Proposed Aline Community Woodland Mountain Bike Trail Centre
Looking South East from Griamacleit
Aline Community Woodland approached the club with the offer of the use of the Aline Forest area to develop a mountain bike trail centre. They wish to continue to enhance the community use of the woodland - Harris Gun Club have built a superb shooting range facility in one corner of the forest, the Scaladale Centre use Loch na h-Aibhne Ruaidhe for kayaking and Stornoway Canoe club use the forest road for access to the Loch Seaforth tidal rapids and beyond.
This proposal was discussed at a club meeting in December 2016 and again at the 2017 club agm and the club have decided to accept the offer in principal. A sub-committee has been set up to take this forward.
OS Map of Aline Forest
Aline Woodland straddles the A859 approximately 20 miles south of Stornoway with an area of approximately 636ha. The area includes the magnificent viewpoint of Griamacleit (155m) and a stretch of the coastline at Port Griogaspull on Loch Seaforth. Both of these can be reached by existing trails – Griamacleit by a stretch of the Hebridean Way and Griogaspull by a gravel forest road. There is also an existing play park, boardwalk and car park.
Looking south along Hebridean Way from Griamacleit
Looking north westalong Hebridean Way from Griamacleit
The project concept is to build a mountain bike trail centre suitable for riders of all ages, skill levels and ambitions. The centre would have green to black graded trails, a skills training loop and a pump track. The skills area and graded trails would enable riders of all abilities to improve and develop as riders. Ideally the project would also include support facilities such as a café, bike hire and bike shop. We would also like to develop the facilities for other users, including walkers, families and horse riding and provide interpretation signage for visitors.
Taster video by Michael Miller
This project offers the club a unique island opportunity to develop forest bike trails to complement the North Harris mountain trails, the natural splendour of the Lewis Coastline tracks and the Lews Castle Grounds trails. This combination of riding locations and styles and the stunning Hebridean scenery would make the island a very attractive place for a biking holiday.
This is a long term project which will be built in phases and take some years to complete.
Looking South from Port Griogaspull