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PICTURES: Dingwall mountain bike trail gets thumbs up from stunt legend Danny MacAskill as group gears up for funding push


By Scott Maclennan

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World famous mountain biker Danny Macaskill (second left) at the Dingwall trail.
World famous mountain biker Danny Macaskill (second left) at the Dingwall trail.

A ROSS-SHIRE town has won the support of a Scottish stunt legend in its push to improve a stunning mountain bike trail.

Dingwall Mountain Bike Trail Group has recently completed a trail on land at award-winning Knockbain Farm on the edge of the town after raising around £40,000 for the work.

It has already won the praise of world-class riders Danny MacAskill and Duncan Shaw.

MacAskill – who boasts 500 million YouTube views for his daredevil stunts– called it an "amazing" facility.

Now the group are seeking £5000 to establish an access path to the main trail linking it to the Pefferside Way, a community-led off-road route connecting Dingwall and Strathpeffer.

Danny MacAskill thrilling the crowds at Belladrum.
Danny MacAskill thrilling the crowds at Belladrum.

The group, which has a Facebook presence, has launched a crowdfunding appeal because the current access is a less than ideal winding single track road it is felt the development of a new path would make access “much safer for everyone, especially children”.

It would also help to future-proof what has been described as “a fun, varied trail suitable for young children and adults that caters for all levels and abilities” by allowing the group to look at the feasibility of future trails and maintenance plans.

David Wilby, project fundraiser, said: “It is a fun, varied trail suitable for young children and adults and caters for all levels and abilities. We are looking for a final bit of help to get the new trail open this summer and looking to put together maintenance plans.

Dingwall Mountain Bike Trail
Dingwall Mountain Bike Trail

“All funds raised will go to the future development and maintenance of the trails. To date, our group has raised approximately £40,000 from funding applications and generous donations from local companies and we are looking to raise the final £5000 to complete this current project and allow us to continue to manage these trails.

“The new trail has benefited from generous contributions from FCC Communities Foundation, Global Infrastructure Scotland Ltd and WGC Construction.”

The trail builder and local mountain bike coach, Ronan Taylor from the Black Isle, said: “The existing trail is accessed by cycling up the public tarmac road at Knockbain and returning by the same route. This is not ideal due to vehicles using this road and it running past several houses.

“The new trail which can be used for uphill travel as well as down, would allow access by using the Peffery Way path. This would make access much safer for everyone, especially children.”

Since opening in the last couple of years the bike trails have found support from bikers of all abilities from all over the country, including the likes of Danny MacAskill and Duncan Shaw.

Mr MacAskill said: "The current trail, which has recently been built, has been an amazing facility for the community. It has been especially great to see just how many kids there are there utilising the facility."

And Mr Shaw added: "I have recently moved back to the area and have been absolutely thrilled to be able to ride at such a great facility. It has not only been seriously fun but has also served as a great training tool to tune up the skills.

“Every time I have been up there it has been really cool to see lots of kids and families utilising the facility and the standard of riding is already very high."


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