PROBLEMS created by the unauthorised construction of mountain bike trails in Scotland is being highlighted in a new awareness campaign.
Care for the Countryside, an initiative organised by Scottish Land and Estates, is warning of the safety risks posed by poorlyconstructed, self-built trails.
The past decade has witnessed the popularity of mountain biking in Scotland reach an alltime high, with purpose-built facilities such as Glentress and 7stanes, alongside Scotland’s liberal access laws contributing to a boom in interest from riders of all ages. However, this period has also seen an increase in the number of unauthorised trails, obstacles and jumps being built by riders themselves on rural estates and farmland, with limited knowledge of how this might affect other users, the potential environmental damage and the range of mountain bikers who might use the trail.