WORK has started on a £500,000 purpose-built mountain bike trail on land owned by the royal family, the Herald newspaper has reported.

Construction work started on the Glenlivet estate in Moray yesterday with a sod-cutting ceremony.

Alison Nimmo, chief executive of the Crown Estate, said: "This is a fast growing sport and this extraordinary new biking trail will be an important addition to the Cairngorms visitor offer.

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"The trail, designed and built by local businesses, is a great example of local partnership working.

"It will help to underpin the area's economy and attract visitors and spending power to this beautiful part of the National Park."

The project at the Carn Daimh Forest near Tomintoul is funded by the Crown Estate, the European Regional Development Fund, Cairngorms National Park Authority and Moray Council.

When the project is complete the cross-country bike trails will be accompanied by a mountain bike centre.

Paul Masson of Cycletherapy, who designed the new trails, said: "Designing a set of trails that will please as many people as possible is a tricky proposition, but the task at Glenlivet was made much easier by the terrific terrain available."

(NE)