MOUNTAIN BIKE COACHING AND GUIDING FOR ALL AGES & ABILITIES

The West Highland Way  is Scotland’s most famous long-distance trail, stretching 154km (96 miles) from Fort William to Milngavie. For most hikers, it’s a week-long adventure, and for mountain bikers, it’s usually a two or three-day trip. Truth be told, I’ve already attempted the challenge twice - and failed both times - so completing the West Highland Way had been in the back of my mind for years. My first attempt was at age 15. I had no idea what I was doing, totally unprepared, and by 11 p.m. I was getting hauled into a Loch Lomond Rescue boat and handed a tinfoil blanket by one of their volunteers.  Attempt number two went a little better. Me, my dad and my brother, Marc, took on the challenge and managed to push through to the far end of Loch Lomond from Milngavie, but poor fuelling caught up with us and we called it a day.  Fast-forward to work one afternoon, when my colleague Aaron looked over and said: “Want to ride the West Highland Way next Saturday?” My response: “ Yeah, why not?” The Challenge WHW has become a popular ultra-distance ride over the past few years, usually done in one or two days, so under 24 hours felt like a proper challenge. Most people go south to north, but we decided to start in Fort William instead. There were a few good reasons for this: walkers can see you coming (less chance of annoying anyone), the trail rides better that way, and best of all, it meant we’d be more or less riding back home. The Prep ahead of the West Highland Way attempt Given the spontaneity of the challenge and with seven days to get ready, there wasn’t time for any structured training. I already ride quite a lot, around 8 to 15 hours a week, but I wouldn’t call myself endurance-ready. The two past failures had drilled one thing into me: fuelling matters more than you think. This time, I aimed to take in 80–100 grams of carbs every hour through a drink mix and some easy-to-eat food like jam sandwiches. For the bike, I went with my Orange Switch 6 Enduro. Not the lightest or fastest choice, but reliable on rough terrain and fun when things point downhill. It’s also my only mountain bike - so that made the decision for me. I stuffed my pack with food, tools, and spares, and we headed up to Fort William. Ready to ride at 4:30am in Fort William town centre Fort William to Glencoe We rolled out of Glen Nevis campsite at 4am and cruised into town to the official start line. It felt a bit strange when we set off to head the wrong way, but it was a decent warm-up before we got going. I was riding with three others, Aaron, Lewis, and Steve, all coming from road,  gravel and XC backgrounds. I’ll admit I was nervous I’d get dropped on the first real climb. At 4.36am, I pressed start on my Garmin, and we were off. The sun was coming up as we climbed through Glen Nevis Fort William to Kinlochleven Soon we’d left the village and started the first big climb through Glen Nevis. This was tough, but it was really a warm-up in the grand scheme of things. And I did get spat off the back. The sun rose near the top and unveiled the spectacular highland views. I caught up with the group on the flat, then from there it was some fun rolling singletrack through the valleys.  The trail descent into Kinlochleven was great fun, a very technical natural walker's path. Soon, we were through the gate and into the village for a short water stop. Fun descent and breathtaking views coming into Kinlochleven Kinlochleven to Kingshouse On the bikes again, straight into the biggest single climb on the route up Military Road to the Devil’s Staircase. Although it was a fireroad climb, it was savagely steep. I ended up pushing the last third, watching the rest of the group ride on with apparent ease.  Ominous sign as we started the ascent up the Devil's Staircase Next up was the Devil’s Staircase descent. I’d say this was the most fun part of the whole challenge. This is the highest point on the route at 550m, and we had approached half of the total elevation gain of the whole route at this point. The descent reminded me of the Glencoe Resort Black DH trail. It was the first point on the route where I felt right at home. From the foot of the Devil's Staircase, it was a relatively flat spin along the path to the Kingshouse Hotel for our next water stop. Quick plug: I coach riders at PEAK MTB – if you want to avoid my past mistakes and ride with more confidence, you can book