GISBURN FOREST MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL
INTRODUCTION
An Overview
Set in the Bowland Fells, Gisburn Forest
is the largest wooded area in Lancashire , it has a history of mountain biking events having hosted
NAMBS and NEMBA events in both cross country and downhill around 10 years ago.
As the sport of mountain biking has grown exponentially over this time, the
facilities at Gisburn have not been developed to accommodate. During this
period there has been a boom in mountain bike trail centres around the UK
Gisburn Forest Gisburn Forest
The
Importance of Mountain Biking Trails
With the current emphasis
on health initiatives and increasing outdoor recreation, mountain biking plays
a key part in the Sport and Physical Activity agenda. Recent consultations in
the
A grading system, similar
to skiing, is used with mountain bike trails, with blue, red and black routes
to denote their difficulty.
A blue route is aimed at
novice mountain bikers with little off-road experience necessary, the routes
have shallow gradients without steep downhill or climbs and are of a decent
width to allow users to ride with confidence and develop the skills required to
progress to the harder red routes.
Red routes are designed for
experienced off road users, requiring more physical strength and technical
skill; the red routes are suited to your enthusiast biker. Trail can be narrow
and climbs and descents generally steeper.
Black routes are designed
for expert mountain bikers; generally they feature more technical features that
require good biking skills to ride and a more physical challenge as well.
Gisburn will have a full
Blue loop that will see the most traffic built to a high standard with
surfacing to ensure a consistent and hard packed trail surface. The Blue route
will be 9 km long. The longer Red loop will be 22km but will share some of Blue
route on its way out and in. The Red loop features a mixture of build
techniques to give the rider a more exciting experience. There will be small
Black options as well as a designated black area on the Red loop built as
opt-in sections safe guarding riders from stumbling across pieces of trail
outside their own ability. These are often un-surfaced providing the extra
challenge of less predictable ride surface.
This will be a community
based trail where the trail is the focus and the local community provides the
facilities. In this way the cluster of accommodation providers around the trail
can be mobilised to form a steering group alongside local riders, residents and
members of the countryside agencies. This group may then organise the design,
marketing and maintenance of the trail and be a driving force for the
development of the trail. It is anticipated that the Trail will be developed in
two phases; the Blue Trail which is predominantly in existence and an extension
of a Red Trail which would form a figure of eight over the Forest, and be the
basis of the first phase.
The second phase would be
the completion of the 22km Red loop and Black options.
It is proposed that the
Gisburn Forest Mountain Bike Trail be seen as part of the Pennine Lancashire
Adrenaline Gateway Project. This has been adopted by Regional Partners as a
major tourism and regeneration project and as such will attract resources and
funding which may cascade down to Gisburn particularly since the trails have
been designed by Rowen Sorrel, a major designer and competitive mountain biker
who is working as a consultant on the Gateway, there is already a significant
trail in the forest and importantly there is an infrastructure around the trail
with car parking, good access and accommodation.
The Pennine Lancashire
Adrenaline Gateway
The long-term ambition of the Adrenaline Gateway is to reinvent Pennine
Lancashire as
It is a concept that builds on the area’s established strengths: an
outstanding natural environment and the kernels of economic activity that are
already exploiting this growing market for outdoor and
adrenaline sport.
When complete, the Adrenaline Gateway will be a hub-and-spoke
destination, with a landmark resort project of national and international
profile – the Adrenaline Village –attracting large numbers of visitors to the
area and “feeding” them to spoke sites operating throughout Pennine Lancashire.
It is accepted,
however, the concept is too embryonic at this stage to attract the necessary
funding for large-scale capital investment. Consequently, the short-term goal
of the Adrenaline Gateway is to focus on brand development – to establish
Pennine Lancashire as the country’s premier adrenaline sports destination, on
the strength of existing product and environment.
The Gisburn
Forest Mountain Bike Trails present a chance to update and market a sports and
tourism opportunity already present in the
Natural and Industrial Heritage
The Gisburn Forest Trail celebrates this heritage by re-using and
re-interpreting it for the enjoyment and education of all visitors. Mountain
biking trails will re-use the tracks and pathways that were once used by man,
cart and horse for transport between the quarries and farms. Redundant
buildings will once again be used as retail, catering and accommodation space.
The project not only affords an opportunity to enjoy the countryside, but also
to understand it.
