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Just saw this article in the Edinburgh evening News
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Park-groups-peddle-mountain-bike.6726482.jp
Wow, I'd vaguely heard about the Craigmillar ones, but Corstorphine could be interesting!
Although 'pentlands are quite a trek away' suggest they'll be aimed at people who consider 15 minutes along the canal 'quite a trek'.
Hmmm, is there really room for new trails in any of these areas? There's already significant footpath network, and part of the appeal of these parks is the feeling of quiet space in the city. Building world-class level racing circuits in addition to the existing path network doesn't sit well with me. Were there not plans to develop trails at Hillend? Much more space there, car parking etc...
On the other hand, if building some stuff keeps bikers off the paths (on Corry Hill esp.) then that's probably a good thing. The relaxing of access to bikers in these parks has made a real mess in places 🙁
Can't see there being much room for trails in some of those locations, and I'd be surprised if Corstorphine Hill ever happens. I don't see any of these places managing to have more than 5 minutes of riding, so only of interest if it is on your doorstep, or you plan to make good use of some techy skills bits. Still, extra trails are always welcomed, as it makes for interesting bits on longer routes for us city dwellers, or good areas for the kids to get started.
There seems to be some positive signs at Craigmillar though - I'd be interested to see how that pans out. The 48mins race there last year sounded good, so I think I might head along for a look if the same format is run again this year.
It would be nice to see something like a mini Fort William red DH at Hillend. It seems to me like a bit of a no-brainer. There is plenty of land available, a chair lift equipped ski centre in financial trouble, and plenty of bikers already in and around the Pentlands.
The Craigmillar thing looks very promising- trail design by Pete Laing, initial public consultation already done... Met Stacy the ranger who's in charge of the project at a trailfairies session and you can't mistake the enthusiasm for it. All very cool.
Really interesting, shame the consultation phase seems to have slipped past unnoticed. I reckon there is a good representation of Edinburger bikers on here so will be interesting to hear if anyone heard of this during the public consultation phase.
Anyone know who the 'specialist contractors' are?
There is a lot of potential for a fairly flat but fast route with some interesting woodland sections in Craigmillar Park for sure. They have terrible problems with motorbikes in there though so I'm not sure how the trails would cope with that. Some burnt our cars could provide good action on the skills loops!
Would be good to get cyclists off the walkers paths on Corry hill too.
Good to see some investment in these things.
"so will be interesting to hear if anyone heard of this during the public consultation phase."
I know I posted about it here and on Bikeradar 😉
It would be nice to see something like a mini Fort William red DH at Hillend. It seems to me like a bit of a no-brainer. There is plenty of land available, a chair lift equipped ski centre in financial trouble, and plenty of bikers already in and around the Pentlands.
Yup, was thinking exactly the same thing after reading Kit's comments. I can't see Midlothian Council spending the money on it at the moment, but a couple of trails parallel to the main slope and a bit of money spent on the chairlifts could provide some extra income for the centre, especially since the Innerleithen chairlift seems to never get any further forward.
Ach I missed this, don't think I was a member here then.
Re Hillend - I thought there used to be a bike trail you could get the chairlift up to , but it was supposed to be muddy and not very good?
Really good stuff. Wish I still worked for CEC parks!
Think the problem with that plan would be that the vertical difference at hillend isn't huge, and there'd be nothing to stop people riding to the top. It's only about 300 feet IIRC
Andrew, I've walked up Hillend and wouldn't fancy trying to push my bike too! Depends how much the lift is as to whether people are prepared to pay, though.
Andrew, I've walked up Hillend and wouldn't fancy trying to push my bike too! Depends how much the lift is as to whether people are prepared to pay, though.
It would depend if there is something up there worth riding. Right now there isn't. (There are some nice wee trails that come down to the top of the chairlift, but nothing really that exciting from the top of the chairlift to the ski centre.)
I would be happy to pay 10-20 quid for a few hours red graded DHing, personally. If you think about how much it realistically costs to get to GT and back, that's not really unreasonable.
I think you could get a nice wee trail or 3 twixt chairlift and ski centre to session for a few hours of an afternoon. It is indeed bloody steep going further up from there so I can't see too many people heroing up from the lift. It could be good for the ski centre, Emma and tracy from the hub could take over the caf at the ski centre and hey presto we have achieved world peace!
I would too fwiw, if the trails justified it... But I'm not sure how many folks would. And the build cost would be pretty substantial to do it right. Then again you'd be wanting to build it out of grants and EU money not your capital.
Saw Pete Laing looking at corstorpine hill last week. Think that it's a good idea on the whole, but not sure I would want every Edinburgh park to be turned into a trail centre, think they should be kept to fairly short routes mainly for young people. Think that Craigmiller park is an ideal location for something a bit more, as the park is a bit crappy (quite literary in places) at the moment and needs some identity, it's essentially a nice park but is just a bit nothing at the moment. Not really a park to go and visit, more just use to walk you dog if it's on your door step (unless you have my dog who refused to go there, she says she too high class for that mess, we don't like to point out to her she's mongrel from the pound!).
Think with Corstorphine hill, there needs to be more work/understanding between the small groups narrow minded walkers and narrow minded mountain bikers! The other day I while walking the dog I moved so many branches that were dangerously placed across paths that mountain bikers have been using, only to find them back across the same paths when we went for our second walk. I have seen a lot of teenagers, not always on great bikes, riding around these trails and if they hit some of these branches, often placed so you can't see them till you are on them, they could have a really nasty accident...or people just ride round them making the path bigger, sigh. But at the same time building trails on bagger sets is just pain stupid and the amount of litter on one area where people have built trails/jumps is appalling.
Think they should try and use and improve on what they have on corstorphine hill already, having worked with young people a lot, there's no better way to put their backs up than destroying what they have done. Give them proper ownership and responsibly for what they have made so far and just help them to improve it. And thus show the other users that they are not evil!
I can't see Corstorphine happening, but Craigmillar is a great option.
It's very underused, large and in an area that could use some investment and somewhere for the kids to ride their nicked bikes!
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Corstorphine hill covers a surprisingly large area, so there's plenty room there to build trails. Would be a great thing to see happen.
South Queensferry's on the go too:
I think both plans should go ahead. I work at the hospital and live right next to corstorphine hill so it would be perfect for me.
re: saughton skate park, apart from the masses just hanging about occasionally causing bother there has been little trouble there. Often walk girlfriends dogs in the park and general increase in skill levels on the bikers/boarder in the park is quite impressive. Only problem is Im less inclined to venture in on my jump bike as my skills have declined if anything.