Highland Wildcat Trail, Golspie
Highland Wildcat Trail at Golspie reviewed by Singletrackworld member Jason Curle…
The Highland Wildcat trial at Golspie is a long, long way away from me, but I would quite happily do the 20hr round trip again to ride it again. The layout nicely mixes Blue, Red and Black runs that flow almost imperceptibly into each other. Located on the hillside next to the small town of Golspie in Sutherland, about 50 miles north of Inverness, there are only a few (very lucky) people that could call this their local trail. There is no lavishly furnished visitors centre to sit around and discuss how ‘gnarly’ the trail was, or how you railed the berms down the hill. Golspie has a cafe that sells large slices of cake, and a chip shop among other things. Anyways, there is plenty of time on the drive home for most to discuss the trail.
Details:
Standing in the car park in Golspie, you only need to look up to the statue of some posh bloke to see that there is only one way to go at the start of the trail, that is up. You start this trail at sea level, so don’t get any ideas of an easy start. For a long climb, this is pretty good. You start on the Red graded single track, that gently meanders up the hill giving some amazing views along the way. It’s fairly standard stuff. It’s when you hit the black that the Highland Wild Cat starts to bite. I’m not usually a big fan of the climbs. I tend to ride big bikes, and I’m not exactly the build of an XC whippet – the last thing I need is a long, uninteresting climb to be continuously overtaken by someone in tight lycra on a 20lb carbon bike. However, I do enjoy having to think about what I’m riding. Lactic ladder is such a section, and unusually it forms part of the black ascent. Several short switch-backed sections, stepped with rocks and leg achingly steep. Further towards the top you are reminded that you are in the north as you turn a corner and get hit by the wind. Make sure you are prepared for this, you are over 300m higher than when you started, and the winds come straight off the North Sea.
As you reach the top you are again met by the monument (looks a lot bigger close up so I’ve upgraded its description from “statue”). You’ll sit around for a moment then you see what is ahead waiting for you. A large berm points you off in the direction of the, well you could call it the final decent. But we’ve only just got to the top? I’m used to riding Welsh trail centers, with there broken sections of singletrack. The decent at Golspie flows all the way back down, over 7km of flowing decent. Starting at the top of the back run you will hit drops, doubles, slabs and some very flowing sections. The black turns to red where things calm down slightly (similar level to spooky wood at Glentress) but the flow is maintained through to the end.
Unless you are local, this is not a trail for begineers – it is just too far to drive, for what would probably in sections be a bit too much. But for more experianced riders it is as good as it gets. It is the only trail I’ve ever got to the bottom of and after a breif cake stop headed backout for a repeat loop.
Getting there:
Head to Inverness, and keep following the A9 North. You will eventually hit Golspie. The trails are on the right hand side just as you come into the town.
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Posted on: August 4, 2009
Actually, the trails are on the left as you come into town!
Short travel is the order of the day,as there is no uplift,and after watching my mate sweat it out on a big travel Giant(pushing mostly!)I would even go hardtail,especially on the bottom section.Golspie is rideable by anyone basically, for the most part,and the “dodgy” bits can be bypassed easily.Don’t underestimate it though,the flow is enough to convince you that you are a superstar,at least until it goes Petetong on one of the red tabletops(but hey what doesn’t kill ya, makes ya tuffer!).Enjoy,and while you are at it go ride Balblair near Ardgay,one really does compliment the other.
Do it twice – it’s great!
My favourite trail centre to date, the climb is enjoyable and the downhill is immense However the speed which you pick up due to the flowy nature can mean you don’t realise whats ahead until you’re on it. On my first go some of the rocky chutes caught me out.
Definitely my favourite trail in the uk. Took our bikes along there after a stupid cape wrath-sandwood bay ride. Absoloutely love this trail but the ride up is alot longer than you think as the statue/monument at the top is deceptively big
Best trail in the UK. Along with Laggan, the only man-made trails where you can justify a 6″ bike. The bit with the rollers that somehow manage to spit you uphill was designed by a some kind of digging genius.
Absolutley brilliant. We did Balblair for a couple of hours and then had a fantastic lunch in the Golspie Inn Hotel and then headed up to pay the Duke of Sutherland a visit.
Lactic ladder is a challenge but entirely doable. The journey down from the top is brilliant. 5″ travel bike is more than adequate. We did it once on Saturday and a further twice on Sunday. Stayed in the Golspie Inn Hotel where the food was fantastic, the beer was flowing and the rooms were comfortable. Recommend this place. Get yourselves up there.
All these comments are total rubbish………… There is no words to describe this trail. I live in Calderdale West Yorkshire ( 12 hr drive away ) and would not think twice about driving up there today to do 1 lap. total jaw dropping trail and experiance, there isnt one day gone by were i havnt thought about wishing i was there right now, just so glad its so far away from anywere otherwise it would be full of wanna bees on Specialised and silly restraunt waiter service cafes in the carpark, the trail its self is immaculate from top to bottom, it has the longest technical uphill, also has the longest downhill in the UK, you basicly get to the top ( all uphill ) then you can remove your chain because its all downhill back to the carpark.
I have never grined so much after doing a trail as i did when i got to the bottom.
Golspie, Golspie, Golspie! – Frankly its all been said before.Triffic,awesome,fan funky tastic, what they don’t say is that tunnel vision is your friend to go faster.The only sound you will hear is silence as you get more air – everywhere.Golspie will turn even the most hardened ground hugger into an air junkie,just don’t get carried away,you will be back,Golspie always demands a re-run
I must be one of the lucky ones
This trail is 30 mins from my house. Myself and my biking bud do this at least twice a month over the summer.
Alternating between this and Balblair gives us a taste of all levels of trail riding. Excellent stuff
Truly fantastic trail. My wife and I got to the top of the climb and I honestly felt like I had a really enjoyable ride and could have called it a day. I don’t usually enjoy climbs but that one is great then you have 7k of pure quality decent. Both of us couldn’t stop smiling and talking about it so immediately went for a second loop. Would have done a third if my forks weren’t leaking fluid after a particularly heavy rocky crash.
Anyone that hasn’t been here should go, its worth the drive from wherever you are!