Nevis Range

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

To help prepare you for your visit to Nevis Range, we’ve pulled together some useful event information in our Fort William and Nevis Range Spectator Guide.

Just remember, this is the Mountain Bike Downhill World Championships, so for those that have been to previous World Cup events, you will see some differences.

We hope you enjoy!

Hosting the Mountain Bike Downhill, Nevis Range can be found 9km north east of Fort William on the west coast of Scotland. It is approximately 100km from Inverness, 230km from Edinburgh and 170km from Glasgow.

Fort William is served by Citylink bus services from Glasgow and Inverness and ScotRail run Highland Explorer bike carriage services from Glasgow to Fort William. There is very limited capacity for bicycles on trains.

Please check with your operator before travelling if you want to take your bike on the train or leave your bike at your origin station. If you’re travelling by car, why not car share? It’s better for the planet and your wallet.

Locally, the Shiel Buses N41 service between Roy Bridge-Fort William-Glen Nevis stops at Nevis Range. Monday-Friday timetable. Weekend timetable.

Read on to find out more about the shuttle bus and Park & Ride options from Blar Mhor, Fort William and Glen Spean Brewery, Spean Bridge that are available for this event.

• Road traffic and travel updates are available on the Traffic Scotland Website.
• Public Transport updates are available on the Traveline Scotland website and on the Traveline Scotland app.
• You can also phone the Traffic Customer Care Line on 0800 028 1414 for both road travel and public transport information.

Been to Nevis Range before?

There is no public parking at Nevis Range (with the exception of pre-booked Blue Badge parking), the Rural Complex or the Nevis Range access road, as there has been for previous World Cup events. Please use Park & Ride facilities.

Illegally-parked vehicles will be removed.

It’s likely your route to Nevis Range will be busy as August is peak tourist season. Whatever day you are visiting, plan your journey in advance, allow plenty of time to travel, make use of the Park & Ride sites and please be patient and follow advice provided by event staff.

• Rail
• Shuttle bus to venue
• Bus
• Cycle and walk
• Park & Ride
• Blue Badge parking

Cycling is a great way to get to the venue. Our travel map shows the cycling route from Fort William to the venue which is approximately 6km. The route is a shared-use, off-road path alongside the A82 and fully signposted. The route then follows a quiet tarmac road from Torlundy before joining a forest road close to the venue. For the final 100m, please dismount before the bike park and West Entrance.

This route is also suitable for those walking to the venue from Fort William. Free cycle parking is available in the Bike Park to the west of the venue. This will be controlled by event staff and will operate a bike and rider identification system but please bring a suitable bike lock. Cycle parking facilities are open from 08:30 until after the final ceremonies.

Accessibility: Please note if you’re planning to use an adaptive bike, the last section of the cycle track is not suitable for all adaptive bikes. Please do not walk along the A82 to access the venue from Fort William or Park & Ride sites. This is a busy road and not suitable for walking.

Driving

The A82, roads within Fort William and the surrounding area will be busy so please allow plenty of time for your journey. Where possible, please car share - it’s better for the planet and your wallet.

Parking

We have three Park & Ride shuttle bus services in operation to help get you to Nevis Range. These shuttle bus services are free to use, but please be mindful if you are planning to park in Fort William town centre, that parking charges may apply. Please allow plenty of time for your journey as there may be heavy traffic.

Operating times

Buses start from 08:00 in the morning and run approximately every 20 minutes depending on traffic in the area. Buses will stop approximately one hour after competition/final medal ceremonies finish.

Park & Ride sites are shown on the travel map (see Spectator Guide page 9):

• If travelling from the south, use the Park & Ride facilities at Blar Mhor (green) (what3words///disposal.suiting.unimpeded). Capacity: 1300. Shuttle buses will run from Thursday 3 August to Saturday 5 August.
• If travelling from the south, you can also use the Park & Ride facilities at West End car park, Fort William (red) (what3words///validated.throat.wells). Capacity: 270. Please note this and other car parks in Fort William remain open to the general public and are Pay and Display. Shuttle buses will run from Wednesday 2 August to Saturday 5 August.
• If travelling from the north or east, use the Park & Ride facilities at Glen Spean Brewery (yellow) (what3words///nudge.rust.highways). Capacity: 600. Shuttle buses will run from Thursday 3 August to Saturday 5 August.

Please allow plenty of time for your journey as there may be heavy traffic.

Accessibility 

Please be aware the Park & Ride shuttle buses have limited easy access facilities and it cannot be guaranteed that all buses will be fully accessible (i.e space for a wheelchair user.) If planning to make use of this travel option, please get in touch with us at accessibility@cyclingworldchamps.com so we can talk through your options. Please note there are limited toilet facilities at Park & Ride sites and there is no overnight parking permitted.

We have some dedicated Blue Badge parking at Nevis Range. There is no cost to park, but you do need to book in advance as spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. To book your parking pass, please contact accessibility@cyclingworldchamps.com.

Please be aware that we have Blue Badge parking in two places at Nevis Range and you will be directed where to park when you arrive.

The parking near the Main Spectator Entrance will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. When this is full you will be directed to park in the Rural Complex, which is serviced by a regular accessible shuttle to the Event Village.

Once your booking has been confirmed, you will either be asked to print your vehicle pass at home, which will be sent to you via email or a physical permit will be posted out to you. There will be checks in place to ensure these are not duplicated.

If staying overnight in Fort William, please leave your vehicle at your accommodation and make use of the free shuttle bus that picks up at most stops through the town, or cycle to the venue.

