New £3.4m mountain bike centre on cards for Fort Augustus

A proposed new £3.4 million mountain bike trail centre and outdoor hub close to Loch Ness is seeking planning consent from Highland Council.

The plans for the new facility at Fort Augustus could be opened in 2026, according to those behind the development.

It would consist of 24km of graded bike trails, 7km of mixed-use paths suitable for walkers, a skills park, play areas and a visitor centre, along with car parking.

Ride Ness aims to offer year-round tourism opportunities, with shepherd hut-type accommodation as well as 40 overnight pitches for motorhomes and campervans.

The application for around 700 acres of land on the Glendoe Estate says it will encourage slow tourism in the area and establish a new outdoor destination in the heart of the Highlands.

Ride Ness is the brainchild of Andrew Vernon and Neil Campbell. Andrew’s family have owned Glendoe Estate since the 1950s and Neil is a lifelong mountain biker and trail builder from Beauly.

Mr Vernon said: “Ride Ness has been carefully designed to complement Fort Augustus and the surrounding area. At the heart of our proposal is a world-class mountain bike trail centre, however our vision is to create a place for everyone to enjoy.

“We intend to create something truly special in the nature and diversity of our bike trails. Neil is designing our trails to suit all abilities and tastes in a progressive nature so that riders can easily progress their skills safely, whilst experts will find all of the challenge and excitement they could wish for.

“We have carefully developed a mixed-use masterplan that includes a high-quality food offer with the very best onsite facilities to allow visitors to take full advantage of Ride Ness and its stunning surrounds.

“We envision Ride Ness supporting the local area, driving tourism and boosting the local economy. An important element of our vision is to create a destination that attracts visitors regardless of the season. This will allow us to provide secure, year-round jobs while promoting the businesses and attractions of the local area to our guests. Having secured widespread support, and carefully considered the views expressed to us, we are hopeful of a positive planning decision.”

Within walking or cycling distance of Fort Augustus and located by the shores of Loch Ness, the development has so far involved years of planning, consultation and development and has been “painstakingly designed to make the most of its unrivalled surroundings”.

Set across 700 acres and with a vertical drop of over 1100 feet, Ride Ness will include 26 kilometres of trails graded blue to black, as well as a downhill racetrack. Descents of two to five kilometres starting from a single trailhead will be easily accessed by a dedicated year-round uplift service.

At the heart of the park will be a dedicated coaching zone and skills area, including a jump line, for riders to hone their skills. A bike shop will be located on-site, allowing visitors to hire and demo equipment.

The project team say they have considered how Ride Ness can be an outdoor haven. As custodians of this iconic landscape for three generations, thought has been given to the sustainability of each element of the development, they stated. The development will complement an existing woodland creation scheme designed to enhance biodiversity, creating new habitats for wildlife while adding diversity to the trails.

Landscaped picnic areas and a café showcasing fresh local produce have been incorporated into designs, an adventure playground and mini off-road driving experience will also be on offer for children.

Marked walks will allow visitors to take in the scenery, while wild swimmers and paddleboarders can use Ride Ness as a hub to discover the wider area.

More details of the application can be found on Highland Council’s e-planning portal, under reference number 24/01092/FUL.

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