Training, Instruction and Initiation
This is an important feature for the Gisburn Forest Trail. It is already
used as a mountain biking centre, particularly for beginners and families and
this can be built upon giving important links to other sports training and
possibly extreme sports training opportunities. If the
Our Vision:
By 2010, The Gisburn Forest
Trail in Pennine Lancashire will be known, both nationally and internationally,
as part of the Adrenaline Gateway -England’s Adrenaline Playground – the country’s premiere destination for
people wanting to enjoy and appreciate athletic, leisure and cultural activity
in the outdoors and at their own pace.
Our
To realise this Vision, we
will provide every possible opportunity to participants of all levels and
backgrounds – from beginners to the elite – to learn and to practice mountain
biking as part of a larger adrenaline sports offer and to otherwise enjoy the
widest possible range of outdoor athletic, leisure and cultural activities
based in and around the Gisburn Forest.
Our Objectives:
- To support
the development, growth and expansion of existing providers of outdoor
leisure, sport and cultural activity throughout and around the
- To provide
the widest possible range of outdoor leisure, sport and cultural activity
around the
- To
encourage and assist the widest possible public access to these activities
- To ensure
that all providers in the area offer the highest possible quality of
teaching and instruction to participants of all levels, from beginners to
enthusiasts to the elite
- To protect,
enhance, interpret and encourage the enjoyment of the area’s precious
natural heritage
- To
interpret and celebrate the area’s industrial heritage
- To
organise, support and attract a rich calendar of events and activities
ranging in size from events of purely local interest to international
meets and competitions
- To organise
and manage training opportunities for local residents
- To advance
the national health agenda, especially by stressing the importance and
availability of sport generally and outdoors pursuits in particular
- To raise
the profile of the region, both nationally and internationally, especially
by growing and strengthening the perception of the
GISBURN
FOREST MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS
PROJECT
STRATEGY
Introduction
and Summary
The picture that
emerges from an analysis of Pennine Lancashire’s history and current state is
one of high deprivation in the urban areas resulting from post-industrial
decline in its staple manufacturing and extraction industries, and an affluence
in Ribble Valley which hides a certain amount of rural isolation and
disadvantage, tempered by the considerable opportunity that is afforded by the
area’s most important remaining assets.
Key amongst these
is the quality of the natural environment. This is the main reason that
small-scale economic activity centred on sport and outdoors pursuits has
already begun to take root.
A separate but
related strength of the area is a nascent entrepreneurial culture – albeit of
limited aspiration – that is seen in high rates of business formation, self-employment
and owner-operated retail and catering businesses. Most of these businesses are
relatively small scale, with a high rate of attrition and the jobs they create
are low skilled and low-wage. Yet it
demonstrates an entrepreneurial zeal amongst the local community that holds the
key to the area’s regeneration and renewal. Equally, it provides hope that –
given the opportunity – the area can develop as a genuinely unique visitor
destination, characterised by locally owned and operated businesses.
The third key
strength of the area is the energy of the local community. Indeed, it is
through the interconnectedness, passion and activism of the community that the
Gisburn Forest Trails has developed to its current position. The project emerged from the local
community’s desire to seize on the opportunities that exist in the area to
regenerate the local countryside through indigenous economic activity.
The Trail will
assist local businesses, entrepreneurs and grassroots community groups by
enveloping them within a sports and tourism cluster that can have national and
international profile and significance.
An outline
economic impact assessment for the project has been undertaken. In summary, the
analysis shows that the existing Mountain Bike presence and associated
facilities creates very few jobs for the local area. The proposed Gisburn
Forest Mountain Bike Trail would increase economic activity significantly,
boosting net additional job figures to 12.
The vast majority
of destination projects impact on their local economies in three ways:
- Direct, indirect and induced economic
impact arising from increased tourist spend attracted to a given area;
- Improved self-image and self-esteem
(internally) and stronger place and brand recognition (externally) arising
from the high profile and iconic nature of the development (provided it is
successful, which is not always the case);
- Depending on the exact nature of the
project, they may also have educational and/or cultural benefits, for example
those one would expect from a museum, a gallery or an opera house.
As a major
destination project in the
The Gisburn Forest Mountain Bike Trail is an active,
participatory experience that impacts directly and demonstrably on people’s
health and well-being, their sense of self-worth and accomplishment, and – at a
local level – their ability to re-enter the labour force with confidence and
ambition. This is due to the nature of the project (which is an active,
sports-based project rather than a passive, spectator experience), and the way
it has been structured (i.e. to deliver against a host of agendas rather than a
narrow tourism-driven objective).