Please be aware that there is no provision for camper vans in the area surrounding the venue.

Please book a pitch on one of the many commercial campgrounds in the area and make use of the shuttle buses from the Park & Ride sites. Do not park on access roads, laybys or verges surrounding the venue. Illegally-parked vehicles will be removed.

Please read the Scottish Outdoor Access Code’s Guide to Responsible Camping in Scotland if you are planning to camp.

Here’s our top travel tips to get you to Fort William and Nevis Range to enjoy the Championships:

• It is peak tourist season, so allow plenty of time for your journey.
• If you have to drive, please bear in mind roads will be busy - especially on Saturday evening. Please car share whenever possible - it’s better for the planet and your wallet.
• There is no spectator parking, with the exception of pre-booked Blue Badge parking, at the venue or on surrounding access roads, laybys or verges. This includes the Rural Complex where parking has been available previously. Be considerate and use the free Park & Ride facilities for the smoothest journey. Illegally parked vehicles will be removed and subject to significant fines.
• Limited pre-bookable Blue Badge parking facilities are available at the venue.
• Please follow instructions given by event staff, stewards and the police for a smooth journey.
• See more of the action and arrive early to watch training sessions from 08:30.

Nevis Range has two entrances as shown on the venue map (on page 14 of the Spectator Guide).

• The Main Spectator Entrance is next to the shuttle bus drop off and pick up point at the entrance to Nevis Range.
• The Main Spectator Entrance is next to the bookable Blue Badge parking.
• The West Spectator Entrance is for cycle and other foot traffic.

From Thursday 3 August to Saturday 5 August, Nevis Range opens at 08:30. Tickets will be scanned on entry for sessions on all of these days.

Ticket office opening times are in line with the venue opening times shown above.

The venue will close up to one hour after competition finishes, or after the final medal ceremony. Don’t miss the last Park & Ride shuttle bus!

You’ll see on our handy venue map (on page 14 of the Spectator Guide) that Nevis
Range is well equipped for you to have a great day.
Facilities on venue:

• Café
• Medical
• Grandstand
• Public Toilets
• Restaurant
• Cycle Parking
• Gondola
• Information Point
• Bar
• Merchandise
• Accessible Spectator Viewing
• Accessible Toilets
• Expo

For a list of other accessible support on venue, please visit the accessibility section.

Please note, there is no baggage storage. We advise you don’t bring luggage to the venue, though rucksacks containing what you need for your day will, of course, be permitted. Most of the above facilities are accessible.

Note: there are no cash points at Nevis Range.

There is a public seating grandstand in front of the finish area. This seating is unreserved, fills up quickly and is available on a first-come first-served basis only.

The accessible platform beside the finish area is available for wheelchair users, those who require easy access areas and their companions.

Queues

At Nevis Range there will be a wider entrance lane for those with accessible or easy access needs. Speak to event staff who can point you in the right direction when you arrive.

Accessible toilets

There are accessible toilets at Nevis Range in each of the toilet locations as shown on the venue map (see page 14 of guide) - please note these do not require a radar key and will be unlocked.

There is an accessible toilet in the café and the other options are accessible portaloos in the main spectator area. Please note there is no changing places toilet facility or changing rooms available at Nevis Range. However, you can find the nearest one on this Changing Places Toilet Map.

Assistance dogs

For those with an assistance dog, dog water bowls are available but please note there is no dedicated dog spending area at Nevis Range. As a rural venue, there is plenty of space within the surrounding forest to use. Please dispose of waste in bins provided on site.

Information point

Available on venue for support and assistance.

The accessible viewing platform is available for wheelchair users and those who require easy access areas and their companions. There will be a big screen so you don’t miss a moment of the action.

• Please note, this accessible viewing platform is unreservable and spaces are available on a first-come first-served basis only.
• Portable seating is available on venue if you require it, please get in touch if you feel this is something you may need at accessibility@cyclingworldchamps.com.
• There is also a selection of picnic benches and tables in the food outlet area that provide an alternative seating option for wheelchair users. These can fill up quickly around lunchtime.

To support your experience, there are a few things that may be helpful to know about the terrain at Nevis Range, should you have mobility needs:

• General surface throughout the event village is compacted limestone, which can be loose and rough.
• Please note the surface and terrain around the top gondola station is uneven in places.
• For those with appropriate tickets, the gondola travels above most of the course and is accessible.
• Should you wish to view from the course, please be aware that this is on a mountainside and is rough and uneven with varying gradients. It requires a certain
  level of mobility to reach much of the course.

If you’d like to talk to us about your specific mobility needs, please read on to our Reasonable Adjustments section.

Please find below some helpful distances to support you getting around the Event Village:

• Accessible parking shuttle drop off ➡ Entrance area (50m)
• Entrance area ➡ Main spectator area (50m)
• Accessible seating area ➡ Accessible facilities (50m) 

Mountain Bike Downhill crowds are very loud. Should you need to take a moment away from the action, there are a few options:

• There is some public seating in the gondola courtyard away from the finish area.
• At the gondola top station, you can take time away from the action and take in the magnificent views over Loch Eil and the West Highlands. You will need a gondola ticket to use the gondola, which can be purchased in advance or on the day itself.

Overall, the mountain biking downhill can get very noisy, so do bear this in mind if you or a member of your party are sensitive to noise. Parents often bring ear defenders for children.

Please be aware there are no dedicated prayer facilities on venue.

If you have any questions on any of the accessibility information included within this guide, or need to discuss your particular needs, please contact us at accessibility@cyclingworldchamps.com.