By Elizabeth Broughton

Last updated at 12:35, Monday, 28 December 2009

Record visitors to Keswick’s Whinlatter Forest have boosted its reputation as one of the region’s leading mountain biking venues.

More than 30,000 visitors headed to the forest this summer to race down the Altura and newly-opened Quercus trails.

So far 12,000 riders have tackled the 7.5km Quercus trail since it opened in August while the Altura trail – the longest purpose-built mountain trail in the Lake District – has attracted 10,000 visitors to its 19km route.

Forestry Commission recreation ranger Paul Brown said: “The popularity of the mountain bike trails at Whinlatter is great news, and certainly cements its reputation as the region’s leading mountain biking venue.

“With the recent addition of the coaching trail, we hope mountain biking at Whinlatter will become even more accessible for people of all ages and experience.”

Whinlatter is now the Forestry Commission’s first mountain bike coaching trail in Britain and British Cycling have expressed an interest in using the facilities for their Olympic talent team.

First published at 12:20, Thursday, 24 December 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk