WE RESTORE, MAINTAIN & DEVELOP COMMUNITY TRAILS

The Balquhidder Trail Crew (BTC) is a voluntary group that was setup in 2015 to develop maintain the network of mountain paths and woodland trails in Kirkton Glen and the wider Balquhidder area.

We focus on clearing, restoring, improving and then maintaining trails, with a view to making them accessible, safer and more robust for the enjoyment of the local community and visiting walkers and mountain bikers.

In 2016 the group was formally constituted as an unincorporated Trails Association and is now registered with Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS) who help and support us with trail projects. We work in collaboration with Rangers from Loch Lomond and Trossach National Park, local landowners and managers from Forestry and Land Scotland to ensure we align with their guidance, environmental advice and any relevant legislation.

We currently have a crew of about 30 volunteer members largely made up of outdoor enthisiasts - walkers and mountain bikers who love and respect this natural environment. We use the structure of the association to regularly bring them together in small groups to maintain about 4-5 km of trails, primarily doing 4 things:-

1. Clearing paths and trails of windblown debris.

2. Cutting back summer overgrowth - particularly bracken so people have clear lines of sight and pick-up fewer ticks.

3. Repairing wet and muddy sections by creating drainage solutions and then strengthening soft trail surfaces with stones.

4. Improving the user-experience by routing trails away from boggy areas and onto drier ridges and, where appropriate, routing the paths in, around and over interesting natural features.

We use only hand-tools in our work which helps minimise environmental impact and everything is hand sculpted and naturalised to ensure the end result blends in to the natural habitat. It is a very slow, time-consuming process that requires patience and perseverance, but the outcome is a wonderful network of trails that both the local community and visitors can enjoy.

"We're all in it to ensure that this special natural environment remains safely accessible for locals and visitors, whilst being protected from erosion and damage."

Meet the Crew... a motley looking, but top bunch!

A handful are solid committed regulars. Some are casuals, most are 'very-occasionals' and there have even been a couple of one-hit-wonders, who have never been seen again... But none of that really matters! The key thing is that they have all, at some point, broken sweat for the cause... and thanks to every spade they've lifted and stone they've shifted, we have all got some great trails to enjoy in and around Balquhidder.

We're a friendly bunch, so if you'd like to come and get involved with the Balquhidder Trail Crew and help us develop this asset for all to enjoy CLICK HERE TO LET US KNOW. Once we get your details we'll add you into our WhatsApp group where you'll see who's heading out, what their doing, and when...

We'd love to have you join us...

The work of the BTC has played a key role in providing our local COMMUNITY and CLUBS with PLACES to engage in healthy outdoor VOLUNTEER work, RECREATION and SPORT.  From walking paths for local dog walkers and rambling groups to challenging downhill routes for keen mountain bikers and local mountain bike clubs, the BTC has created and now maintains a network of 4-5km of trails that provide an inspiring environment and place of natural beauty for personal enjoyment and recreational activity.

"We are proud of what we have achieved and delighted to find our work has been so actively embraced and used by so many locals and visitors." Iain Ramsay-Clapham (BTC Chair).

The BTC trails have also played host for a number of local events over the years from rural rambler group gatherings, right through to the Balquhidder Bike Fest, an annual biking event that has at times attracted over 250 locals and visitors to a fantastic day out of cycling, food, music and entertainment. This event has provided a great community occasion that engages local volunteers, young and old as well as attracting local and visiting cyclists.

HELPING SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

In creating A PLACE to visit for walking or biking we also pride ourselves on helping bring additional custom to the local businesses in the area. Whilst the economic impact is hard to measure we aim to attract visitors who will use:-

• The local cafe's and food stops such as Mhor84, the Broch and the Golden Larches.

• The local hotels and accommodation providers (too numerous to mention individually).

• The local bike hire centres and bike repair shops (Wheels in Callander, Comrie Croft and more recently Roll Outdoors).