Stormy weather has put the brakes on the construction of a new woodland bike course in Moray.
Forest Enterprise Scotland was due to open a £60,000 skills facility for mountain bikers in woods at Fochabers later this month.
But yesterday the organisation announced that catastrophic conditions had blown the project off course, and it now won’t be ready until March.
Late last year the government group asked eager bikers to stay away from the site until next week, to allow trails and features to bed down and stabilise prior to being used for adventure activities.
Forest Enterprise Scotland’s Calum Murray praised outdoors enthusiasts for complying with the request.
However, yesterday he said that torrential rain had recently battered the course and waylaid the scheme.
Mr Murray said: “Unfortunately, the unprecedented levels of rainfall have thrown a spanner in the works and we’re going to hold off opening the trails until March.
“This will hopefully give the ground a chance to dry out a bit and compact down.
“We appreciate that this will be frustrating for people but we hope they will understand that a further short delay will result in a fantastic, fit for-purpose resource that will draw visitors to the area.”
The course has been designed as part of “winding walks” pathway programme, and is intended to cater for mountain bikers of all ages and abilities.
There will be an area where beginners can practice basic moves and more challenging routes where experienced riders can put themselves to the test.