There’s been a lot of rider/community-led trailbuilding action of late, and the latest project to come to fruition is Jedforest Trails. The group behind the project has secured funding and constructed a series of multi-use waymarked trails around Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders. They’re a combination of existing trails (singletrack, drove roads and farm tracks) and purpose-built sections. The network includes the 40km Justice Trails and two more family/”improvers” trails, the Dere Street Dash and Lanton Loop.

The Justice Trail packs 3,000ft of climbing, and is described as “a challenging cross country route”. You’ll pass through a variety of landscapes on a range of trails. You don’t have to tackle it all at once, you can ride the Justice Trail in smaller sections if you like.

The 10.5km Dere Street Dash features some steep descents and challenging rocky sections, while the 6.5km Lanton Loop is intended to offer fun for all the family, with a few berms and jumps thrown in to improve your skills.

The project was inspired a few years ago by local mountain biker, Tom Miller who saw the potential to create waymarked trails around Jedburgh. He approached Jedburgh Community Council with his idea. An initial route was drawn up by Pete Laing. At that point, plans were already underway to create a circular horse route and so it was decided to join forces and create a multi-user network. In 2002, Tony and Susan Yates of The Rush bike shop in Jedburgh became involved in the project. Over £100,000 in funding was secured from Leader+, Rural Challenge Fund, Jedburgh Common Good Fund, CERS, Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Borders Council. The first step was gaining the support of local landowners who were positive about waymarked routes going across their land and Jedforest Trails would like to thank them for their continued support.

Tony Yates, who has project managed the development of the mountain bike routes, said “We’re really pleased with the routes that have been created. People have been riding the trails over the last couple of weeks and feedback has been very positive. In particular, people have commented on the changing terrain, surfaces and landscapes. We’re sure people will have plenty of fun riding the trails. We’ll now be marketing the trails and hope that riders will come to use them from other areas and this will give a boost to the town”.

The official launch of Jedforest Trails will take place on Sunday 14 August. There’ll be a guided ride at 11am leaving from Duck Row in Jedburgh, following the trails for both mountain bikers and horse riders suitable for all levels of rider. Horse riders and bikers are asked to meet at 10.50am in the Cannongate car park. The rides will be followed with a barbecue at 2.30pm at Murray’s Green in Jedburgh. Leaflets with a map are now available. For more information, please log on to www.jedforesttrails.org or contact Tony or Susan Yates at The Rush on 01835 869643.