The key project
benefits are summarised in Figure 1
Figure 1: Key Benefits
Policy
Area
|
Key
Contribution of the Gisburn Forest Trail
|
Image and Ambition
|
Whilst there is no architectural
landmark, the Gisburn Forest Trail can still contribute significantly and
demonstrably to an improved self-image for the area. In particular, even in
its current form, the project has the great benefit of being based on outdoor
sport, which gives it a very real physical as well as psychological
dimension. People will not only feel
better about their region and locality because it is associated with a
nationally recognised destination – they will quite literally feel better about
themselves as a result of increased and improved physical activity that the
Trail encourages and enables.
|
Key Outcome: Improved perceptions of Tosside and
Slaidburn, reducing feeling of rural isolation and improved self worth
demonstrated through specific surveys in the district.
|
|
Population and Migration
|
Pure quantitative evidence is more
telling in this respect. We know that
the current pattern of out-migration is being driven by the younger cohort
relocating for employment and quality of life reasons. We also know that mountain biking appeals
especially to younger people. It follows that the project fills an important
niche in the local economy – encouraging younger people to stay in the area
by providing both “things to do” and, in many respects, access to new
employment opportunities.
|
Key Outcome: Reduced out-migration of local residents,
especially amongst those in younger age cohorts, demonstrated through ONS and
Census data.
|
|
Crime and Antisocial Behaviour
|
Sport has been used as a means to
combat youth crime and anti-social behaviour in the Ribble Valley as
demonstrated in the skate parks established in Clitheroe and Longridge, it
has been widely recognised that sport provides a constructive outlet for the
energy and drive of young people who might otherwise turn to antisocial
behaviour, petty crime, alcohol and drugs, or worse.
|
Key Outcome: Reduced incidence of petty crime and ASBOs
in
|
|
Health
|
The health benefits of the Gisburn
Forest Trail are self-evident. However, it should be noted that these would
extend not just to those that participate regularly in the “high intensity”
sport, but also to those who participate in lower intensity outdoor
activities and leisure/cultural pursuits.
The entire ethos of the project is built on these two principles:
(1) to
get people outdoors; and
(2) that
regardless of what sport they engage in, they will be encouraged, through the
highest quality of training and instruction, to move along at their own pace,
from the “give it a try” beginner through to the “once a week” enthusiast.
|
Key Outcome: Ultimately, the outcome will be a healthier
population, but this will only be felt in the long term. In the short/medium term, the key outcome
will be higher participation rates in sport and physical activity by local
residents, demonstrated through periodic surveys and Census data.
|
|
Economy
|
The economic impact of the project
rests on the creation of opportunity (as discussed above). Principally, this
improved opportunity will come in three forms:
(1) Through
the conventional direct, indirect and induced economic impact of higher
tourist spend;
(2) Through the training and skills development programmes
that will be run by and through the Forest Trail in partnership with others;
and
(3) By
enveloping a wide range of local businesses within the “cluster” and under
the Adrenaline Gateway a brand, which will provide opportunities for business
development and expansion for local entrepreneurs.
|
Key Outcome: Demonstrable increase in tourist spend in
|
|
Leisure Activities
|
The major contribution of the Forest
Trail is self-evident, inasmuch as its raison
d’etre is to improve leisure facilities for Pennine Lancashire. It is worth noting that many of the spoke
sites are already in operation and enjoying a measure of success, so there is
credible evidence to suggest that – given the opportunity – the regional
population will get behind the Adrenaline Gateway and its constituent
projects.
|
Key Outcome: Higher participation rates in sport and
physical activity by local residents, demonstrated through periodic surveys
and Census data.
|
Fit
with Local, Regional and National Policies
Considerable
effort has gone into ensuring that key stakeholders have been kept informed
about the project and that the “Steering Group” has considered their
stakeholders’ aims and objectives in developing their own. The strategy of the
Gisburn Forest Trail has a seamless strategic fit with all of the key policy
and strategy statements that affect Lancashire,
In particular,
the following documents have been consulted to make that fit.
