Tweed Valley on track to become Europes leading mountain bike destination

A new study has shown that establishing Tweed Valley as one of the world's leading mountain bike destinations to rival locations such as Les Gets in France and Whistler in Canada could help attract 100,000 visitors to the region a year. The independent report, commissioned by Scottish Enterprise Borders, highlights that the re-introduction of a safe vehicle uplift facility at the Innerleithen downhill course is a key first step in helping to grow the number of people using the downhill tracks. The report also states that by developing a long term-vision for the area and installing the world’s first dedicated mountain bike chairlift system in Innerleithen could create 200 new jobs and generate more than £6 million a year for the Scottish economy. Last week, the Tweed Valley Development Group set up a new working group to take forward the proposals in the report. Members of the group will include Scottish Enterprise Borders, Scottish Borders Council, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Tweeddale Business Consortium. Forestry Commission Scotland is currently looking for a company to operate a bus-based transport system to safely transport bikers and their bikes to the top of the downhill routes at Innerleithen. It is hoped that this new business opportunity will be operational by early summer. The new vehicle based uplift service will be fundamental in growing the number of bikers using the trails from the current 8,000 visits a year to at least 25,000 visits. The uplift service would be part of the overall strategy towards developing the chairlift as a viable option. The report recommends installing a detachable quad chairlift system in Innerleithen, between Elibank and Traquair Forests. The Innerleithen Downhill course at Traquair Forest is already renowned for its extreme biking and a chairlift system would offer significant opportunities to develop the area and reinforce its world-class reputation amongst mountain bike enthusiasts. Dr Julian Pace, director of Strategy at Scottish Enterprise Borders, says: "The success of mountain biking at Traquair Forest and Glentress, means the Tweed Valley region is fast becoming a favourite location for beginners and enthusiasts. This report demonstrates there is now a real opportunity to capitalise on that success and position the Borders as one of the world’s leading mountain bike destinations. "We are now looking forward to working with our partners to identify how we progress with the chairlift system and ensure that future development at Tweed Valley will deliver significant economic benefits while minimising the impact on the local infrastructure, environment and community." Christina Tracey from Forestry Commission Scotland said: "We welcome the findings of the report, which reflects the importance of the Tweed Valley forest area to the local economy and its tremendous reputation for being a mecca for mountain bikers. We recently advertised for highly motivated entrepreneurs who have all the skills and resources to provide a high quality vehicle based uplift facility. We will continue to work the partners in looking at the options for growing the venue in a sustainable way." Bryan McGrath, head of Economic Development and Regeneration at Scottish Borders Council also welcomed the report. He said: "This report highlights an exciting opportunity for the Scottish Borders. The project isn't just about mountain bikers, it could open up all sorts of tourism opportunities in the surrounding area. We will work closely with our partners in the public and private sector to make sure that this project brings as much benefit to the area as possible." Emma Guy and Tracy Brunger, who run Hub in the Forest mountain bike centre at Glentress, believe a new chairlift would have a positive impact on surrounding businesses. Emma says: "Tracy and I have been working towards the vision of a chairlift at Innerleithen for several years. To see this vision shared with the partners that can make it happen is fantastic. This is a crucial and exciting stage in the physical reality of a mountain bike dedicated chairlift and it is important for the Borders economy that this opportunity is seized." Further development in the Tweed Valley forms part of a wider Adventure Sports strategy, being developed by SE Borders and its partners. By focusing on activities that capitalise on the natural assets of the Borders, SEB hopes to develop a strategy to help position the Borders as one of the UK’s main locations for outdoor leisure activities such as equestrianism, mountain biking and diving, which will attract more overseas visitors as well as those from across the UK.