Scotland's newest trail centre officially - OPEN!

The storms across the winter of 2021/22 had a devastating effect on many homes and businesses across Aberdeenshire as there are a growing number of businesses whose livelihoods depend on visitors and locals being able to access mountain bike trails in the area.

Being acutely aware of this as a project team working across the region, we were able to approach the steering group of North East Adventure Tourism partners, Opportunity North East, Scottish Enterprise and Visit Aberdeenshire. Together we put a case to Scottish Government to secure the funding required to get Tarland Trails Pittenderich to get the project over the line and provide a much-needed regional level new trail centre in Aberdeenshire.

The trail centre has had a soft opening over the last 5 weeks and is already proving a huge hit with locals and visitors alike with an estimated 12,000 visits bringing a host of benefits to this part of the region, and beyond, as the destination grows its adventure sports offering. Officially opened on Friday 9th June and it is most definitely the most exciting trail centre to open in Scotland in the last 10 years.

Watch this space for more on the back story to this incredible project - coming soon!

Official launch of new £1.1m Mountain Bike Trail Centre for Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Tarland Trails Pittenderich project supports region’s ambition to be a leading adventure tourism destination.

Investment of £1.1m into North East Scotland’s mountain biking facilities has led to the community led Tarland Trails Pittenderich facility on the outskirts of the Deeside village.

This landmark facility for Aberdeenshire will not only cater for the growing local cycling community but also act as a significant economic boost to the region as a premier tourism attraction. The project, led by Tarland Development Group, provides a purpose-built range of mountain biking trails catering to riders of all levels. Investment including £350k from Scottish Enterprise and £300k from sportscotland’s Cycling Facilities Fund, alongside £250k from Just Transition were all secured as a result of a collaborative approach between the local group, North East Adventure Tourism, Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, Opportunity North East, Aberdeenshire Council, and Scottish Enterprise.

The full funding profile has been complemented by fundraising through Tarland Development Group along with generous local business and private donations.

Following the devastating effects of storms and weather events across Aberdeenshire in winter 2021/22 which followed the Coronavirus pandemic the North East Adventure Tourism Project partners recognised the economic and community benefits such a development could bring to the region. There are a growing number of businesses benefitting from Aberdeenshire’s growing MTB and adventure tourism offering through jobs in the supply chain including bike shops, event organisers, accommodation providers, restaurants and cafes. The investment is a key step towards delivering the region’s ambition to be a destination of choice for the fast-growing adventure tourism market and will also help grow participation supporting clubs to develop future mountain biking athletes and lifelong participants in activity.

Leading trail construction specialists CRC and local ecology specialist Envirocentre handled the onsite delivery of the project which includes blue, red, orange and black graded trails on the slopes of Pressendye and Pittenderich hills, looking across the Howe of Cromar, a trail head with parking for 90 vehicles, and environmentally friendly toilet facilities.

The Macrobert Trust Estate and private landowner Mr and Mrs Dalgarno have provided a lease to secure the project site for years to come. Officially launched Friday 9th June, the facilities soft opening over the last 5 weeks is already proving a huge hit with locals and visitors with over 12,000 riders bringing a host of benefits to this part of the region, and beyond, as the destination grows its adventure sports offering.

The Macrobert Trust Estate and private landowner, Mr and Mrs Dalgarno. Image Credit-Andy McCandlish

Aberdeenshire’s mountain biking scene has been on a steady rise over the past few years boasting an amazing natural trail network, an enthusiastic and welcoming riding community, creative and adaptable local bike businesses, a thriving race and event scene, and recent winners of IMBA Europe’s Protect and Preserve Award, Aberdeenshire Trail Association.

This development is a follow up from the hugely successful phase one project at Tarland Trails – Drummy Woods which has become a hub of activity for riders. The driving force behind the project has been Tarland Development Group and, in particular, the groups acting Chairperson and current Scottish Trail Advocate of the Year, Chris Redmond.

A project long in the making Chris commented:

” It’s fantastic to realise our ambition of creating a trail centre in Aberdeenshire. Our first phase (Tarland Trails Drummy Woods) was opened in 2015 and has been an amazing success for the area providing locals and visitors, particularly children, young people, and families, with an opportunity to ride safe, fun, and accessible trails.

