The Forestry Commission, Hamsterley Trailblazers, Groundwork and Teesdale District Council have unveiled plans to build a stunning new extension to the popular `red’ grade mountain bike trail in the 2,000-hectare (5,000-acre) beauty-spot, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham.
Funding for the project – which will get underway in the next few weeks – has come from County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT) through a £50,000 CDENT PREMIER Award, Teesdale District Council (£40,000), Hamsterley Trailblazers (£20,000) and the Forestry Commission (£28,000). Trailbuilding volunteers will be managed by Groundwork. Work is likely to take four months to complete with the trail set to open in July.
The latest work will create a new loop to an existing 14 kilometre trail, offering a mouth-watering challenge with tight turns and jumps for cyclists. Because it will be surfaced with locally quarried stone, it will add another all-year-round, weather-proof attraction to the forest and boost bike tourism to the region.
Vicky Chilcott, from Hamsterley Trailblazers, an independent rider’s and trail building group which has worked to secure funding for new biking developments, said: “Over the past five years exciting new facilities have been created in Hamsterley including a £220,000 skills loop, a beginner’s trail and an upgraded black route for experts. But what’s missing according to the feedback we get is an intermediate challenge so bikers can take their skills onto a new level. That’s why the new red trail is crucial. Ultimately we want to create one of the longest singletrack red routes in the UK, extending over 25 kilometres, which will have huge appeal.”
Alex MacLennan, Recreation, Tourism and Communities Manager with the Forestry Commission, added: “Cycle trails allowing progression from beginner to expert are a key part of our vision for Hamsterley, which aims to develop sustainable world class visitor facilities. The off-road routes already built have made the wood a honeypot for bikers, bringing benefits to County Durham and the entire North East and helping minimise conflicts with other woodland users. Now we need to push on and ensure we cater for all ability levels.”
John Taylor, Executive Officer for CDENT, commented: “Those involved in developing cycling routes at Hamsterley Forest are to be congratulated on their achievements so far. We hope that our grant award will enable them to step up a gear and bring enjoyment to even more cyclists for many years to come.”
Councillor Keith Stansfield, Teesdale District Council’s Lead Member for Health, said: “Improving and extending facilities at Hamsterley is great news. To be able to use this unspoilt part of Teesdale for activities like mountain biking is good for local people who have this facility nearby, as well as increasing the desirability of the area to visitors.”
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Whilst I’m sure the skills loop gets a lot of use, I can’t help thinking it might have been better spending the 220 grand on improving the existing red and black routes to what you’d expect of a trail centre. The skills loop could have followed on once the essentials (i.e. interesting, rideable trails) were there already.
Every time I go to Hamsterley, I swear I’ll never go back. Lets hope the next round of trailbuilding changes my opinion.
I agree with the comments above that Hamsterley is some way from being a fully sorted trail centre. In the interim while trails are being sorted, it might be more enjoyable to switch into an appropriate mindset for a black route of relishing the challenges presented by an eroded, rooty trail rather than expecting the whole thing to be a wacked down, smooth grey carpet.
A few additional points that might be of interest.
– the actual cash element of the project totals £80k not £120 (or is it £130). This will deliver only a fraction of the proposed new loop.
– The skills loop AND about 2km of blue grade trail was built as part of the same previous project.
– One section of the black route was rebuilt and reopened in August 2007. This was built as part of the “new red route”
– Another reroute+rebuild section of the black is in progress by the Hamsterley Trailblazers. Completion is dependent on volunteer participation.
– Part of the newly funded trail will be common to the black route.
– Some repair/rerouting work funded by the Forestry Comission has started on a further black section not covered under the red route plan. As things stand it will require at lot of volunteer activity and some further funding to complete this work.
Info on volunteer trailbuilding;
http://www.hamsterley-trailblazers.co.uk/building.htm
Oh, I wouldn’t want a ‘wacked down, smooth grey carpet’ at all.
‘The challenges presented by an eroded, rooty trail’ would be lovely, if that was what the black route was.
“Over the past five years exciting new facilities have been created in Hamsterley ”
Someone’s easily pleased I bet she must wet her herself with glee and the very thought of yet another pedaly section.
I hope all those who slag Hamsterly off are either lifting a shovel there or elsewhere..
The fact that Hamsterley isn’t a manicured trail is part of it’s charm
“I hope all those who slag Hamsterly off are either lifting a shovel there or elsewhere..”
Are you suggesting that if you don’t actively participate in building trails you’re not allowed to have an opinion the subject?
I’m suggesting that instead of complaining it would be better to put something back.
Its easy to say that somewhere is badly maintained/built but a whole lot harder to get off one’s arse and do something about…
There will be thousands of riders who have used Hamsterly but only a handfull who have swung a pick. Its the same all over the country/world.
Imagine how good the trails could be…
Who’s complaining (apart from you, that is?)
:o)
I was commenting on what is marketed as a trail centre open to the public, not just open to those who participate in building it.
I’m never going to join in with trail building though. No interest in it. Sorry – I know that makes me a bad person and all that. I like riding bikes though. And I am grateful to those who do build trails. Even if they spend a shed load of money on some flash skillz loop at the expense of maintaining and improving the trails that are already there, and crying out for some maintenance and improvement.
I rode the black trail last Sunday for the first time (new to the area). I rode with a group of 5 other guys – all solid riders. We all had a great time.
The trail is what it is – challenging and technical in spots. Could it use some maintenance? Sure. But its still a lot of fun even in its current state.