The Dumfries & Galloway Mountain Bike Business Network and www.7stanes.com is starting to put the South of Scotland on the world map with the fantastic trails in the 7stanes and at Drumlanrig.

The Forestry Commission and their partners were keen that local businesses were able to reap the benefit of the substantial public investment made in these trails and as a result Dumfries & Galloway Chamber set up the Mountain Bike Business Network.

The Mountain Bike Business Network is open to any business involved in Mountain Bike related business, however big or small. The Network costs £100 to join and is managed by an informal committee. Meetings are held in Dumfries every month/six weeks.

What are the Network’s aims?
• To ensure an integrated and high quality service to anyone using the trails in the south of Scotland
• To market the trails to increase the levels of use and increase the levels of spend within the region
• To ensure that the marketing and brands are properly and consistently applied
• To liaise with both business and the public agencies in relation to the development and management of the trails

The Network also appoints two representatives to sit on the 7stanes Working Group set up by the Forestry Commission Scotland to bring all the partner agencies together with the private sector to continue to manage and develop the product. Representatives are appointed also from Newcastleton and from Tweed Valley Initiative which serve the areas covered by the trails in the Borders.

If you would like to get involved in the Mountain Bike Business Network, please contact Tracey McNeish, MBBN Project Manager at the Chamber office on 01387 702156/07540 222059 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dumfries and Galloway Chamber has taken a lease of the www.7stanes.com website developed by Chamber member’s, Tourism Doctor. The website is linked directly to the Forestry Commission website www.7stanes.gov.uk. With over a quarter of a million visitors and growing at a rate of 30% per annum this is a very valuable tool in bringing customers to local businesses. Any business advertised on www.7stanes.com will only be two clicks away from a huge potential market.

www.7stanes.com

www.7stanes.com has details of all the trails as well as the Drumlanrig Estate and Jed Forest trails, making it the most comprehensive web portal for Mountain Biking in Scotland. Advertising starts at £75 and puts your business just two clicks away from a massive marketplace.

For more details about advertising on www.7stanes.com, please contact Ronnie Bradford on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . and Figures About Mountain Biking
Estimated 400,000 visitors to the 7stanes in 2007 – 130% growth in three years!
• 20% from South of Scotland
• 43% from elsewhere in Scotland (60% in 2004)
• 32% from elsewhere in UK (23% in 2004)
• 5% from Overseas (0% in 2004)

Facts

Length of Stay
• 69% spend one day
• 32% spend two or more days

Accommodation
• 20% in hotels (12% in 2004)
• 19% with friends or family
• 16% in youth hostels/backpacker accommodation or campsite
• 14% B&B or Guest House
• 11% Self Catering
• 7% in fixed caravan (up from 1% in 2004)
• 6% in mobile caravan
• 7% “
• “Other”