A major new partnership between Nevis Range and The Dunoon Project is set to transform the coastal town of Dunoon, in the south of Argyll and Bute, Scotland into a world-class adventure destination—with mountain biking firmly at its core.
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The announcement, made on March 21st, reveals plans for a multi-million-pound adventure resort centred around a state-of-the-art mountain gondola—Scotland’s first in the region. The development will unlock year-round access to high-altitude trails and activities and is being positioned as a bold new blueprint for Scottish tourism.
An MTB-Focused Adventure Resort
At the heart of the new Dunoon Adventure Resort will be elite-level mountain bike trails, designed by the same team behind Nevis Range’s renowned Fort William trails, which have hosted multiple British Downhill and IXS Downhill Series events. Riders can expect downhill, enduro and XC options with direct gondola access from the base to the top station.
A full-service bike shop and hire centre will be part of the resort’s base station, alongside an adventure-focused hotel, restaurants, retail spaces, and après-ride hospitality. At the summit, riders and visitors alike can enjoy panoramic views from a mountaintop café.
A Proven Model Comes to the West Coast
Nevis Range’s existing gondola in Fort William attracts over 250,000 visitors annually, and their team brings decades of expertise in sustainable adventure tourism. This experience will now be applied to Dunoon—a location long celebrated for its stunning natural scenery but underdeveloped in terms of tourism infrastructure.
With close proximity to Glasgow and Edinburgh, Dunoon is uniquely positioned to draw both domestic and international visitors. The introduction of a gondola system will offer a low-impact, high-access way to explore the area, reducing car traffic while enhancing the rider and visitor experience.
More Than Just Biking
While mountain biking will be a major draw, the resort is set to offer a wide range of activities including hiking, guided nature experiences, zip lines, climbing areas, and a full outdoor adventure park.
The development also aims to support the local economy, creating jobs and boosting hospitality and retail industries in the wider Argyll region. The Dunoon Project, led by members of the local community, has been instrumental in driving the vision for revitalising the area.
Chris O’Brien, Managing Director of Nevis Range, commented:
“We’ve seen first-hand how infrastructure like this can transform an area. Dunoon has always had the potential—it just needed the investment to realise it.”
Brendon Wallace, Chair of The Dunoon Project, added:
“We’re not just aiming to compete with the best—we’re set to become one of the best.”
What This Means for Scotland’s MTB Scene
Scotland already has a strong reputation in the mountain biking world, and this announcement builds on that legacy. With Glentress recently upgraded for the UCI Cycling World Championships, and Innerleithen’s innovation-focused Bike Valley growing fast, Dunoon’s new resort adds a west coast chapter to the evolving story of Scottish MTB.
It’s early days, and much still depends on the timeline and delivery, but if this project delivers on its promise, it could become one of the most significant developments for mountain biking and outdoor tourism in the UK.
Stay tuned on iBikeRide for updates on progress, trail plans, and how this project shapes up in the months and years ahead.
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