A Day’s Maintenance Work at Tarland Trails

After my successful stint as a race marshal at the Scottish Cross Country (SXC) event, I decided to dive deeper into the world of mountain biking. The next step was to join a trail maintenance, or ‘dig day’ at Tarland Trails in Aberdeenshire on 15 September. I had hoped this experience would give me new insights into what went on behind the scenes, and it did not disappoint. At this point, I would like to thank Craig Allison from 57North Adventures, who organised the transport from Aberdeen to the dig.

 

A mountain biker negotiates a curve at Tarland Trails, near Tarland, Aberdeenshire

The Journey Begins

Our group of about 10 enthusiasts set off early (just after 08:30 hrs), eager to contribute to the trails we love to ride. Upon arrival at Tarland Trails, we were greeted by the trail centre staff, including owner Chris Redmond, the visionary behind this wonderful place.

Getting To Work

The day's tasks were varied and hands-on. We found ourselves:

  • Smoothing out rough patches of track

  • Clearing weeds and trimming overhanging branches

  • Removing large stones on the one hand, and at other points, covering rocks too large to dislodge

It was hard work, involving constantly filling buckets with earth, moving these to where they required on the track, and then pounding this into the ground with soil flatteners where applicable; pruning trees, and trimming the edges of the path. As we progressed down the hill, it was great to look back up and admire our handiwork. Most important however, was the camaraderie among the volunteers. Plus, the break for homemade cake certainly helped keep our energy levels up!

The Reward: Riding the Trails

After we’d finished our maintenance work, early in the afternoon, we got our just reward, namely the opportunity to ride the newly maintained tracks. This is where things got interesting for me. While the more experienced riders took on the more challenging runs, I quickly became aware of my lack of expertise on these trails. The whole experience also settled another question beyond any shadow of a doubt, i.e. the limitations of a hybrid bike.

A Lesson Learned: Bike Choice Matters

When it comes to mountain biking, a hybrid bike simply won't cut it. I always knew this, but on the other hand but had ridden mine successfully around the trails at Linn of Dee, near Braemar, so was curious to see where its limits were. In short, anything more technical than a gravel forest track requires the suspension travel, wider tyres and frame geometry of a proper mountain bike. I found this out the hard way. No harm done other than dented pride, and fortunately my teenage offspring weren’t around to witness the debacle, otherwise it would be all over Instagram/TikTok/both by now! But it was a salutary lesson!

Reflection and Future Plans

Despite the unfortunate incident at the start of a Blue + trail, the day was a fantastic experience. It provided:

  • A deeper insight into the growing world of mountain biking

  • The opportunity to see Tarland Trails firsthand and meet the owner, Chris Redmond

  • A great sense of accomplishment from contributing to the trails’ maintenance

I'm already looking forward to participating in more dig days. As my riding technique improves (and I invest in a proper mountain bike!), I hope to tackle more complex runs. I have in fact since that day tested state of the art mountain bikes on similar trails, and the experience was completely different. But that’s another story…….

Conclusion

From race marshalling to trail maintenance work, my journey into the world of mountain biking continues. The Tarland Trails dig day was more than just about fixing tracks - it was about community, learning, and pushing personal boundaries. Whether you're a seasoned rider or a curious newbie like me, I highly recommend getting involved in your local mountain biking scene. Just remember: bring the right bike!

 
 
 
Alastair Naughton

I am a freelance adventure and sustainable tourism copywriter. I also offer translate texts from German to English in the same subject area.

Next
Next

Race Marshal Experience