Like the title says, has anyone heard anything or know anything about this? I was talking with a mate the other night who had heard this mentioned so was wondering if there is any truth in it or is it just storm in a tea cup stuff?
Cheers
Sanny
Bike Forum
Rothiemurchus - Any truth in the rumour that they are seeking to discourage mtb?
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Posted 4 months ago #
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If true, given the access laws, how could they actually restrict it?
Posted 4 months ago # -
Maybe just the locals trying to keep the trails to themselves?
Posted 4 months ago # -
The jist was that my friend had heard that the move by Bothy Bikes out of the Estate was reflective of the Estate seeking not to actively encourage bikers in the area. I have no idea how much truth there is in this though it didn't come accross as mischief making. I'm conscious that these kind of things can grow arms and legs so if anyone can shed any light on this, I'd be keen to hear it.
Posted 4 months ago # -
seeking to discourage mtb?
seeking not to actively encourage bikers
Which?Posted 4 months ago # -
Was there not some complaints about the trails being publicised? I seem to remember something about this. Local trails for local people
Posted 4 months ago # -
TJ - that would be the infamous secret trails at Badaguish. Perhaps someone got the wrong end of the stick?
Posted 4 months ago # -
I didn't think they were that secret. Weren't they used for an xc race not so long ago?
Posted 4 months ago # -
Thats the one Druidh. Sounds to me like chinese whispers perhaps
Posted 4 months ago # -
Apparently, they are secret as long as they are not publicised on the internet, even if they are on printed maps for sale in and around the area.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I'd have thought that Rothimurchus would be trying to actively promote it, given tourism is a huge source of income for them:
http://www.rothiemurchus-activities.co.uk/Activities.aspx
However, I do recall the trail scotland book noted they ask mtbers to stick to the paths and not go hunting the singletrack
Posted 4 months ago # -
Apparently, they are secret as long as they are not publicised on the internet, even if they are on printed maps for sale in and around the area.
Surely not.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Druidh
Bit of both was what came across. Like I said, I'm not close to this and have only heard rumours hence the question.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I spoke to the pathbuilders (on site) last April. I was on the bike / trail above RL heading down to Picadilly.
Jist of that convo was their (and the Estates) perception of the damage caused by bikes. Due, in no small part, to publicity on the web / in mags...
I asked about the link trail over from the Lodge and was told they were leaving that 'as is' to discourage mtb use in order to preserve the intergrity of the trail down to Picadilly. I mentioned also the new pathworks from Bynack More > Ryvoan as they 'appeared to me' to be very anti bike in their design. They weren't involved but he reckoned there was some truth in that.
As a group I dont believe we have representation / dialogue with Landowners (in the same way the SMC, Ramblers et al have for example)nor am I aware of any mtb org that directly helps with pathbuilding etc. Personally I feel these are issues more worthy of debate...
Posted 4 months ago # -
Hope not
Posted 4 months ago # -
Hope not what Diane?
To add - I know nothing of the BB situ but the Estate actively promote and encourage mtb use on the lower forest trails. To which end they have widened / sanitised all the major paths below Picadilly. Very different to what most of us here would consider mtb...
Notice also that Loch an Eilein was getting this treatment last year. Be a sad day if that's ever extended out towards Loch Gamhna ;-(
Posted 4 months ago # -
Nothing to see out towards Loch Gamhna
Posted 4 months ago # -
Personally I think these trail rebuilders/builders have a secret snicker everytime they construct a wide water bar as they imagine how it is going to obstruct the flow of the trail for mountain bikers and they have an extra little giggle at the thought of how many blown tyres it is going to cause.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Interesting about the link trail as the last time I used it, it was a boggy mess. In discouraging mtbers, the knock on effect is to discourage walkers as well.
What's the story with the path up Bynack Mor? I've not ridden that for over a year. Any pics of how it now looks and what's been done?
I gather Carn Ban Mor has been sanitised also.
Cheers
Sanny
Posted 4 months ago # -
Sanny - Member
And why not. Erosion is erosion regardless of who causes it.
Interesting about the link trail as the last time I used it, it was a boggy mess. In discouraging mtbers, the knock on effect is to discourage walkers as well.Personally, I think they should ban the bluddy horses, but since they actually belong to the estate, that's probably a wee bit harsh!
Posted 4 months ago # -
Personally, I think they should ban the bluddy horses
I'll raise a glass to that!
Posted 4 months ago # -
It's hardly discouraging walkers - they mostly come up the main path. The Estate know that mtbr's use the road / track as a loop. BTW their next task was pathwork on Braeriach and I'm guessing the LG side of the Chalamain Gap must be on the radar - the Gap is certainly getting easier as the years pass by
BM has muckle great drainage ditches - shallow but just about the track length of the average mtb. CBM, so called, (it's the Foxhunters path)has had pathwork done just above and below the tree line. Hardly surprising really - 10 years ago I doubt more than hundred folk had ever ridden it. Now it gets blabbed about endlessly on here and elsewhere as a must do on the Scottish circuit...
