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Learnie Red Rocks

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Mix forest tracks and dedicated trails for a great day of mountain biking

These purpose built mountain bike trails are fantastic fun for all levels, but especially good for novice and intermediate riders.

You can mix the green, blue, and black graded trails with forest roads and an orange-graded bike park and dirt jump area to make a full day in the saddle. If you've time to look beyond your front wheel, you'll enjoy some great views too.

Mountain biking trails

Learnie Red Rocks mountain biking route card (PDF)

Mountain Biking

Home Trail

Grade – Green: Easy ¼ miles / 0.5 km
Green: Easy
Is this trail for you? Find the right grade for your abilities

Grade - Green: Easy  fls web icon cycling green easy
Expect relatively flat, wide, and smooth trails. Gentle climbs, descents, rollers and berms, with easy to avoid features such as rocks and potholes. Surface might be loose, uneven or muddy at times.

If you're looking to get a flavour of what mountain biking is about, this is a great place to start. Take it slowly to get a feel for singletrack riding, or fast to enjoy the double jumps and tabletops. Follow the forest road from the car park to the start of the trails. Turn right at the fork in the road. 

Mountain Biking

Muirhead Climb Trail

Grade – Blue: Moderate ¾ miles / 1.2 km
Blue: Moderate
Is this trail for you? Find the right grade for your abilities

Grade – Blue: Moderate  fls web icon cycling blue moderate
Expect a mixture of climbs and descents with moderate gradients, technical features like tree roots and rock steps; jumps and berms. Rollable features at controlled speed. Variable surfaces.

Climb through the forest on blue singletrack. A steady climb through big spruce trees and baby pines which pops you out at the top of the hill. You can take the forest road to Callachy Downhill and the Bike Park, or cross the public road and follow a flowing blue-graded descent to the start of Firth View and Learnie Hill. Take care when crossing the minor public road. Follow the forest road out of the car park and keep left at the fork in the road. Muirhead Climb starts on the left hand side of this forest road.

Mountain Biking

Firth View Trail

Grade – Blue: Moderate 1 ½ miles / 2.4 km
Blue: Moderate
Is this trail for you? Find the right grade for your abilities

Grade – Blue: Moderate  fls web icon cycling blue moderate
Expect a mixture of climbs and descents with moderate gradients, technical features like tree roots and rock steps; jumps and berms. Rollable features at controlled speed. Variable surfaces.

Probably the best view from a bike trail - ever! This is one of two trails on the far side of the public road and has a steep climb to a fabulous viewpoint - rest your body and feast your eyes on the dazzling views up and down the firth. Keep your eyes on the wheel coming though the boulder boulevard - this rocky downhill section deserves full attention. Follow the forest road from the car park, keeping left at the junction, and cross the public road. Turn left beside the road on a blue-graded descent and you'll see Firth View start just beyond the right hand fork.

Mountain Biking

Callachy Hill Trails

Grade – Blue: Moderate 1 ¾ miles / 2.7 km
Blue: Moderate
Is this trail for you? Find the right grade for your abilities

Grade – Blue: Moderate  fls web icon cycling blue moderate
Expect a mixture of climbs and descents with moderate gradients, technical features like tree roots and rock steps; jumps and berms. Rollable features at controlled speed. Variable surfaces.

Two blue gems that take you easily uphill and dizzyingly down again. You can tackle these trails as two separate routes, or together. The Callachy Hill Climb (1 mile / 1.6 km) winds uphill through tall larch trees that are emerald green in spring and gorgeous orange in autumn, getting you to the top of the hill without too much muscle strain. From there you can try the Bike Park or continue on to the Callachy Downhill (3/4 mile / 1.2 km) - a sheer, spiralling, downhill delight! 

For the Callachy Hill Climb go past the start of the Home Trail. The Callachy Downhill continues on from the Hill Climb, or you can reach it from the other side along a stretch of forest road and a fun green-graded link.

Mountain Biking

Learnie Hill Trail

Grade – Black: Severe 2 ¼ miles / 3.6 km
Black: Severe
Is this trail for you? Find the right grade for your abilities

Grade – Black: Severe  fls web icon cycling black severe
Expect a long and steep climbs, descents, and jumps. Numerous hazards including drop-offs and severe features. Rapid rate of surface change. Commitment required.

One of Scotland's trickiest blacks and technical enough to get your heart beating very fast. It all begins with a challenging climb to Tracy's Trees, an intimidating downhill rock feature which can be bypassed if you feel faint at the sight. More rock gardens follow in scary succession including Seismometer, Gyroscope, and Dextrality, a unique stone horseshoe. Then it's time for fun, swoopy singletrack before tackling Mephisto - the devilish finale with a ten foot drop to the road...

From the public road, follow the forest road past the start of the Firth View trail to reach the start of Learnie Hill.

Mountain Biking

Bike Park Trail

Grade – Orange: Extreme ¾ miles / 1.2 km
Orange: Extreme

Build skills and put air under your tyres on this zesty downhill run. Superb fun and a great way to finish your day at the trails. Go as hard or as soft as you like, depending on your experience. The big bermed corners and jump after jump after jump will help you build confidence and speed. You can get to the start of the Bike Park by taking the Callachy Hill trail and turning left before the downhill, or from a longer forest road route from the end of Muirhead Climb. 

Facilities and access

Walking
Walking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking
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Parking
Horse riding
Horse riding

The nearest toilets and places to eat are in Cromarty and Rosemarkie. You'll find bike shops in Inverness, Strathpeffer and Dingwall.

Car parking information

There is no charge to park in this car park. Please park with care and consideration. In particular please park in designated parking areas only and do not block entrances or gates.

More about parking

Getting here

From Rosemarkie on the Black Isle follow the A832 towards Cromarty. About 3 miles (4.8 km) after Rosemarkie you'll see the car park on your right, at grid reference NH 749 612.

Using SatNav?

Nearest postcode: IV10 8SL 

Public transport

Buses run between Rosemarkie and Cromarty. You'll find timetables at Traveline Scotland.

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Get in touch

Have a question or suggestion for improvement?

Phone
0300 067 6100 (option 1)
More contact information

Nearby forests

The pond at Culbokie with evergreen conifers and autumnal broadleaves surrounding.

Wildlife and archaeology on your doorstep

Facilities and activities
Walking
Walking
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Parking
Orienteering or wayfaring
Orienteering or wayfaring
Ancient monument
Ancient monument
Distance from 'Learnie Red Rocks': 5.47 miles
 Detail of mature woman's hands, in dappled sunlight, tying cloth rag to branch of tree at the Clootie Well, Munlochy, Black Isle

Visit the well and make a wish in this gentle woodland

Facilities and activities
Walking
Walking
Parking icon
Parking
Distance from 'Learnie Red Rocks': 6.40 miles
Woman next to large tree at Monadh Mor

Bogs, swamps, dragonflies and bonsai pines

Facilities and activities
Walking
Walking
Parking icon
Parking
Distance from 'Learnie Red Rocks': 8.55 miles