It’s all rideable without dabbing, but you’ve got to be good.

Finally there’s the 3.6km bike park. After gaining height on a gentle forest road, it’s then a fast, fun and jumpy return. Proficient riders will get big air but it’s all rollable for novices too.

Boardwalk on the red trail

Nearest bike shop

You’re looking at a bit of a trek to Aviemore or Fort William but the village shop in nearby Drumgask carries very basic spares.

Other info

Parking is £3 for the day.

Useful links

Forestry Commission guide to Laggan Wolftrax
Laggan community website
Laggan Forest website

Location map

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Just outside of the city, Kirkhill is a popular destination for locals. Although the way-marked trails are very limited, with a bit of exploration or some local knowledge, there’s plenty of great riding to be found.

How to get there

From Aberdeen, head north on the A96 towards Inverness. The forest is on the right-hand side of the dual carriageway, about 8 miles from Aberdeen, and a short distance before the turning for Blackburn.

The trails around Kirkhill pass through dramatically rural countryside.

Sat Nav: BLACKBURN

Facilities

Just parking.

Trails

Riding in the forest. Image Marc Roberts via Flickr

The main trail is the blue grade 12 km Kirkhill Loop. It’s mostly easy (dull) fire road but it’s a good way to recce the forest and find the hidden trails. There are two spurs off the trail. The North is fairly tame double-track but the South is more fun with some steep rooty and rocky sections and it spits you out next to the Fun Park.

Although only 2 km long, as the name suggests, it’s fun! It’s never too steep and all the jumps are rollable so, how fast you take it and whether you get airborne, is entirely up to you.

Nearest bike shops

Alpine Bikes, Aberdeen
Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op, Aberdeen

Other info

Parking is £2 for the day

Useful sites

Forestry Commission guide to Kirkhill
Cycle Grampian’s guide to Kirkhill

Location map

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