Posted 4 months ago # -
I cycled up the Bynack Mor path last April and it was great as an ascent, very smooth and ridable upto about 850 ASL, the path down the other side was a bitch but fun and very techy
I would imagine that coming down the smooth Bynack more path wouldn't give any excitement.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Bash Heather - I hope that 'they' are not trying to discourage mtbers at Rothiemurchus. Aviemore rocks
(And I only dided a bit of it)
Posted 4 months ago # -
surely a call to Dave ? at Bothy would nip any rumours in the bud ? t'interweb has a knack of perpetuating and developing myths 'growing arms and legs even'..... hey ho, we can always go ride the summit anyway
Posted 4 months ago # -
I had heard that the owner doesn't like mountain bikers as they don't think that they make any money out of them, and this was part of the of the reason for ending Bothy Bikes lease.
This is despite that fact that they have a cafe opposite the old BB shop.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Must admit I always thought BB location at Rothiemurchus was position A. Dalfaber, relatively speaking, is at the arse end of nowhere... There must have been some very compelling reasons.
>as they don't think that they make any money out of them,<
On the contrary - they are indirectly creaming it out of the mtb fraternity. Been riding up there for > 20 years and my family, extended family and our friends have spent many £thousands on all the activities they offer.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Maybe they think they can make more money by hiring out Segways.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Or maybe they will just start hiring bikes directly themselves for the family market and direct them to their £2 map of three family routes?
Posted 4 months ago # -
Hey folks,
Back in 1989 and 1990 Rothiemurchus Estate invited the UK round of the Grundig Mountain Biking World Championship to Scotland (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qet7pWVfhI8) but Strathpeffer lured them away in 1991. Since then Rothiemurchus have let premises to Adam Gordon followed by David Keegan to provide MTB hire and services.
The Rothiemurchus path network is enjoyed by over 370,000 walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders every year and over the last few years has proved especially suitable and popular with families and leisure bikers. Mike’s Bikes will be opening a MTB hire and accessory shop focusing on families and leisure bikers in the Old Tennis Pavilion - formerly Bothy Bikes. They will retain their Aviemore shop which caters for all levels of Mountain Biking and are now an approved Specialized 29er test centre.
The increase in visitor numbers has led to increased pressure on our paths so on-going maintenance is necessary to ensure the quality is maintained. The income from commercial activities such as car parking and bike hire is an essential part of helping everyone to care for this natural, unique but sensitive environment we are fortunately surrounded by.
Posted 4 months ago # -
"Or maybe they will just start hiring bikes directly themselves for the family market and direct them to their £2 map of three family routes?"
I think someone nicked my idea
Welcome to the forum Rothiemurchus.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I visit Aviemore pretty regularly. It's not that many years ago that I was told quite categorically by a Rothiemurchus person that I there was no biking on the trail I was on. The Estate have always been anti biking and have stated as much over the years.
Rothiemurchus have a clear agenda to discourage anyone from their land who they can't make top dollar from. Mountain bikers have simply been seen as a hinderance to the cash cow the Grant family were born into. The right to roam forced them to stop directly discouraging mtbs and other 'outsiders' from the land but has not stopped back door tactics. There is only one reason that the new gates have been placed around Loch an Eilein etc - to deter bikes. Most of the gates have a few feet of fence either side then stop - clearly there for no other purpose. It speaks chapters that Rothiemurchus can only refer to a single event 20 years ago to create the idea that they welcome bikes.
Despite being in receipt of huge amounts of public money to preserve, develop and maintain the landscape the estate still acts as a feudal landowner dictating to the masses. Ask the organisers of the Aviemore Half Marathon. Rothiemurchus refused to allow the marathon to use the Old Logging Way for a couple of hours each year forcing hundreds of runners needlessly onto the road causing traffic chaos and several near misses. Who funded a good chunk of the Logging Way??? We did... Who has to doff cap for permission to use our trail? Us again...
If you're not shelling out for Quad Bikes, Shooting, Go Ape or the rest of the activities Rothiemurchus want to sell you then you are clearly not welcome. As independent people bikers will always be seen as vermin by the estate and treated with equal distain.
Bothy Bikes have clearly been made to suffer for the increasing popularity of Aviemore as a biking destination - without their promotion, enthusiasm and encouragement of all sectors of biking, Rothiemurchus wouldn't have to slum it with the mtb oiks despite the huge amount of direct and indirect money us bikers bring to the local economy.
Come the revolution...
Posted 4 months ago # -
I go to Aviemore a few times every year and have never been made to feel unwelcome by anyone on the Rothiemurchus Estate. Maybe it depends what sort of attitude you go with?
Many years ago, the tracks round the back of Loch Morlich had big deer fences on them - with suitably tall gates. Nice to see that these all disappeared too.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Well I spent two weeks at Rothiemurchus last summer. Camped in their campsite, spent a lot of money in their shop and mostly rode my bike.
For camping and food etc I probably spent £300 with them so clearly MTBing does bring in money.
Wasn't made to feel unwelcome at all either and will probably go back next year. Burma road - mmmmmmm
Posted 4 months ago # -
surely a call to Dave ? at Bothy would nip any rumours in the bud
That's where the rumour came from.
Posted 4 months ago #
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