a session here . Stunning view of Glencoe at the Devil's staircase summit Kingshouse to Bridge of Orchy This section felt undulating and largely uneventful. At this stage, I tried my best to remove the length of the ride from my head and just focus on pedalling and appreciating the scenery. There was a definite change to the landscape at this point. I could start to feel that I’d done a lot of riding, but I was surprised at how reasonably fresh I felt, and I was managing to keep up with the group. I’d been religiously sticking to my fueling strategy, and it seemed like it was paying off. It was a long, mellow fire road descent into Iveroran, where we stopped off for a well-earned bottle of Coke and cake out of the shop. Before Bridge of Orchy, there was a grim 361m climb over Mam Carraigh. Steve managed to clean this climb, which was really impressive. The rest of the group slogged up by foot. It was a fun descent from here, but this was probably the busiest point with walkers as it was approaching midday. There was plenty of time to practice some hike-a-bike on this route Bridge of Orchy to Tyndrum (Green Welly Stop) It started to be a bit of a theme - a steep climb followed every stop. The one out of Bridge of Orchy was hard, but it was fully paved, making it possible to ride the full section. Tiredness was setting in for the group, not only from riding, but from waking up at 3am. The land rover track undulates here, along to the railway section. It was a really cool feature, ducking down through a small tunnel, followed by a short hike-a-bike section. It was all downhill riding from there, and we were spat out at the Green Welly just in time for lunch. Just under halfway there Tyndrum to Beinglass We had an extended break at the Green Welly for around an hour. We initially planned to stop for 30 minutes, but the scale of the ride ahead fully set in, and by this point, we’d been riding for 8 hours. I didn’t feel like eating, but I also wanted to eat everything in sight. I got a pile of food from the shop: a plowman's sandwich, a ‘meat pie’ (no idea what was in it), a selection of flapjacks, and a few cans of energy juice. We set off again, and you could tell we just didn’t want to ride. It was a (very) rough hour after the Green Welly. We had an extended break at the top of the climb out of Tyndrum due to some tummy troubles (not just me), but we eventually continued to the north shore of Loch Lomond. The terrain here was largely uneventful, rolling hills and some nice singletrack.  We arrived at Beiglass campsite for a refuel break, more energy juice for me, and a pile of flapjacks. I stopped into the tuckshop and bought a slice of caramel shortcake that I saved for a future stop. Beinglass to Balmaha This is where everything unravelled. I knew that the Loch Lomond section was going to be hard, but it’s pretty much impossible to mentally prepare for. Not long after leaving the Beinglass campsite, we continued to ride but the overgrown ferns and brambles over the path made sure that we couldn’t hold speed, and made it unavoidable to get cut to bits along the way. An example of the unridable sections on Loch Lomond This is where we had our first casualty. Aaron had dropped back out of sight, then when we stopped to wait on him, he had his pedal in his hand and a stern look on his face. The pedal was sheared clean off the spindle. We agreed that the best plan for him was to head back to Beinglass and wait for a lift home. I was absolutely gutted for Aaron, but the rest of us continued. There’s not much to say about the rest of this section. It was head down, and get on with it. There was also some mild gymnastics involved while carrying a bike, which would be fun if we weren’t 10 hours in. Our next casualty came after leaving Inversnaid. On a short, unassuming descent, Lewis caught his pedal on a rock and got sent straight over the bars, 10ft down the hill. I later found out that he had actually broken some ribs, so the fact that he continued was insane. After nearly six hours of climbing over rocks, we reached Balmaha. It was dark by this point, and I felt pretty terrible. I had the Beiglass caramel shortcake that I’d been saving while walking up the final stretch here, and I'm pretty sure it singlehandedly kept the attempt going. Strapping on our lights as we arrive in Balmaha Balmaha to Milngavie We strapped on some lights and made a few tough calls here. The three of us decided to skip Conic Hill, and Lewis made the even tougher decision to call in at Drymen. That must’ve been hard, but the fact that he made it there was pretty mad. This is where we knew our attempt was done. We were missing Conic Hill, and we took the main road to Drymen to make sure Lewis got picked up safely.  