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 | Pitfichie Forest (Whitehills Cycle Trails) |  |
Pitfichie Forest mountain bike trails, or as they are sometimes known - Whitehills Cycle Trails, covering the flanks of Pitfichie Hill and the adjacent Cairn William are another Forestry Commission success.
Lots of imagination, hard work, and sweat have gone in to make the Pitfichie mtb trails some of the best in mountain bike trails in Aberdeenshire, especially the red routes.
There are two way marked cross country trails, a suicidal downhill course and a host of unofficial trails and routes to explore. Testament to the challenge of the downhill course, if any were needed, is its frequent inclusion in the Scottish Downhill Association's championship series - only one of the half dozen or so that they use.
The way marked trails offer two grades of riding, both challenging but one that wee bit harder than the other.
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| Routes | |
The car park at Whitehills is the best start point for the cross country routes. A notice board provides a last minute reminder of the routes before you head up Tillyfourie Hill on a fire break road. As the hill flattens out the road forks right. Take this and continue to you meet the blue route at a Tee junction.
  The Forestry Commission provide a handy map of the Pitfichie trails - print one off here.
Alternatively, consider buying one of the new active OS maps, recommended if you want to get off the way marked trails and explore a bit more of the surrounding forests.
White Route 
The white route is the longer (roughly 9 miles) but easier of the two waymarked routes. It leads the cyclist around the lower edges of the forest and around Cairn William and Pitfichie Hill, mainly on fire break type roads. There are some sections which tend to be muddy in wet weather. You are rewarded with great views of the Vale of Alford, Bennachie and the valley towards Monymusk.
Red Routes 
These trails (3 in total) lead off the white cycle route - look out for the Red chevron way markers. Pitfichie red routes tend to be singletrack, and are more demanding than the white route; testing both your fitness and your bike handling skills as they take you onto the hill tops of Cairn William and Pitfichie. From these hills you'll have excellent views of the surrounding countryside. The new red cross country trail takes you off the fire break roads on to mainly smooth fast trail with a few fairly tight bermed switchbacks, a steeper section over some large granite blocks with a few small drops.
Downhill
The recently improved course is worth the hard climb to the top. The first section is fast, following an old 4WD track over several sections of granite slab and purpose built jumps. It then plunges into the forest via an awesome step down, continuing through a selection of roots, rocks and berms before reaching the new bottom section. This is smoother than the top, boasting several small man made drops before another massive step down brings you to the finish some two hundred meters in elevation below the start.
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| Getting to the Pitfichie X-Country Trails | |
 
Pitfichie Forest (grid reference NJ655132) see OS Map 37 Strathdon and Alford is situated on the B993 between Monymusk and Alford about 20 miles west of Aberdeen. A couple of miles out of Monymusk there is a right turn sign posted Whitehills Cycle Trails. Follow this road for about half a mile to the Whitehills car park. Don't expect any facilities at the car park, because there are none.
To get to Monymusk from Aberdeen, follow signs for Aberdeen Airport (Dyce) and Inverness. This will lead you on to the A96. Continue on the A96 for about 8 miles to the Broomhills roundabout. Turn right here - signposted for Kintore and Kemnay - go straight over the next small roundabout and then take the first left onto the B994 to Kemnay. Just keep going, straight through Kemnay on the B993 to Monymusk.
To get to Monymusk from the north, get on to the A96 and head for Aberdeen. After passing Inverurie and Kintore, look out for the Broomhills roundabout. Turn left here - signposted for Kintore and Kemnay - go straight over the next small roundabout and then take the first left onto the B994 to Kemnay. Just keep going, straight through Kemnay on the B993 to Monymusk.
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| Getting to the Pitfichie Downhill Course | |
Pitfichie downhill is at the opposite end of the forest from the Whitehills carpark.
Turn off the B993 into Monymusk and continue through the village to the crossroads about half a mile out. Go straight through the cross roads, continue past the castle to find the car park on your left.
To get to Monymusk from Aberdeen, follow signs for Aberdeen Airport (Dyce) and Inverness. This will lead you on to the A96. Continue on the A96 for about 8 miles to the Broomhills roundabout. Turn right here - signposted for Kintore and Kemnay - go straight over the next small roundabout and then take the first left onto the B994 to Kemnay. Just keep going, straight through Kemnay on the B993 to Monymusk.
To get to Monymusk from the north, get on to the A96 and head for Aberdeen. After passing Inverurie and Kintore, look out for the Broomhills roundabout. Turn left here - signposted for Kintore and Kemnay - go straight over the next small roundabout and then take the first left onto the B994 to Kemnay. Just keep going, straight through Kemnay on the B993 to Monymusk.
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| Facilities | |
Parking - Free, choice of two. See above.
Toilets - None
Showers - None
Bike Wash - No
Cafe - No. Nearby Monymusk has a shop and a hotel which serves good food.
Bike Hire - No
Mobile reception - reasonable. Good in Monymusk.
Repairs - The nearest cycle repair shops are in Inverurie, where you have a choice of two - Pedal Power, or the Bike Station.
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| Nearby Trails | |
Other trails to explore in the area include:
Durris Wood between Stonehaven and Banchory
Kirkhill Forest between Aberdeen and Blackburn
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