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Published: 15th April 2014
The Nevis Range Trail Centre have announced their summer activity dates, with many exciting events including the DH World Cup in June and the launch of the new Green and Blue descents.
OPENING WEEKEND (3-4 May 2014)
The Opening Weekend of gondola uplift for the World Cup downhill and the Giant Red XC takes place on 3-4 May 2014. Alpine Bikes will be running a Demo Day over the weekend with bikes from Santacruz, Cannondale, Trek, Orange, Whyte and more. Coaching and Guiding will also be available. The Pinemarten cafe bar will run a BBQ from lunchtime on both days. Music will be provided on Saturday afternoon by Club DJ Simon Abberley. Also on Saturday, a round of the Scottish Power Youth Mini Downhill Series will take place on the Witch's Trails in Leanachan forest. The series is all about encouraging youngsters to get involved in downhill mountain biking – a great chance to join us support the World Champions of tomorrow. Plus, on the Saturday, the West Highland Wheelers are running a 2 stage Enduro style race. We will also have photographer Steven McKenna with us on the Saturday (TBC) who will take photographs of all riders which will be made freely available to everyone at a later date.
The World Cup downhill trail and the Giant Red XC with Gondola Uplift (3 May – 14 Sep 2014)
Riders are able to use the Nevis Range mountain gondola, the only one of its kind in the UK, to transport them and their bikes up the slopes of Aonach Mor to the start of these trails. Gondola uplift for MTBs is available from Saturday 3 May until Sunday 14 September. It operates on a daily basis from 10.15am – 3.45pm other than certain race, maintenance, and bad weather days. Information on closures is posted on the Nevis Range website at www.nevisrange.co.uk. Discounts on gondola uplift is also available for groups of 8 or more. The downhill track at Nevis Range is home to the Mountain Bike World Cup which takes place this year in June (7-8 June 2012) and a number of other mountain bike races and endurance events.
NEW Green and Blue XC descents (Launch 17 April 2014)
Two new bike trails – a green and a blue XC descent will be launched on 17 April 2014) The CATS EYES green-graded cross country descent, 1.3km long, has wide berms and rollover features, with a rolling trail through the trees beside a burn. The BLUE ADDER blue-graded cross country descent, 1.1km long, is a mix of wide single track and gently bermed wide boardwalk, followed by a series of flowing twists and turns. Both trails finish at the Pinemarten cafe bar and are accessed by a 2km forest road climb and vehicle uplift is planned for summer weekends. The trails are part of a larger project funded by SportScotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Nevis Range and West Highland Wheelers.
Other Activities & Events
Nevis Range Bike School also reopens its doors for the summer season. It offers guiding through the Witch’s Trails in Leanachan forest as well on the Nevis Red XC and the World Cup downhill. It also offers coaching sessions at all levels, from easy cross country to technical downhill riding.
Alpine Bikes will provide onsite hire at Nevis Range during the summer months and will stock a range of XC and DH bikes as well as bikes specifically for riding the Nevis Red XC (with gondola uplift). Occupying the extended Ski Hire outlet, Alpine bikes will also have a small retail outlet at Nevis Range.
Events this year at Nevis Range include OPENING WEEKND (3-4 May) Fort William round of the Scottish Power Youth Mini Downhill Series (3 May), BDS Downhill race (10-11 May), MTB World Cup (7-8 June), NoFuss Events FAT TYRE WEEKEND (21-22 June) featuring the 10 Under the Ben (21 June) and Enduro Enduro (22 June), CLOSING WEEKEND (Sat 13 & Sun 14 Sep), Scottish Downhill Series downhill race (20-21 Sep ), and WEMBO (11–12 Oct).
At the foot of the gondola, the Pinemarten cafe bar offers bikers a wide range of snacks and meals made fresh on the premises from locally sourced produce. Each day a range of hot specials will be on offer as well as specialty coffees and delicious home baking. At the start of the downhill and Giant Red XC trail the Snowgoose restaurant & bar offers a more traditional self-service ski style restaurant.
Bike wash and showers are available onsite.
Track opening and Closures 2014
* All closure dates are inclusive dates
Maintenance Days – closures for maintenance will be posted on the website
Thursday 10 April – Launch of New blue and green descents
Sat 3 & Sun 4 May - OPENING WEEKEND
First weekend of uplift for the World Cup downhill and Nevis Red XC
Alpine Bikes bike demo + Coaching + Nevis Bike School tours of the Red Giant + BBQ + music + round of Scottish Cycling kids downhill.
Sat 3 May – Fort William round of the Scottish Power Youth Mini Downhill Series
The race takes place in the Witch’s Trails and the short route will be marshalled. All other trails unaffected.
Sat 10 & Sun 11 May - BDS Downhill race
The downhill track will be closed.
The Red Giant will be open but uplift priority given to competitors if required.
Sat 7 & Sun 8 June - MTB World Cup
The Worldcup downhill closed Monday 2 – Sunday 8 June.
The Red Giant XC will be closed Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 June.
The trails with gondola uplift will open on Monday 9 June.
Witch’s Trails around the carpark will be closed on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June.
Sat 21 & Sun 22 June - FAT TYRE WEEKEND - NoFuss Events
Sat 21 June - 10 Under the Ben [9.30am – 8pm (last lap starts)]
Sun 22 June - Enduro Enduro [9/11am + 2 hours]
Competitions will take place on the Witch’s Trails and route information will be available onsite.
Trails with gondola uplift will be unaffected.
Sat 20 & Sun 21 Sep - Scottish Downhill Series downhill race
Witch’s Trails unaffected.
Sat 13 /Sun 14 Sep – CLOSING WEEKEND
Sun 14 Sep - Last day of gondola uplift for both Orange Downhill and Nevis Red XC
Sat 11 – Sun 12 October
WEMBO
The World Solo 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships hosted by NoFuss Events. Competition will take place on the Witch’s Trails and route information will be available beforehand.
Witch's XC Trails, Leanachan forest
Open all year
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Gondola Uplift
All users must read, complete and sign a Participation Statement before buying tickets, and those aged from 12-16 must get a parent or guardian to sign on their behalf. Those visiting regularly will be able to obtain a free Frequent Riders Card to save them filling in a new Participation Form each time they ride. All riders must also read and adhere to the Code of Practice.
Day tickets allowing unlimited access for both trails are priced at £31 for adults and £20.50 for youths (12–17 years). Two day consecutive day ticket, a 6 consecutive day ticket, as well as a Bike Season Ticket are also available. Consecutive two day tickets are priced at £58 (adult) and £39 (youth) and the six day tickets offer 6 days riding for the price of 4.
Season tickets are priced at £284 (adult) and £166 (youths) and allow unlimited gondola bike uplift for the Bike season, as well as unlimited gondola rides from the day of purchase until the resort closes mid November for its annual maintenance. Early Bird tickets priced at £249 (adult) and £145 (youth) are available up until 15 May 2014. For those bikers who have already purchased a 2013/2014 Winter Sports season ticket, a generous 50% discount will be available on the 2014 Bike Season Ticket.
Nevis Bike School
Group sessions lasting 2 ½ hours cost from £34 for guiding and from £39 for coaching. Private Sessions are also available.