Skipping this chunk meant that it wasn’t a valid attempt at the route, but I still wanted to make it to Milngavie. Things are a bit foggy for me from here. Steve and I cut back onto the route somewhere between Drymen and Dumgoyne. At this point, I was just a monkey turning pedals, following the rider in front. I got off to walk a short hill and looked down, and complete panic set in when I looked at the ground and thought the whole place was covered in spiders. Thankfully, my mind was playing tricks on me, and I quickly realised that it was just tufts of grass coming out of the path. We got to a gate and Steve said: “That was the last climb, it’s all downhill from here.” I was completely exhausted but so relieved. I could see the endpoint on my Garmin, and we rode far too quickly down the hill for the state I was in. We rode up the small path and made it to the official start/end point. It felt surreal to have made it there, and also a bit strange as it was 12:30 am, pitch black, and the town centre was completely dead. Tired but happy to have made it to Milngavie My brother, Marc, and my partner, Katie, who were the designated collection crew, arrived to pick up what was left of me. High fives were had, photos were taken, and then Steve left to catch his lift, riding off looking as fresh as he did at the start of the day. One word about Steve - the man is an absolute machine on a bike, and if he wasn’t there that day, I wouldn’t have made it to Milngavie. Cheers Steve. Conclusion Looking back, my favourite moment was still that early section out of Kinlochleven and the descent of the Devil’s Staircase - it was a perfect mix of beauty and adrenaline. But the whole journey was unforgettable: the excitement of starting as a group, the setbacks along the way, and the sheer stubbornness required to see it through. The aftermath of the Loch Lomond brambles (Rate my Crocs?) Would I recommend the WHW in a day? For most riders, two or three days is a much more enjoyable way to experience it. But as a one-off challenge, it was one of the toughest and most rewarding rides I’ve ever done. On reflection, I probably had no business giving the WHW a go in a day.  The days that followed had me pretty beaten up, but I was back riding a bike after four days. Despite the mental and physical challenge, it was an amazing experience, and I’d urge anyone to give it a go with some proper preparation and training. Let it be known, I’m definitely not classing this as a completed attempt - so it looks like I’ll be giving it another go in Spring 2026 if anyone would like to join? Finally, I’d like to dedicate this ride to Rab Wardell.  I thought about Rab a lot throughout this challenge; his insane accomplishments, achievements, but mostly for how many people he inspired to get out on push bikes. I was fortunate enough to work alongside Rab and see the impact he had on people, first-hand.  Rab’s fastest known time on the West Highland Way was 9 hours 14 minutes and 32 seconds - read that again. Legend.

Don’t let the dark months put your riding on pause. PEAK MTB Performance Sessions are short, focused skills workshops designed to keep your confidence and technique dialled in all winter long. What's Included? ✅ 2-hour, high-impact coaching sessions ✅ Focused drills to master MTB skills (handling technical terrain, refining race techniques & perfecting jumps) ✅ Small groups for maximum feedback   Who's It For? Experienced riders who want to refine and sharpen specific techniques Riders looking to build confidence on challenging terrain Those keen to stay motivated and improve fitness over winter   When & Where 📍 Location: Carron Valley 🕒 Session date: Saturday afternoons – 1pm-3pm 💷 Price: £65 per rider   Why Join? Most riders take a break over winter, but you can use the season to push your skills to the next level. These sessions are practical, structured, and are designed to ensure you hit spring stronger, sharper, and more confident than ever.   Sessions are available to book through our Facebook page - the latest session will be pinned at the top! There's only six slots available per session so remember to grab yours early.

