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timH
12-22-2004, 02:38 PM
Trailbuilders in the Carron Valley, near Stirling, are celebrating a £30,000 cash windfall to help build a mountain bike trail in the forest.

The Carron Valley Development Group (http://www.carronvalley.org.uk/) (CVDG), have worked hard to raise the money through several local community funds - the Stirling Partnership for Urban Regeneration, the Lanarkshire Key fund and Forestry Commission Scotland - and hope to use some of it to complete a 5km section of purpose-built mtb trail in the valley.

http://www.bikemagic.com/news/images/carronvalley.jpg

If you’re wondering why the Carron Valley in particular has managed to attract such investment, then it’s got a lot to do with location. Situated as it is, within an hour of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth, the Carron Valley forest is within easy reach of areas with the poorest health records in Scotland. Both the CVDG and Forestry Scotland hope that trails in the area will help promote a more active lifestyle and will be working closely together to manage the investment.

The CVDG’s Chairman, Niall Thomson, commented, "This is brilliant news and a real reward for all the hard graft that mountain bikers have been putting into the project over the past couple of years. All the trailbuilders are volunteers so the cash boost is very welcome and will go a long way to really get work moving.”


From the CVDG (http://www.carronvalley.org.uk/) website: Why Carron Valley?

Carron Valley is situated within a 40 minute drive of all the major built-up areas of Central Scotland - Glasgow (20 minutes); Stirling (15 minutes); Edinburgh (40 minutes) and Perth (40 minutes), it covers approximately 50Kms of forested area owned by the Forestry Commission.

This project is similar to those that have been started at Glentress and the other 7Stanes projects. However, Carron Valley has a more varied landscape and incorporates some testing climbs, descents and stunning views of the resevoir and surrounding areas. The plan is develop trails for Mountain Biking, Horse Riding, Walking and any other activity that uses the forest - currently this also includes cross-country running, orienteering and huskie pulling. The group will have users from each group sitting on the committee to ensure all aspects are looked at, but each group will have their own working committee.

For all-weather cycling, the nearest 'centre' for these 4 areas is Glentress - Carron Valley is an easier area to gain access to and will hopefully make it's mark on Scottish and UK-based MTBing. The area has potential for some amazing Cross-Country (XC) trails as well as areas for Trials, 4X and even a Downhill (DH) track or 2.

All this cycling and the area is still large enough to also incorporate walkers, horse riders, huskie racing, watersports and a proposed Iron-Age fort!

Carron Valley has lain dormant for many years in terms of MTB potential, this project hopes to develop some leading edge trail designs that will have riders coming from all over the country to try and push their skills levels even further.


Story found on bikemagic (http://www.bikemagic.com)

andyh
12-22-2004, 07:06 PM
and of course the group is affiliated to . ...


IMBA UK

timH
12-23-2004, 11:35 AM
forestry.gov website (http://www.forestry.gov.uk/newsrele.nsf/1d52e85b67920fe580256a18006008d5/9bfc6f280239620f80256f70002e3e4b!OpenDocument)

graeme
12-23-2004, 08:12 PM
Its good to see central belt getting some cash for trails.

Previously it just seemed to be in highlands and borders, areas where they were trying to develop tourism basically.

This will benefit local population more.

Grant who cycles with us sometimes is hoping to build trails in Blairadam in Fife http://www.blairadam.com