Pitfichie Mountain Bike Trails

Pitfichie Mountain Bike Trails

Pitfichie Mountain Bike Trails can be found on the B993 near Monymusk in Aberdeenshire, where Forestry and Land Scotland's graded red route meets a set of natural and downhill trails adopted by the Aberdeenshire Trail Association. Seven named trails cover the hill, from technical natural singletrack and a bench-cut red enduro line to a black-graded gravity run, plus an 11 mile waymarked gravel loop around Cairn William and Pitfichie Hill for a longer ride from the same car park.

Macchiato

A local favourite at Pitfichie, Macchiato is a technical natural line through mixed woodland with root webs, rock steps and exposed granite. No formal grade is published for it, so treat it as a demanding, unwaymarked natural trail rather than a standard graded run.

White Lady

White Lady is a flowing natural line with a rolling gradient and open woodland views, popular for evening laps. It is graded red, though the climb to reach it is noticeably harder than the flowing descent down.

Devil's Staircase

One of the few purpose built trails in the region and the site of the Aberdeenshire Trail Association's very first dig, Devil's Staircase is a steeper, technical natural descent with tight switchbacks and small drops. It is graded red, with an enduro-style character that rides harder than the grade suggests.

Phoenix Downhill

Phoenix Downhill is Pitfichie's black-graded gravity run, rebuilt with a new lower section after storm damage. Expect berms, drops and chunky rock gardens on a fast, technical and flowy descent. It starts from its own car park at the opposite end of the forest, not the main Whitehills car park, so check Getting Here before you set off. This is for experienced downhill riders on a full-suspension bike with full protective gear.

Tomb Steen

Tomb Steen is a hand-dug, bench-cut red singletrack with chunky rock, flowy berms and granite slab, built by the Aberdeenshire Trail Association as a natural progression before Phoenix Downhill. Trail maintenance across Pitfichie, including chainsaw clearance, is carried out with ongoing support from NEAT.

Badger's Box

Badger's Box is a black-graded natural woodland singletrack, described by the Aberdeenshire Trail Association as a real enduro trail: a technical rock garden leads into a run of drops, roots and a punchy climb. It also works as a linking or alternative line between the other Pitfichie trails.

Granite Top Trail (Red)

Forestry and Land Scotland's graded route at Pitfichie, the Granite Top Trail is a red loop across open hilltops with exposed granite, rock steps and fast sections, taking in wide views over the Vale of Alford and Bennachie.

Gravel Riding

Pitfichie also has the Cairn William Trail, an 11 mile waymarked white route on wide firebreak roads and gravel tracks around the lower slopes of Cairn William and Pitfichie Hill. It starts and finishes at the Whitehills car park, taking in long climbs and descents, a few grassy sections that can get muddy in wet weather, and some exposed tree roots. It is not signed with distance markers throughout, so download a route or use GPS navigation before you set off.

Getting Here

The main car park for Pitfichie's cross country and Forestry and Land Scotland graded trails is Whitehills Car Park, off the B993 between Monymusk and Alford, AB51 7SQ. Phoenix Downhill has its own separate car park at the opposite end of the forest: drive through Monymusk village, continue straight through the crossroads about half a mile beyond it, and the car park is on the left past Pitfichie Castle. Both car parks are free to use.

Trails at Pitfichie are managed jointly by Forestry and Land Scotland and the Aberdeenshire Trail Association and are subject to periodic closures and diversions for forestry operations. Always check the Forestry and Land Scotland Pitfichie page for current alerts before travelling.

Facilities

• Car parking at both Whitehills and the Phoenix Downhill car park, free of charge
• No visitor centre on site
• No cafe or bike shop at either trailhead
• Open hill terrain, exposed to weather

Local Organisation

The trails at Pitfichie are adopted and maintained by the Aberdeenshire Trail Association, a volunteer group that has been developing and inspecting the network since 2018 and runs regular dig days on new trail work at Pitfichie. Pitfichie is a regular venue on Scotland's enduro racing calendar. Follow the association on Facebook and Instagram, or email aberdeenshiretrailassociation@gmail.com.

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