Don’t let the dark months put your riding on pause. PEAK MTB Performance Sessions are short, focused skills workshops designed to keep your confidence and technique dialled in all winter long. What’s Included ✅ 2-hour, high-impact coaching sessions ✅ Focused drills on core MTB skills (body-position, core skills, cornering & line choice) ✅ Small groups for maximum feedback Who It’s For Beginners looking to build solid foundations in a supportive setting New riders who don’t want to lose their flow over winter When & Where 📍 Location: Carron Valley  🕒 Session dates: Saturday mornings – 10am-12pm 💷 Price: £65 per rider Why Join? Most riders hibernate through the winter. That means you can come into spring stronger, sharper, and more confident than ever before. These sessions are designed to be fun, practical and get you ride-ready for 2026. Sessions are available to book through our Facebook page - the latest session will be pinned at the top! There's only six slots available per session so remember to grab yours early.

Coach Scott racing at the 4X Pro Tour When people take up mountain biking, one of the first questions they ask is: How long will it take me to get good at this?   The answer isn’t simple - because “good” means something different to every rider. What we do know is that learning MTB is a journey, full of highs, lows, and breakthroughs. Psychologists describe something called the Dunning-Kruger effect : at the very beginning of learning a new skill, we often feel more confident than we should. You pick up the basics, start rolling down trails, and think: I’ve got this!  Then reality sets in. You discover how deep the sport really goes, and confidence can dip before it slowly builds back up with real experience. The Dunning-Kruger Effect Mountain biking follows this same curve. Let’s look at what a rider’s progression might look like: from those first wobbly rides to a decade of skills and adventures. 0-3 Months: Finding Your Feet The first few months are all about getting comfortable on the bike. New riders learn the basics of body position, braking, shifting gears, and handling uneven terrain. This is also when the Dunning-Kruger effect tends to appear: you get down a red trail without falling, and suddenly you feel like a pro. But challenges come quickly. The first rooty climb, loose descent, or switchback corner can be humbling. This stage is best tackled with patience and, ideally, some structured coaching to build strong foundations and avoid bad habits. 3-12 Months: Building Confidence With regular riding, most people see big improvements within the first year. You’ll start flowing more naturally down red trails, picking smoother lines, and maybe attempting small drops or technical features. Confidence grows, but so does awareness of your limits. This is often when riders realise just how much there is to learn. From cornering speed to pumping terrain for flow. Progress feels exciting, but you’ll also notice more experienced riders doing things that seem out of reach. The key here is consistency: the more you ride, the more everything starts to click. 1-3 Years: Developing Real Skills By now, mountain biking is part of your lifestyle. You’ve likely invested in better kit, explored more trail centres, and developed personal goals: maybe riding black trails, tackling bigger jumps, or preparing for your first race. Technical skills like manuals, bunny hops, or tackling steep rock gardens may come into focus. Mistakes are still made, but you’ve developed resilience and the ability to learn from them. This is where coaching can make a dramatic difference, helping refine your technique and unlocking the next level of riding. 3-10 Years: Mastery in Progress After several years, most riders develop a personal style. Some focus on endurance and adventure rides, others on jumps and technical trails, and some on racing. Your handling feels instinctive, and you have the experience to adapt quickly to new trails and conditions. It’s worth noting that mountain biking never stops being a learning journey. Even riders with a decade of experience still find trails or features that challenge them. What changes is your ability to approach these challenges with skill, confidence, and problem-solving ability. 10+ Years: A Lifelong Rider A decade into the sport, mountain biking is usually more than a hobby — it’s part of your identity. Riders at this stage often mentor newcomers, pass on knowledge, or explore ever more adventurous terrain. The technical and physical skills are deeply ingrained, but the motivation now is about challenge, community, and joy. Many riders also return to fundamentals, realising that even after years of progression, there’s still value in refining core techniques. The journey comes full circle: from the early rush of “I’ve got this!” to the humble understanding that learning never really ends. So, how long does it take to learn mountain biking? The honest answer: you’ll feel the buzz of progress almost immediately, but mastery takes years — and even then, there’s always more to learn. Mountain biking isn’t about “finishing” your progression. It’s about enjoying the ride, celebrating small wins, and embracing the lifelong journey. At PEAK MTB Coaching & Guiding , we help riders at every stage — from their first green trail to tackling technical descents or exploring Scotland’s wild Highlands. Whether you’re just starting out or chasing long-term goals, coaching can help you progress faster, safer, and with more confidence. Because the real question isn’t “how long does it take to learn?”  It’s “how far do you want to go?”

