The third new mountain bike business in the Scottish Borders to be set up with Forestry Commission Scotland has just been given the green light. IBD The Rush of Jedburgh is joining forces with the Commission to create a new food-hire-info centre facility at Newcastleton.

Borders bike business boom

The Rush will provide bike hire, trail information, guiding plus food and refreshments at a new cycling complex in Dykecroft visitor centre, Newcastleton.

The joint venture is part of the European-funded 7stanes project which aims to create seven mountain bike centres right across the south of Scotland.

Jeremy Thompson at Forestry Commission Scotland said:

"We are really excited at The Rush coming on board with us to take forward this venture at Newcastleton. In the Borders we’ve always wanted our mountain bike projects to be run by mountain bikers as this produces a great

product.

"We now have three new businesses starting up as a direct result of our mountain bike developments and this is great news for local employment and the economy. With top notch facilities attracting more visitors we can

really put our stamp on the tourism market."

The Rush is the latest mountain bike business to start up in the Borders following the tyre-tracks of the Hub cafe and shop at Glentress and the downhill mountain bike business Progravity at Innerleithen.

The 7stanes project is being carried out by a partnership of Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Enterprise Dumfries & Galloway, the European Regional Development Fund through the South of Scotland European

Partnership, Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish Borders Councils and Tourist Boards, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Natural Heritage, Solway Heritage, Barony College and local cycling volunteers.

In other news...

Cycling UK chief responds to Government’s plan to back motorists, calls for ‘holistic’ approach to travel

Cycling UK’s chief executive is calling on the UK Government to take a “holistic” approach …