Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) is seeking input on the development of an ambitious multi-million pound project to rejuvenate the 7stanes.
FLS is looking to secure £5 million of funding from the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal that will fund work at some sites that will showcase the incredible potential of the full 7stanes vision and hopefully attract wider further investment.
The redevelopment will have huge potential for South Scotland tourism and will be a major contributor to the area's recovery from the impact of the winter's devastating storms.
John Dougan, FLS' South Region manager, said: "Mountain biking is at the heart of Scottish tourism in the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway and it's taken a bit of a hit as a result of the winter's storms.
"We're working hard on making storm-damaged forests safe and reinstating the many trails that have been affected. Most of our sites have the bulk of their routes back open and we'll continue to make gradual progress on the remaining really badly damaged areas.
"However, we're also seeing this point in time as an opportunity to reflect, and, with the support of the the Borderlands to come back bigger and better, with a strong focus on evolving and improving the 7stanes brand and offer, we think, for example that there is plenty of scope to diversify and attract more families and multi interest visitor groups.
"This has the potential to be huge for tourism in the area and we're looking to get as much input into our thinking on this as possible to make sure we make the most of this opportunity."
Over half a million visitors try out some of the 400 km of trails every year but at 20 years of age the 7stanes are in need of a refresh and rejuvenation.
Cycling and wider recreation has evolved and changed a fair bit in the last 20 years, and we are keen to hear people's views about what sort of offer they'd like the 7stanes to provide in the future.
FLS is particularly keen to hear ideas on what sort of changes could be made to attract a wider range of people, particularly those who currently do not visit.
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
26/11/2024
Scottish Water has unveiled its largest-ever procurement initiative, aiming to modernise the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure while safeguarding the environment. The program, named Delivery Vehicle 4, is valued between £5 billion and £9 billion and is set to run from 2027 to 2033, with ...
26/11/2024
The City of Edinburgh Council has granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the refurbishment of Calton Square, an office building currently occupied by Baillie Gifford until the end of December 2025. Promoted by Ardstone Capital on behalf of Manova Partners, the project aims to ...
26/11/2024
First Minister John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, praised the progress being made on the construction of the new Perth High School during a visit on Friday, 22 November. He was joined by Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, alongside senior Perth and Kinross Councillors, ...
26/11/2024
A state-of-the-art playpark has officially opened at King George V Park in Bearsden, following the completion of a £100,000 refurbishment. Funded by a combination of East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) Capital Funding and the Scottish Government’s Renewing Scotland’s Play Parks initiative, the ...
26/11/2024
Fife Council has launched a public consultation, inviting residents, businesses, and organizations to contribute ideas and propose sites for inclusion in the next Local Development Plan, known as Fife's Place Plan. The council is calling on community councils, landowners, and developers to share ...
26/11/2024
The Chief Executive of East Lothian Council has announced she is to retire in February 2025. Monica Patterson who has been Chief Executive for almost five years, has spent most of her professional career working in local government. Prior to joining East Lothian Council in 2010, she was Head of ...
25/11/2024
West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) and Connect Modular have jointly submitted a planning application to Glasgow City Council for the development of 33 affordable homes in Cowlairs. This project aligns with the wider Cowlairs Park regeneration scheme and the city's ambitious housing ...
25/11/2024
Arc-Tech (Scotland) has successfully completed a £6m Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) services package for the Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh. The state-of-the-art resort, which opened its doors earlier this month, features a range of amenities, including a wave pool, luxury lodges, and ...
25/11/2024
Scottish Water has successfully completed the construction of a groundbreaking hydro energy generation scheme at Whiteadder Reservoir in East Lothian. This innovative project, believed to be the first of its kind in Europe, will harness the power of water to offset a significant portion of the ...
25/11/2024
Work is set to commence on a £6.5 million project to upgrade the Double Dykes Gypsy/Traveller site near Perth. The initiative aims to replace outdated chalets with modern, energy-efficient accommodation and implement significant site improvements. Perth & Kinross Council secured £3.9 million from ...