DALBEATTIE Richorn’s car park will be closed to mountain bikers at the beginning of February due to necessary harvesting operations.
Forestry and Land Scotland, which looks after the forest and the 7Stanes trails within, announced that the closure is due to a tree disease sweeping across the forest.
Katharina Koehler, from FLS, said: “Unfortunately, the forests here have fallen prey to tree disease phytophthora ramorum, which mainly affects larch, generally killing the trees.
“There is no known cure or remedy for this disease. However, felling infected trees helps to slow the movement of the disease to new, unaffected forests.
“For public safety, we will have MtB diversions in place from Dalbeattie Townwood but car parking spaces here are very limited.
“We would ask forest visitors to park with consideration to local residents and minimise any impact on businesses by parking in designated areas only.
“While these essential forest works are being completed at Dalbeattie visitors may be interested in exploring our other nearby MTB destinations at Mabie Forest, Forest of Ae and Kirroughtree.”
It is expected that work will be completed by March 31.
