FireTower Trail

Please note that due to recent storm damage the north shore section of the Firetower trail above the car park is currently closed.  All other parts of the Firetower trail are open.  Sorry for the inconvenience (as at February 2012).

A compact, red and black-graded trail that has it all! Flowing singletrack, drop-off slabs, downhill rushes through berms and some optional technical sections to try out your skills. It wouldn't be the same without a few desperate climbs, so they're in as well.

All in a really wild setting with stunning views out towards Jura and Scarba.

Download the Firetower Trail map (PDF 4Mb).

Twisted Fire Starter and the Quarry Drop

From the Achnabreac car park there's a gentle climb along the forest road. After the road turns downhill for a short stretch, settle into the steady climb up to the summit and the Twisted Fire Starter.

Foresters kept a canny eye out for fires from the fire watcher's tower that once stood on the summit. Given the view, it can’t have been an unpopular job - so take a few minutes to feast your eyes here.

The Twisted Fire Starter is for those with a developed (or developing!) sense of balance - a black-graded, short, technical circuit round the summit. The less expert can bypass this and head straight for the swooping, bermed descent to the steep, stone-pitched Quarry Drop. The drop is avoidable on the left, if you prefer to miss it.

After the Quarry Drop, turn right, back onto the forest road. A mixture of gentle climbs and descents culminates in a steep, red-graded singletrack section leading down to the start of Murder Hill.

Murder Hill, Tree Town, the jumps and the Water Splash

Murder Hill is the steepest climb of the trail, but you’re guaranteed to appreciate the views once you top out!

From here, a short descent and just as short a climb leads to the now felled Tree Town, where a new section of trail swoops through the stumps, before the exhilarating descent through a series of jumps, where the brave can get some good air.

Turn left at the bottom of the descent after the jumps onto a short section of forest road and you’ll soon be sweeping your way down to the Water Splash. Ride or wade – it all depends on how much rain there’s been...

The Swamp Monster and North Shore

After the Water Splash, turn left onto the forest road again. The Swamp Monster is the next section of singletrack, where big swinging, bermed corners quickly drop you down to the raised woodwork of the North Shore section.

This is quite a civilised example of North Shore, with enough space to get a toe down on the track if needed, but if you don’t fancy it, there’s an easy option on solid ground to the right. This is the finale of the trail, and a few more minutes of forest road takes you back to the car park at Achnabreac.