Lennox Forest MTB trails, Glasgow If you’ve ever wondered, “Do I really need MTB lessons?” the short answer is - absolutely! As a leading MTB coach in Glasgow, we’ve helped hundreds of riders develop the skills they need to ride safer, faster, and with far more enjoyment. BOOST CONFIDENCE ON TECHNICAL TERRAIN One of the top reasons riders seek MTB lessons is to build confidence. Scotland’s trails, especially around Glasgow, Glentress, and the Highlands, are known for their challenging features: roots, rocks, steep descents, and tight switchbacks. MTB coaching helps you approach these features with the right body position, braking technique, and mindset so you feel in control rather than just surviving the ride. Full gas at Innerleithen SDA CORRECT BAD HABITS EARLY Even experienced riders can carry less-than-ideal habits that limit their progression, or worse, lead to nasty crashes. A professional mountain bike coach can spot these quickly and give you the tools to ride more efficiently and safely. From body position to cornering, we break it down in a way that’s easy to apply and practice. LEVEL UP FASTER WITH STRUCTURED MTB COACHING YouTube tutorials can only take you so far. Mountain bike lessons offer real-time feedback tailored to your skill level. Whether you’re learning how to manual, tackling your first drops, or training for MTB enduro or MTB downhill races, we deliver structured coaching sessions that help you progress faster. Group coaching day at Cathkin Braes MTB Trails REDUCE RISK AND RIDE SAFER MTB is an incredible sport, but like all action sports, it comes with risks. Learning proper technique through MTB skills coaching greatly reduces your chances of injury. You’ll ride smarter and with more awareness, especially on technical trails or when descending at speed. GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BIKE AND THE TRAILS Investing in a high-end mountain bike? You owe it to yourself to learn how to ride it properly. MTB coaching helps you understand how to get the most out of your suspension, geometry, and brakes. You'll also learn to choose better lines, ride more fluidly, and enjoy trails to their fullest. Coach Scott styling jumps at Cathkin Braes, Glasgow. WHY CHOOSE PEAK MTB We offer 1-to-1 MTB coaching, group sessions, youth MTB skills sessions, and guided MTB rides across Scotland. Based in Glasgow, our lessons cover everything from MTB downhill technique to trail flow, jumps, and drops. We run sessions in iconic locations like Aberfoyle, Cathkin Braes, Carron Valley, Glentress, and the Highlands. Perfect for real-world skill development. Our MTB coaching is tailored to all levels, focusing on progression, safety, and fun. Whether you're just starting or chasing podiums in MTB enduro or downhill, we’re here to help you ride better and enjoy the process. BOOK YOUR MTB LESSON TODAY Still unsure if MTB lessons are for you? Try a session—we guarantee you'll see a difference in your riding from day one. Get in touch with Coach Scott from PEAK MTB in Glasgow and start your skills journey today.

