The Great British Mountain Bike Trail Guide

FACILITIES

Car park and charges: Yes; charges apply

Cafe: No

Toilets: No

Showers: No

Bike wash: No

Nearest bike shop: Gravity Sports Briarbank Westacres, Buckie AB56 5EN Banffshire

Bike hire: No

Accommodation: B&Bs, hotels, camping and self-catering accommodation in area.

Other trails on site: Moray Monster Trails cover a vast area. There are various loops and links. You can park at one of three trailheads to start your ride but unless you want an epic day out you may want to drive to the various trailheads and explore each trail and area individually.

Whiteash car park is located 1km east of Fochabers.

Ordiequish car park is located just over a kilometre south-east of Fochabers.

Ben Aigen car park is located much further south, approximately 4km south-east out of the village of Mulben on the A95. There is a fourth trailhead where you will find a Green taster loop at Quarrelwood.

You will find a variety of Green, Blue, Red and Black-graded trails at the different sites. Each car park has signage advising of the various trails, their grade and distances. Leaflets are available with a well-detailed map of the area showing you the various car parks you can use to ride the trails.

Ordnance Survey map: Explorer 424.

ENJOYMENT FOR SKILL LEVEL

Beginner: 6/10

Intermediate: 9/10

Advanced: 7/10

Getting there: The Whiteash car park is located on the A98 just east of Fochabers. Head north from Keith on the A96 heading to Elgin and take a right turn at a roundabout near Fochabers onto the A96, continue up the main road for 800m and you will see the car park on your right.

Grid ref: NJ 35839 58588

Sat nav: Fochabers

More info: www.moraymountainbikeclub.co.uk

THE FOCHABERS RING TRAIL, STARTING AT WHITEASH CAR PARK

On-site grade: Red

Clive’s grade: Red

Distance: 9km

Technicality: 6/10

Ascent: 220m

ENJOYMENT FOR SKILL LEVEL

Beginner: 5/10

Intermediate: 8/10

Advanced: 7/10

From the trailhead signage, head towards the left-hand corner of the car park. The trail opens on a wide double track and runs parallel to the main road for just over 1km. The surface is relatively good, there is just one short section of loose gravel and sand.

You will spend the next few kilometres climbing up towards the monument on the top of the hill. The climb is mainly on double track and there are a few junctions, everything is really well waymarked so you should have no issues in navigating your way up the climb.

The gradient is relatively steep in parts and it’s advisable to save some energy to enjoy the descent on the return leg. Throughout the upper section you will come across a series of water bars. These are a good indicator your climbing is nearly over.

When you arrive at the monument there is the option of taking a right turn down a more technically challenging downhill trail that shortcuts the far loop of the main Red trail. If you wish to continue outbound on the cross-country loop, simply go straight past the monument and follow the trail ahead.

At the far end of the loop you pass around Gallows Hill and start your return to the car park in a north-easterly direction. You have a few short sections of fast single track with forest-road-link sections to bring you back round to Leitch’s Wood and the car park.

This section of trail runs parallel to the A96. It is very natural and can become quite wet and slippery throughout the winter months. You will also have to negotiate root-beds and rough surfaces as you traverse the hillside. Elevation loss is minimal and the trail requires a fair bit of effort if you wish to maintain a decent speed. It’s only when ridden at speed that it becomes technically challenging.

Unfortunately, while on my road trip investigating the trails in this area the weather turned and we had to leave and head south to sit out the passing snow storms. We would love to have had the time to ride the other trails in the area as the Fochabers Ring Trail was only a small sample of what’s on offer here. If you visit this part of the UK allow plenty of time to savour the other Monster Trails.

MORAY MONSTER TRAILS