Laggan Wolftrax trails prove to be a success

The Laggan Wolftrax mountain bike trails have attracted 16,000 new visitors over the last twelve months, bringing an additional annual expenditure of £280,000 to the local area and businesses. The figures were revealed to local residents during a public meeting in Laggan village hall recently, and were identified following an evaluation study of the Wolftrax facility that took place in 2006. Over 500 mountain bikers and 100 walkers who visited the Wolftrax facility were interviewed for the study during summer last year. In addition, information was collected from 17 local businesses and six bike shops. The 30 or so local residents who attended the public meeting also heard James Adam of economic and development consultants EKOS Ltd report that the Wolftrax facility was responsible for an additional seven FTE jobs being created in the Laggan, Newtonmore and Dalwhinnie area. With 75% of the mountain bikers rating the facility as 'very good' and 95% of visitors stating that they were in the area to specifically visit the Laggan Wolftrax facility, representatives from Forestry Commission Scotland and Laggan Forest Trust believe that the original investment has been money well spent. Forestry Commission Scotland District Forester, Jack Mackay, said; "The is the first independent study commissioned for Laggan Wolftrax, and the results are very, very pleasing for all those involved since the project started. It is to the credit of the funding bodies, Laggan Forest Trust, and the community of Laggan who have all worked so very hard to make Wolftrax such a high quality facility, and a contributor to the country's 'Global Superstar Status' as world leading mountain bike destination. “We cannot be complacent however. The study also recommended that the successes so far should be seen as a springboard for a broader marketing approach for the area. Local accommodation providers, for example, could increase promotion of the development and raise awareness of its additional attractions to generate more overnight stays. Highlighting the walking and pony trekking trails, for example. "It is important also to maintain and continue to enhance the cycle trails themselves. Recent visitors to the area will have already noticed the start of this work, with directional signs from the A9 already in place, and a gateway information portal and construction of a 2,200 metre SUSTRAN funded 'safer to school' route also underway. "We look forward to continuing working with appropriate partners including Laggan Forest Trust and the National Park Authority, to see how things can further be progressed." For further information about the Laggan Wolftrax mountain bike trails visit www.forestry.gov.uk/mtbscotland