Building your own trail?
Mancunianfightingcat
Posts: 2,054
Has anybody every built their own trail?
There's 30 acres of woodland on a steep hill up for sale near me and it's got me thinking.
How long do you reckon it would take to build a decent weather proof track and more importantly, what do you think it would cost?
There's a 90m elevation drop and about 600m width. I guess it's similar size to Stainburn woods. Just playing around on memory map, you should be able to get a 2km track in here with minimal uphill!
Am I mad for even contemplating this?
There's 30 acres of woodland on a steep hill up for sale near me and it's got me thinking.
How long do you reckon it would take to build a decent weather proof track and more importantly, what do you think it would cost?
There's a 90m elevation drop and about 600m width. I guess it's similar size to Stainburn woods. Just playing around on memory map, you should be able to get a 2km track in here with minimal uphill!
Am I mad for even contemplating this?
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Comments
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Get permission from the land owner for a start.
Its diffuilt to predict how long it will take, really depends on what the state of the ground is like. If its under trees with little ground cover, then it won't take as long as say, clearing out brambles and suchlike.
Cost is a difficult one, if you've got a group of volunteers (say a local club), then the labour is free. If your paying someone, its not going to be cheap.
There will be a cost of tools, chainsaws, brushcutters, along with any materials you have to buy.Intense Socom
Inbred0 -
Sir HC wrote:Get permission from the land owner for a start.
I was thinking that would be ME!
Thanks for the other tips though. There is woods on the land currently, but it's not very dense. I might take a peek on the way past later and check out the terrain and the ground surface!0 -
where abouts in lancashire are you just out of interest mate?0
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before you even consider buying look at all the legal responsibilities and Insurance requirements."Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown0 -
Will it be just for private use or would anyone be able to ride there? You'll probably need insurance and all as well.
No idea what the cost of building and running a trail would be sorry, but make sure you cover yourself!http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss9/ ... lurLT2.jpg
http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss9/ ... c611a8.jpg0 -
tombate911 wrote:where abouts in lancashire are you just out of interest mate?
near Clitheroe.
Good point guys (& girls) regarding insurance. I'll look into that first.
Just thought that if the land was cheap, it might make sense, but, if I was the land owner, I'd be reponsible!!!!!!0 -
Land isnt usually cheap. You may be better of getting to know a landowaner for a certain part of woodland and see if he would let you use that land for some tracks. Obviously we would all like our own bit of woodland but might be pricey.0
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Woodland for sale can actually be very reasonable as it has no real use. Got to be worth looking into.0
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The futures bright....
The future is PINK0 -
If you want to get into trail building I hear there's quite a bit of work going on up at Gisburn Forest which should be on your doorstep. Hasn't been much on the web about it but I believe there are volunteer trail builders involved as well as professionals.
Sure I saw a figure £ 400k bandied around somewhere as being the funding for the project. Anyone know anything more (I think they are hoping they can turn it into a genuine English trail centre to rival the Scottish & Welsh ones eventually).
Can't imagine land in the ribble valley is very cheap and quite a lot of it is covered by the Forest of Bowland areas which might make planning permission an issue.It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.
I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result0 -
buy the land and then get Orange to sponsor your track, hey presto, The Orange Trail, in cats back garden. Sounds like a winner to me.
seriously though The idea sounds great but I'm sure putting it in to practice would be a nightmare.0 -
The land currently belongs to United Utilities and is up for auction soon. You'd never be able to build on it as the hill is too steep, but it has roads on 2 sides so access is great and you can ride from bottom to top on tarmac, and it curerently has a public footpath ruinning a long 1 edge! I can't see many people being intersted in it other than for investment purposes.
Surely I'd find some volunteer trail builders on here!!
As for Gisburn forest, there is work going on up there but, this place I've seen is 10 minutes from home and could be ridden to and from easily!0 -
Got to be at least as safe as any other investment in the current economic climate. And you'd have a good supply of firewood for when the sh*t really hits the fan.
Seriously though, it sounds like it could be a brilliant thing to do. My first priority would be to find out how woodland was viewed as an investment risk at the moment - to find out if it's likely to hold it's value or increase in value.0 -
Sounds all good to me but agree with Nicklouse0
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it sold for £48k!!!!!!
Just a touch over my budget, but never mind, maybe the new owners will let me play on it any way!0
