Whitelees forest consultation (Scotland)

There's still forest at the southern end, down towards Fenwick, Galston and Newmilns. Scottish Power are offering up only the turbine paths for cycling. That's it. Chris Hoy has been booked as part of his sponsorship (pre-Beijing) to open the visitor centre in the Spring.

I completed the consultation and requested separate designated mountain bike trails, graded by difficulty.

I've just stumbled across this thread and I'm shocked. Have lived in East Ren all my life, Mearns, Eaglesham and now Clarkston.

I was familiar with the single turbine that has stood there for years, used to have great fun biking up and down the track. I've obviously noticed that the Turbines had multiplied over the last few years, but until now did not realise how massive this site is going to be.

If they do away with the forest, it's going to be totally lacking in soul and surely will not hold any interest for anyone apart from the novelty value. I for one would rather travel to somewhere that looks a bit more natural and has a bit of life.

I'm going to take a ride up today morning and see what's what, haven't been up that way for years.

I stay in East Kilbride and I cycled offroad up in Whitelee years ago. I was always surprised that this did not receive some kind of stanes treatment as it's massive and is/was virtually unused by the public.

I can't believe that there isn't scope to put trails in here in the future.

I also can't believe this location wasn't considered for the the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and that they chose Cathkin Braes(!!!) instead!

Obviously it's not quite that simple, but the Cathkin Braes is not suitable for this event. Far too wee. I don't accept that Whitelee couldn't have been used if some folk in charge got their fingers out and started talking.

Would also mean I would be left with some classy built trails on my doorstep after the games were over.

Yup - Calderglen is small but some good sections. Not particularly bike friendly though. Busy with pedestrians/dog walkers. Used to have no cycling signs up but haven't seen them for a while. There is also a lot of stairs if that ain't your bag. There is a singletrack link to langlands moss too. That really is bike hostile territory. Dog walkers seem to think they rule the roost there (just like everywhere else!!!) and there are "NO CYCLING PLEASE" signs put up by the council. I don't think these hold any particular legality though, given the new access legislation. It's just a pain having to stop all the time and be sneered at. However if you go at a quieter time it's okay and it's not that far to Whitelee from Langlands.

Was there, yesterday, Saturday - doing a road route from Calderglen to Quarter, Larkhall, Stonehouse, Glassford and back. The road at Limekilnburn was shut for re-tarring and we got a talking-to by some maintenance guy. We just said we were lost! I had a look at the tracks around the park and sure enough these were full of dog walkers. Might make Calderglen the starting point for a wider MTB route in future. Re-Blantyre etc ... I once did the River Clyde route from Glasgow to Lanark. Was a mix of all sorts, going through Blantyre, Strathclyde Park and then a section where there is no right of access. Pretty tiring but we took the train back to Glasgow Central after climbing up that monster of a hill going into Lanark. If you ever fancy coming down to Ayrshire there's a multitude of trails not that obvious on the map. Ninety minutes of travelling each way though. Check Walkers Cycling shop (Kilmaurs) and club on the internet.

Yes. Wednesday nights for a couple of hours, 7pm to 9pm, at places like Darvel, Irvine, Glennifer Braes, Cathkin Braes, Lochwinnoch. Weekend rides take them all over. There are 80 members in the club, two thirds into MTBing. Only the daring go out in the dark - about half a dozen to a dozen.

Phone the shop and ask for John, Neil, Stevie or Anna - they're the adventurous ones that go out at night. 01563 544488. They will likely meet at the bridge in Morton Park, Darvel, for the climb up the concrete road to the Lanfine Estate. I can hardly negotiate the trails in this plantation in the light - it's a young man's game. The route leader will be Gavin Turnbull who lives local. The distance is quite short. Mention me if you do phone. I write their newspaper articles for them. www.kilmarnockstandard@s-un.co.uk