North East Welcome Contact Forestry Commission AND RIDE THE and Aberdeenshire Forest District, GET OUT to Moray Portsoy Road, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, AB54 4SJ Tel: 0300 067 6200 Follow us on: Email: [email protected] Monster Web: www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland Public enquiry line: 0300 067 6156 Trails Enjoyed Monster Trails? 3 Why not try these other Forestry Commission 2 Scotland MTB Trails? 1 Crown copyright and database right [2012]. All rights Crown copyright and database right [2012]. All rights © reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number [100021242]. 1 Laggan Wolftrax Join the pack at this fabulous trail centre. Great flowing single track, Easy to Extreme. Fine views. 2 Kirkhill & Tyrebagger Close to Aberdeen, a small but perfectly formed bike park and some great trail riding. 3 Learnie Red Rocks

The bike jewel of the Black Isle by Inverness. Trails of MTB great character and varied too - flowing to technical. Fantastic single-track mountain bike routes for beginners through If you need this publication in an to experts. There’s something here alternative format, for example, in large print or in another language, to feed the monster in everyone! please contact:­ The Diversity Team Tel: 0300 067 5000 E-mail: [email protected] Written and designed by Design & Interpretive Services, Forestry Commission Scotland - D&IS/12K/Allander/Jan 2014 (edition 2). Photographs by Forestry Commission Picture Library.

For information on public transport services contact: Traveline Scotland, 0871 2002233 or www.travelinescotland.com © Crown Copyright 2017

Always follow the Forest Cycle Code Easy forest cycling instead? 1. Don’t rely on others; Where should I start? • can you get home safely? There are two main start Monster Trails are mountain bike routes but if that’s not for • carry the right equipment and know you – try the coastal forests: Roseisle, Lossie and Culbin. how to use it points in : Culbin is recommended for an easy day out cycling with the family – please pick up our Culbin leaflet.Remember – Forestry 2. For your own safety; Commission Scotland forests are your forests; keep exploring! • always wear the right safety Ordiequish Car Park - Start here if you’re clothing, at least a cycle helmet looking for routes everyone can enjoy, as well Public Transport and gloves; as the infamous Gully Monster. The blue grade • only cycle within your abilities; routes are great for younger riders and mixed Stagecoach service 10 takes • only tackle jumps and other ability groups. Turn off Fochabers High Street by bikes (if there’s space - there challenges if you are sure you can do them, have a look first! the chip shop and past the Police station. Stay usually is). Hourly, running along • train properly especially for difficult and technical routes. A96 Inverness to Aberdeen. on Ordiequish Road for ½ mile to the car park. Just get off at Fochabers. 3. On and off road; There is limited parking space at Ordiquish. Bike Hire (incl. helmet etc): Outfit • expect the unexpected – Winding Walks Car Park - Red and Moray, : 01343 549571. watch out for other visitors; Extreme grade routes. From the Fochabers www.outfitmoray.com • for your own and others’ safety roundabout on the A96, take the A98 (towards always follow warning signs and ) for ½ mile. any advice you are given; Trail problems? • if a vehicle is loading timber Stop and Join it up? A great underpass under the A96 now You’re out there so if you see wait for the driver to let you pass safely. links the trail areas together so why not make a day any problems that need fixing – of it and keep riding! Monster Trails are all waymarked please leave a message with 4. Cycle carefully and please and signed so you can just enjoy riding. our staff (01466 794161). come back soon!