Coach Scott during a group session at Cathkin Braes We might be a little biased here at PEAK MTB Coaching & Guiding. After all, coaching and guiding is what we do every day. But it’s a fair question that many riders ask: Is it really worth booking MTB coaching, or should I just keep practicing on my own? The truth is, while you can make progress riding solo, the value of structured coaching goes far beyond a few quick tips. It can transform not just your skills, but your confidence, safety, and fun on the trails. Progress comes faster with expert eyes When you ride on your own or with friends, it’s easy to hit a plateau. You repeat the same habits and don’t always know what’s holding you back. A coach brings expert eyes to your riding. Small adjustments to body position, braking technique, or line choice can make a massive difference - often in just a single session. At PEAK MTB, we tailor each session to you. That means you won’t waste time on skills you’ve already mastered. Instead, we focus on the key areas that will unlock your next level of progression. Building confidence and control Many riders come to us saying the same thing: they want to feel more confident. Coaching isn’t just about learning how to do drops or ride technical climbs - it’s about building the solid foundations that make every trail feel smoother, safer, and more enjoyable. Confidence grows when you know you have the right skills to handle whatever the trail throws at you. That translates into more fun, fewer crashes, and the freedom to explore new terrain without second-guessing yourself. Safety matters Mountain biking is an amazing sport, but it's a high-risk one nonetheless. Coaching helps reduce those risks by teaching you correct technique, bike handling, and trail awareness. Knowing how to brake effectively, position yourself on steep descents and technical sections, or approach a jump properly can make all the difference between a smooth ride and a trip to A&E. A safe rider is a happy rider , and we believe building those habits early makes the sport more rewarding in the long run. Some great views at Carron Valley Unlocking more of Scotland’s trails Here in Scotland, we’re spoiled with some of the best mountain biking in the world. From trail centres like Glentress and Laggan to the rugged beauty of the Highlands. Coaching opens up access to all of those trails. Once you’ve gained the skills to tackle technical features and longer rides, a whole new world of adventure becomes available. Instead of sticking to the same familiar routes, you’ll be ready to explore further and ride trails you once thought were out of reach. The value of a guided MTB ride Coaching and guiding often go hand in hand. For visitors, a guided ride is about more than skills. It’s about experiencing Scotland’s world-class riding without the stress of planning routes or worrying about getting lost. Guiding makes mountain biking accessible, stress-free, and memorable, while still giving you the chance to learn along the way. So, is MTB coaching worth it? In our (slightly biased!) opinion - absolutely! Coaching accelerates your progression, builds lasting confidence, makes you safer on the trails, and unlocks new riding adventures. Whether you’re brand new to the sport or an experienced rider chasing specific goals, structured coaching is one of the best investments you can make in your riding . If you’d like to see for yourself, why not try one of our 2-hour Private Coaching Sessions ? Or for those looking for adventure, our guided rides  showcase the very best of Scotland’s trails.

The views aren't too bad at Carron Valley Nestled 30 miles north of Glasgow, Carron Valley MTB trails  now offer purpose-built flow and challenge for riders of all levels. From blue‐graded warm-up trails to the newly revamped Eas Dubh descent , it’s perfect for an evening spin, but also the ideal venue for MTB coaching  and skills development . A Trail Map of Carron Valley Brand New Trails: Eas Dubh & Runway Join Coach Scott for a full run down both trails! The recently revamped Eas Dubh (which means 'Black Waterfall' in Gaelic) has been transformed for riders chasing speed and airtime. With steep rock rolls leading into generous launch jumps and high-angle berms, this trail demands precision, but rewards commitment with serious flow. PEAK MTB coach Scott, who managed to pick up the Strava KOM on Eas Dubh (for now!), can attest that mastering these new features is key to shaving seconds off your lap time. Over on Runway , the focus is on smooth, high-speed fun. This orange-graded trail features wide straightaways that let you build momentum before hitting large doubles, on and off jumps, and sculpted berms designed for riding at pace. Runway is the perfect playground for our group clinics, where we focus on bermed cornering technique and jump skills to help you carry more speed through every feature. Ride it right, and you’ll feel the thrill, and you’ll be ready to put those skills to work on any trail you tackle next. What bike should I bring to Carron Valley MTB Trails? I used to frequently joke that the best bike to take to Carron Valley was my gravel bike. This is no longer the case! As long as you leave your drop bar bike at home, you'll be fine. I would say the ideal bike would be a short-travel trail bike or even a hardtail. On my latest visit, I took my Orange Switch 6 , which was fine, but I did feel overbiked at some points. How PEAK MTB Coaching Helps You Snag a KOM At PEAK MTB Coaching in Glasgow, we blend technical sessions and on-trail feedback, whether you are looking to boost your Strava KOM  potential or top the leaderboard at your next enduro race : Body Position and Bike Control Line Choice and reading the trail Pacing, power, and recovery Video analysis and feedback If you want to reach peak riding performance with a PEAK MTB skills session at Carron Valley, click our 'book now' button below!