“This new development will help the village sustain its business community, attract young families to the area, retain young people in this rural area, and help improve the physical and mental health of users.

“The trail centre has been realised by the commitment of our volunteer board and I would like to thank my fellow trustees as well as the landowners for their time, energy, and expertise to make this happen. I would also like to extend my thanks to those who have supported us, particularly, Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland and North East Adventure Tourism, and all the funders of the project.”

Jennifer Craw, CEO Opportunity North East commented:

“ONE and the NEAT partners supported the project ambition and secured transformational funding to fully realise its potential to make the region a destination of choice for mountain bikers of all abilities.

“Aberdeenshire's mountain biking scene has been on a steady rise over the past few years, boasting a fantastic natural trail network, an enthusiastic and welcoming riding community, creative and adaptable local bike businesses, a thriving race and event scene, and recent winners of IMBA Europe's Protect and Preserve award, Aberdeenshire Trail Association.

“The fantastic riding experiences, quality of the trails, setting and unique partnership are attracting international recognition.

“This facility caters for both the growing local cycling community and visitors and delivers a significant economic boost. A growing number of businesses benefit from Aberdeenshire's mountain biking and adventure tourism offering through jobs in the supply chain, including bike shops, event organisers, accommodation providers, restaurants and cafes.

“The Tarland Trails investment is a key step towards delivering the region’s ambition to be the destination of choice for the fast-growing adventure tourism market,” said Ms Craw.

Sport Minister Maree Todd said:

“Facilities such as Tarland will support the local community to be active and deliver a lasting active legacy following the 2023 Cycling World Championships.

“Being active outdoors has a positive impact on health and mental wellbeing and helps us achieve our vision of an active Scotland where everyone benefits from sport and physical activity for their physical, mental and social health.”

Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive of sportscotland said:

“The Cycling Facilities Fund was designed to support clubs and communities across Scotland to deliver cycling projects that would have a real impact on their local area and be a tangible benefit of hosting the 2023 Cycling World Championships. We have worked closely with our partners at Scottish Cycling to support ambitious groups like Tarland Development Group to realise their ambitions and it’s fantastic to see another exciting project coming to life.

“This latest development at Tarland Trails is a great addition to the growing MTB scene in Aberdeenshire, and Scotland more widely, and it’s encouraging to hear that it is fast becoming a welcoming and inclusive community for riders of all abilities. With the Championships only a couple of months away, excitement is building, and it is testament to the vision and commitment of everyone involved in delivering this new trail centre that Aberdeenshire will be ready to meet the growing demand for cycling.”

North East Scotland is identified as an emerging destination within the Scottish Mountain Bike Strategy, which includes the creation of a large-scale purpose-built trail centre as a key strategic action.

Nick Rennie, Chief Executive of Scottish Cycling, said:

“Tarland Trails comes hot on the heels of the likes of the West Lothian Cycle Circuit and a number of other unbelievable cycling facilities that are helping to change the cycling landscape in Scotland for years to come. What has been created in Tarland is thanks to the hard work of so many people in Aberdeenshire, and I’m delighted a large investment was made in the project from the Cycling Facilities Fund, which we are working closely with sportscotland to deliver.”

“Legacy is a word we see and hear a lot around major sporting events, but Scottish Cycling and the whole of the cycling landscape in Scotland are committed to making sure there is a lasting effect on our great sport after the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, which will act as a catalyst to get so many people on bikes. Facilities such as this one in Tarland, which really captures how great mountain biking in Scotland is for anyone and everyone, are a key part of ensuring we take the sport to the next level.”

Will Clarke is Aberdeenshire MTB and Adventure Tourism Development Manager. He said:

“DMBinS and NEAT are delighted to have supported the delivery of this project by supporting Tarland Development Group and securing critical funding. Tarland Trails Pittenderich will contribute to many long-term ambitions shared by the NEAT partners around health and wellbeing, active lifestyles, athlete progression pathways and sustainable economic benefits for Aberdeenshire.

We have been working with a range of community driven projects and we hope this is just the start of more infrastructure projects being delivered in the area.”