Dunoon Mountain Biking

Dunoon sits on the Cowal Peninsula in the south of Argyll and Bute, accessible from Glasgow by a scenic drive via Loch Lomond and the Rest and Be Thankful, or by ferry from Gourock across the Firth of Clyde. The mountain biking here is centred on Bishop's Glen, a wooded valley directly behind the town, and is operated by Action Argyll, the outdoor adventure organisation driving trail development in the area.

The Trails

• Action Argyll has 13.5km of singletrack in Bishop's Glen, all graded black. Trails are tight, technical enduro-style riding through mixed plantation and woodland terrain. Expect roots, rocks, berms, drops, gap jumps, off-camber sections, and steep chutes. The trails are well-maintained and open seven days a week.
• Foxes (640m, black): The steepest and most exposed trail on the hill. Starts on clear fell with roots and rocks, crosses into a steep chute, and finishes on flowing corners.
• The Badd (640m, black): Opens with a gap jump into young plantation, builds through mixed terrain, and finishes with a steep wooded drop and tight turns.
• Rock N Roll (560m, black): Rocky terrain and mica schist slabs through the upper section, picking a line down through exposed outcrops.
• Fiddlers Paradise (340m, black): High-speed roots, rocks and ruts through plantation. A Dunoon classic used in the Scottish Enduro Series. Link to Burnside Lower for a longer run.
• Burnside (912m, black): The longest trail, fast-paced with bermed corners and off-camber roots running alongside the burn.
• Tight As You Like (560m, black): Another Scottish Enduro Series regular. Dense trees, mixed terrain, tight and twisty throughout.
• T3-2-1 (1200m, black): The longest descent. Builds momentum through supportive corners before a gap jump section, finishing with swooping rollers.
• New trails are in development. Download the Action Argyll Community app or follow their socials for updates.

The Dunoon Project

• In March 2025, Nevis Range announced a partnership with The Dunoon Project to develop a full adventure resort at Dunoon. Plans include a gondola to the summit of Kilbride Hill, a base station with hotel, bike shop, bike hire and restaurants, and professionally designed downhill, enduro and XC trails extending well beyond the current network. Local councillors voiced approval in October 2024. Action Argyll is already building additional trails on the hill in advance of the wider project. No confirmed opening date has been announced; the project targets 2030.

Gravel Riding

• The wider Cowal area has over 160km of gravel riding. Highlights include the 167km Dunoon Gravel Century (red, 3,330m ascent), the 40km Dunoon XC Gravel (red, 1,240m ascent), and the 23.5km Corlarach Forest Loop (blue, 630m ascent). Routes are available via Action Argyll and the Cowal Mountain Bike Club.

Groups and Resources

• The Cowal Mountain Bike Club is the local riding group.
• Other trails in the wider area worth exploring include Glenbranter, Ardgarten and Glenmassan.

Getting Here

• By car: Action Argyll is on Kilbride Road, Dunoon, PA23 7QH. From Glasgow, follow the A82 along Loch Lomond, then the A83 over the Rest and Be Thankful, and the A815 south into Dunoon (approximately 1hr 30min). Parking is available at the Glen Morag car park on Kilbride Road.
• By ferry: Western Ferries run a frequent vehicle and passenger service from McInroy's Point, near Gourock, to Hunters Quay, Dunoon (approximately 20 minutes). Gourock is around 40 minutes from Glasgow Central by train. CalMac also runs a passenger-only ferry from Gourock to Dunoon Pier.
• Rail and sail: Train from Glasgow Central to Gourock, then CalMac ferry to Dunoon Pier. McGill's ClydeFlyer also runs a bus and ferry service from Glasgow.
• From Dunoon, the trails in Bishop's Glen are accessible on foot or by bike via Kilbride Road heading south-west from the town centre.

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