Scottish Mountain Bike Gathering 2023

The Scottish MTB Gathering will bring together the mountain bike community, industry, land managers/owners, trails associations, destinations, and the agencies that support mountain biking in Scotland to discuss its future, the priorities, and connect, learn, and share with each other.

The MTB Gathering will be held over two days (Thursday 5th & Friday 6th October) with the greatly anticipated Scottish MTB Awards held on the Thursday evening.

On day 1, attendees will be treated to inspiring presentations, updates on trail development and support for Trails Associations, MTB leadership and coaching developments, participative workshops, and a ride out to finish the day.

There will be a mixture of presentations and topics covering DMBinS work themes including Trails, Health, Destinations, and Innovation the day will have a focus on sustainability in all its facets including social, environmental, and economic sustainability of mountain biking in Scotland.

We will be investigating trail development models, with unprecedented levels of investment into our trail network and facilities, we need to understand how we can continue to work together towards a long-term sustainable and secure trail network.

There will be the opportunity to find out more about the different Health, Diversity and Inclusion programmes across Scotland, and how the Scottish Health Fund seeks to make our nation happier and healthier and increase the diversity on our trails.

Day 2, will take place on the amazing trails at Comrie Croft. There will be dig sessions, leadership development rides, & Trash Free Trails sessions focussing on improving knowledge sharing, helping to develop our leadership network, and more opportunities to engage with programmes from across Scotland.

The Logistics

Dates & Timings

Thursday 5th October

Day session - 10-4.30pm

Scottish MTB Awards - 7.30 til late(ish)

Friday 6th October 2023

Outside Day (Leadership Development Rides, Digs & Trash Free Trails) - 10-3pm

We know times are tough. We feel we have done our best to keep the quality high, provide excellent value and quality food and drink (lunch, awards dinner, & tea/coffee, all while being sustainable for us to organise. We want to deliver an event that can fit all budgets. However, if cost is a barrier for attending please get in touch at info@DMBinS.com and we have kept some tickets aside.

Venue

Comrie Croft - Winner of Inaugural Responsible Tourism award at this years Visit Scotland Scottish Thistle Awards!

Comrie Croft is one of Scotland's best trail centres and captures the spirit of mountain biking in all its glory. The trail centre combines a feeling of free-living, unique accommodation options including nordic kata's, wild camping, eco-lodges and hostels, a range of activities, a fantastic café, a quality bike shop, and (of course) an amazing range of trails.

Comrie Croft, owned by 50 employees and local people, has a vision for rural regeneration with a rich natural environment that includes people, homes, farming, recreation and businesses as an integral part. Specifically, they are rewilding over 50 ha of land; planning to build affordable natural housing; providing opportunities for ten (and counting) nature-based enterprises; growing food; outdoor recreation and other land uses as part of an interdependent ecosystem.

Why not stay a few more days in the area and check out the great trails across Perthshire? DMBinS Ride Guide - Perthshire

Accommodation Available

Kata’s, Campervan parking, Steading, Farmhouse, Camping, Glamping will all be available at a reasonable charge - see Comrie Croft website for more information on the available options.

We will offer 'bolt on' options for the various accommodation offerings when tickets are launched

Travel

We are working hard with Comrie Croft to investigate as many options as we can to get you to the venue as sustainably as possible. We are working on car sharing options, buses with bike trailers from transport hubs, and opportunities where you can ride to the event and get discounted accommodation if you do.