Is this for you? Find the right grade for your abilities Forest roads and bike parks

Suitable for: Suitable for: Suitable for: Suitable for: Suitable for: Suitable for: Beginners in Riders in good Proficient Expert mountain Cyclists in good Extreme good health health with mountain bikers bikers with high health. Map level riders with basic basic off-road with good off- level of fitness. reading useful with expert bike skills. riding skills. road riding skills Quality off-road (routes not technical skills Most types Basic mountain & fitness. Good mountain bikes. always marked.) & good fitness. of bike. bikes. mountain bikes. Most bikes. Technical bike Trail: Greater skills important. Trail: Trail: Some Trail: Challenging. challenge Trail: Gradients Extreme Jumping ability Relatively “single-track” Climbs, tricky & difficulty. can vary. Surfaces

Easy Green: obligatory. flat & wide. sections & Red: Difficult descents & Expect large & may be uneven small obstacles technical features unavoidable or potholed in Trail: Extreme Black: Severe

Mountain biking is a Blue: Moderate of root & rock. such as drop-offs features. places. Look out levels of potentially hazardous & large rocks. for vehicles & exposure & risk, activity carrying a

Forest road & similar other users. large features. significant risk. Cycle route grading Cycle route From Winding Walks car park THE FOCHABERS FREERIDE Grade: EXTREME THE FOCHABERS RING An extreme option from the monument, off “The Fochabers Ring”. This trail is for advanced riders only. Grade: DIFFICULT 5 miles / 8 km The top section includes big, technical Northshore A varied and full-on cross country trail you’ll want to followed by drops and jumps. Make sure you’re capable ride again and again. A “no pain, no gain” climb up to the of this style of riding – most of us aren’t. Walk it before monument (fine view) and then the fun starts. you ride it! Rejoin Fochabers Ring to finish.

From Ordiquish car park 35 36 37 ie ck Start here if you’re looking for Blue grade u B 60 o 60 routes everyone can enjoy. The formidable t 34 8 9 Gully Monster also lies here. A 38 To Elgin THE SOUP DRAGON A96 Grade: MODERATE 2 ½ miles / 4 km The Shire Whiteash Hill A fun packed friendly route that can be enjoyed at Wood Lord of the any level. A real gem. Yes there’s a good old climb 59 59

Fochabers Granny Rings to start but you’ll be well rewarded! Want just a 50

70 bit more? Keep going for the add-on Dragon’s 60

Tail. Allow ¾ hr round trip from the car park. 90

Winding Walks

Then do it again, or add on The Haggis. 100

Car Park

110

120

130 THE HAGGIS Fochabers 140 Ring

Grade: MODERATE 58 150 58 Ordiequish The friendly, tasty monster. A great trip – Car Park Duchess of full of interest – loads of fun but not too Underpass Aragorn Alley Fochabers Richmond technical. And finish off back down the Freeride Monument Helms Deep Northshore Whiteash Soup Dragon. The Haggis and Soup, Rivendell Hill

two courses combined, is a total 8 260 The Soup 90 264m 230

mile (13 km) round trip. Rohan 250

Dragon 100

240

110

57 120 1 57

130 The Mirk Wood

GORDZILLA 3 140 Gondor 33 150 Grade: MODERATE 39 A great flowing route. As with The Gully The Middle others here, this fine monster Monster Dragon's Earth Tail Fangorn can be linked to others like Tor Castle The Haggis. A96 56 2 56 THE GULLY MONSTER The Black Gate

River Spey Mast

Grade: SEVERE To Keith 170 Gordzilla

An awesome The Haggis

160

180

190 210 gully of monster 200 proportions! You 219m won’t have ridden 55 Scotch Hill 55 anything quite like this before. Wood of Ordiequish Promise. Full of technical 240 250m interest. Go 230 38 poke the 220 Thief's 210 Hill Monster. Hill of See what 54 54 32 Cairnty 200 Key happens. 190 184m 180 Forestry Commission woodland 170 Other woodland Main road Secondary road 53 53 Minor road Forest road Railway Pylons

Parking (charges)

Parking (no charges) 52 52 37 Toilets Symbols Burn of Mulben in black Caravan site indicate non-Forestry Distillery Campsite Commission Scotland 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 km B9103 Viewpoint facilities 0 1/4 1/2 3/4 1 mile To Keith Trail names Emergency Link to 51 Information Ben Aigan 1 © Crown Copyright and database right [2013]. All rights Trail start points Posts reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number [100021242]. 34 35 36 Trail Features