Forestry Commission Scotland’s new visitor centre in Glentress Forest, near Peebles, is now open for business.

The new state-of-the-art development, known as Glentress Peel, will cater for the 300,000-plus visitors that flock to the forest every year, making it the top tourist attraction in the Borders.

All built on fully sustainable principles and using timber from the forest, the new centre offers modern facilities including a large café, bike shop, bike hire and an orientation building with changing rooms, showers and toilets.

Forestry Commission Scotland’s recreation and tourism manager for Dumfries and the Borders Hugh McKay said: “Glentress Peel is quite a stunning site with four iconic buildings and we’re sure that visitors will be really interested to see inside for themselves.

“We’ll be working hard with our business partners Alpine Bikes and GT Restaurants to keep Glentress Forest a very welcoming place to go.”

The Glentress Peel development is set in 12 acres of landscaped greenspace, connected by paths and a road. New car parking for 150 vehicles has been created and new interpretation panels will help visitors learn more about the forest.

More details on Glentress Peel can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/glentress