Construction work has started on the £500,000 development of two purpose-built mountain bike trails on the Glenlivet estate in Moray, Scotland.

The new cross-country trails will take advantage of Cairngorms National Park’s wilderness and stunning views and will be constructed predominately within the commercial forest area, with the two routes (10km and 19km) using a combination of existing forest tracks and newly-built singletrack.

Paul Masson of Cycletherapy, the consultant who designed the new trails, said: “Designing a set of trails that will please as many people as possible is a tricky proposition, but the task at Glenlivet was made much easier by the terrific terrain available.

“These trails will draw in a wide range of users, from families with young children to local and visiting hardcore mountain bikers. There will be child-friendly trails that are safe, fun and weatherproof as well as exciting, feature-rich trails for the experts. The trails will be as natural as possible and will really complement and integrate with the environment of the national park.”

Along with the trails, a small visitor centre with space for a cafe, information area, toilets and car parking will also be developed. The project is expected to completed in summer 2013.

The project is led by the Crown Estate and they aim to position the Cairngorms as one of the world’s top mountain biking destinations.

Crown Estate chief executive Alison Nimmo added: “This is a fast growing sport and this extraordinary new biking trail will be an important addition to the Cairngorms visitor offer. The trail, designed and built by local businesses, is a great example of local partnership working. It will help to underpin the area’s economy and attract visitors and spending power to this beautiful part of the national park.”