Regional Economic
Strategy, North West Development Agency
The Northwest
Regional Skills Partnership (Priorities for Action, July 2005), North West
Development Agency
The
The Strategy for
Tourism in
A Strategy for
Major Events in
Rural Renaissance
– The Regional Rural Recovery Plan, EnglandsNorthWest
Ambition
Lancashire – 2005-2025 Strategic Vision, The
Lancashire
Economic Development Portfolio,
Lancashire
Sub-Regional Action Plan 2006 – 2007,
Environmental
Action Strategy,
The Key
Objectives for the Project:
- Improve the self-image of the area
- Deliver world class outdoor sports
and cultural facilities
- Create new training and employment
opportunities for local residents
- Facilitate the spread of ancillary
private sector entrepreneurial activity
- Raise the profile of the region
- Advance local health agenda and
deliver demonstrable health benefits
- Support the development, growth and
expansion of existing providers of outdoor leisure, sport and cultural
activity throughout the
- Reduce crime and disorder in the area
- Enable public access to these
activities
- Deliver a rich calendar of special
events and activities
- Deliver high quality teaching and
instruction to participants of all levels
- Protect, interpret and encourage the
enjoyment of the natural heritage
- Preserve, interpret and celebrate the
industrial heritage
There
is a large potential market for visitors to the Gisburn Mountain Biking Forest
Trails as seen in Figure 2
Figure 2: Key Market Issues
Market
Issue
|
Implication
for the Gisburn Forest Trail
|
Location
|
The location is a strong one, within
easy reach of major conurbations, including
|
Repeat Visitation
|
Key to sustainability and ongoing
development of the Trail is not exceptionally high market penetration, but
the ability to attract repeat visits by day visitors and regular visits by
outdoor sports enthusiasts.
There is more reason, however, to
expect a high rate of repeat visitation to a leisure facility based on sport
than one based on pure entertainment, arts, culture or heritage. Sport is
something that one engages in on a regular basis, whilst other forms of
entertainment can be satisfactorily experienced at relatively infrequent
intervals. This is true for sport generally, but in particular for adrenaline
sports. For both physiological and psychological reasons, adrenaline sport
becomes almost addictive for many. In particular, the thrill that comes from
participating in the first instance can only be maintained by continuously
improving and pushing one’s limits, which demands constant practice.
|
Governing Body
Endorsement
|
Governing body endorsement is a huge
boon to any sports-based attraction and the ability to become a centre for
mountain biking gives the attraction a significant marketing advantage.
|
Special Events
|
Beyond basic infrastructure, the
main tangible “output” of the Adrenaline Gateway at this stage of its
evolution is the concerted and professional development of an events programme.
It is hoped that the Gisburn Forest Trail can be incorporated into that
brand.
-
|
Media Coverage
|
The marketing value of media
coverage, certainly in specialist magazines, but possibly extended with
television and the use of promotional and cultural links will be paramount to
the building of visitor numbers.
|
Retail Experience
|
To the extent possible the project aims to provide
favourable conditions for local operators to meet the retail and catering
demand generated by the site. There is reason to be optimistic in this
regard. The barriers to entry for local entrepreneurs are relatively low.
|
|
|
|
Market
Analysis
The detail of the
Market Analysis for the Gisburn Forest Trail is below:
- The adrenaline sports market –those
enthusiasts who are attracted to the novelty of a new trail and its
technical nature
- The resident market who will be
interested in the top quality facility and the opportunity for safe family
cycling
- The tourist market and the chance to
build and promote the brand
- The supply context
The visitor
projection is below in Figure
3
Figure 3
|
Segment |
Visitor |
Visits |
|
Residents |
|
|
|
0-30 mins |
9,000 |
15,000 |
|
30-60 mins |
40,000 |
55,000 |
|
60-120 mins |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Tourists |
|
|
|
To |
2,500 |
2,500 |
|
To Lancs |
4,000 |
4,000 |
|
Enthusiast/Elite
Total |
12,000 |
20,000 |
|
Events |
|
|
|
Competition |
2,000 |
2,000 |
|
Corporate |
500 |
500 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
100,000 |
129,000 |
Of these visitors
a very small proportion spend more than the day in
Gisburn.
The tourism
cluster around the trail may go some way in generating a holiday visitor
destination based on walking and cycling or simply taking the opportunity to
visit the area for its unspoilt villages and outstanding beauty.
The
spend per visitor is
currently very small so there is potential for companies to build and exploit
the offer.
The supply
context is best exemplified by the provision of bike hire, specialist shops in
the area along with catering and accommodation.
Another
opportunity lies within the forest for training and initiating mountain biking.
The forest trails lend themselves to a safe training environment and there are
several establishments, which can act as training centres providing more
opportunities for employment, brand building and increased self-esteem and
awareness.
COST TO DELIVER
TRAILS
The total project
cost estimated by Rowen Sorrel is £446,536.73
By splitting the
Project into two phases and bringing in the Blue Loop first (which is
predominantly
This figure may
involve £120,000 in cash and the remainder in “kind” using donated material and
labour.
The source of
revenue for this could be
Sport and
Physical Activity
United
Utilities
£10,000
Forestry
Commission
£10,000
Other
£3,000
Total
£120,000