Impact of the Scottish Trail Fund - Trail Wild MTB

The Scottish Trail Fund (STF) was launched in November 2022 by the newly formed Scottish Cycling Foundation (SCF) to directly support Scotland’s mountain biking infrastructure. Its primary aims are to help create new trails, improve existing trails and hill paths, maintain Scotland’s access rights, and provide practical and educational support to Trails Associations (TAs) and local groups.

In its first two years, the STF successfully raised over £5,500. This was achieved through public donations and another high-profile “bike raffle” supported by professional rider Manon Carpenter. These funds have already been channelled into tangible projects, with nine TAs and local groups receiving financial support in 2024 to deliver immediate trail network improvements. Beneficiaries included Highland Wildcat (Golspie), Moray Trails Association, North Argyll Trails Association (Oban), Bike Trossachs (Aberfoyle), Barr Trails (Ayrshire), Ae Bike Association, Galloway Hillbillies (Dumfries & Galloway), Trail Wild MTB (Edinburgh), and Castlemilk Youth Complex (Glasgow).

We have approached these beneficiaries to ask what the funds that they received helped them to do to demonstrate the importance of supporting the Scottish Trail Fund, entering the raffle and potentially winning a Trek Fuel EXe 8 GX AXS T-Type!

Thanks to Lesley at Trail Wild MTB for this interview.

Can you tell us a little about your group, where you’re based, and the trails you look after?

We’re Trail Wild MTB. We started in 2021 and are based in South Edinburgh. We look after the trails in the woods at the Mortonhall Golf Club. More recently, we were asked to help reinstate a bike track at the Gracemount Mansion (a community initiative to restore an empty historic house within the Gracemount area).

What’s special about your local trail network or riding community?

The trails are within an urban area and there is something for all abilities. Due to the proximity of the trails to houses, the trails are perceived as being safe (due to the amount of passive surveillance through walkers and golfers) and are therefore used by many groups – from primary school kids riding with their pals, to Scottish Cycling, who run kids’ sessions there on a Tuesday night.

What support did you receive from the Scottish Trail Fund (funding, tools, training, etc.)?

We received funding from the Scottish Trail Fund in April last year. I can’t understate how vital that funding has been to our ability to buy appropriate tools and equipment to help us build trails.

How has this helped your group or trails so far? (e.g. new tools, better maintenance, new sections of trail, improved access, more volunteers engaged)

We purchased new tools which allowed us to build more trails. Two members of Trail Wild (myself and James Kruuk) also attended the TRAILL dig leaders training, which was part of the funding package. The tools have also helped us to maintain the trails and provide signage to minimise any conflict with walkers etc.

We have also had several ‘dig days’ and enlisted volunteers from the local area, as well as parents of our Wednesday night club to help us build trails. This was important following storm damage last year, and we needed lots of volunteers to help us clear the trails from debris, and rebuild.

Can you share a specific example or success story that’s come from the funding?

The funding helped us buy tools and equipment (like high-vis jackets) and this helped us get the community involved in reinstating the bike track at the Gracemount Mansion. This was a hugely successful day, where we had volunteers (many with no mountain biking or trail building experience) and delivered the bike track.

The track is now used by local kids, and has helped minimise anti-social behaviour at the house.

What difference has this support made for your local riders, community, or visitors?

The trails at Mortonhall are a vital part of the community – they provide a safe space for kids to practise their mountain biking skills, as well as being used by organised groups to train. The golf club has kindly given us permission to build on their land in the woods, and have said that anti-social behaviour on their golf course has been reduced as a result of there being a constant presence in the woods.

How do you think it will benefit your trails in the long term?

The trails needs maintenance, and the funding has allowed us to buy good quality tools to help us constantly maintain and improve the trails.

What did it mean to your group to receive STF support?

Trail Wild is run by adult leaders, but the trail building has been spear-headed by the older kids who participate in the Trail Wild clubs. The funding was massively exciting for the kids, as it meant we could achieve more and provide more with better equipment. The funding has allowed the kids to work as a team in order to deliver something really amazing for the whole community.

Do you have a personal highlight or proudest moment since receiving the funding?

We won the DMBinS Trail Association of the year in 2024. I was very emotional as it was testament to all the hard work that the kids put in.

What’s next for your group or trail project?

We’d like to continue to support the Gracemount Mansion as they are keen to expand their MTB trail network. We’ll also be organising more trail build/dig days to involve others at Mortonhall with the building/maintenance.

Why do you think the Scottish Trail Fund is important for mountain biking in Scotland?

The STF was vital for us, and has provided tangible benefits to the land owner and local community, as well as the MTB community. It is important as the fund helps people to come together in the outdoors, and achieve something amazing.

The fundraising raffle is being organised by The Scottish Cycling Foundation (OSCR No. SC051130), in partnership with Trek and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS) to support the Scottish Trail Fund – a fund dedicated to supporting community-led mountain bike trail development and maintenance projects across the country.

The top prize in the raffle is a Trek Fuel EXe 8 GX AXS T-Type, an award-winning electric mountain bike that blends the best of traditional trail riding with subtle, intelligent pedal assist. Every ticket purchased will help raise vital funds to support volunteer trail associations and local groups working hard to maintain and improve the places we ride.

• For every £5 donation, you will earn one chance to win a Trek Fuel EXe 8 GX AXS T-Type.

• Each entry increases your chance at winning and proceeds will be for the Scottish Trail Fund. This raffle is open to anyone of age 18 and over living in mainland Great Britain.

To make an even bigger impact, Trek will match the raffle funds up to £5,000 – doubling the total raised, with the goal of distributing over £10,000 in direct support to grassroots trail projects

Please consider entering the raffle and if you can, consider making a regular donation to the fund - in 2024 groups across Scotland applied for over £30,000 of funding to help them & we were only able to distribute £5k. This makes a difference. However, there is obviously demand, and regular donations will really help our the trails across Scotland!

The raffle will end at midnight on 29th October 2025. The size of bike can be chosen, subject to availability. Click for the full terms and conditions for the Scottish Trail Fund: Win a Trek Bike Raffle.