Mountain bike trails in Cairngorms National Park have successful first year
Mountain bike trails on Glenlivet Estate in the Cairngorms National Park have proven popular in their first year of operation.
More than 14,000 visitors have used the trails, owned by The Crown Estate, since they were opened by Richard Lochhead MSP last November.
Initial projections aimed at attracting 10,000 cyclists but this target was exceeded within nine months.
Known as BikeGlenlivet, the attraction comprises of two mountain bike trails (red and blue graded), a cafe and cycling hub for bike hire and equipment.
The facilities received a four-star rating from VisitScotland earlier this year and hosted the inaugural Rock&Road cycling festival, which is set to become an annual event.
Recently, The Crown Estate created a pump track at the hub to provide a short but exciting warm-up for riders before setting off on the longer trails or as an alternative for children if their parents are relaxing with coffee and cake.
The Coffee Still Cafe, operated by local Tomintoul couple Dianne Dunlop and Steve Sacks and based at the hub where the trails start, is also proving popular.
The Crown Estate’s countryside manager for Glenlivet Estate Vicky Hilton said: "We are delighted that so many people have discovered the natural beauty of the Glenlivet Estate while doing something that is both exciting and active.
"We’re very pleased and proud to be providing the best visitor experience we can."
VisitScotland’s north of Scotland regional director Scott Armstrong said: "I am delighted to hear that the Glenlivet Mountain Bike Trails have been such a success and that on their first anniversary they are celebrating even higher visitor figures than anticipated.
"We were very pleased to be able to award the attraction four stars earlier this year and its visitor numbers speak for its success."
