The Forestry Commission has unveiled new mountain biking facilities planned for Sherwood Pines Forest Park near Clipstone in Nottinghamshire.

The £300,000 scheme to create a National Centre of Excellence for off-roading in the 3,000-acre beauty spot in the East Midlands will provide three new trails, including a six-mile cross-country route traversing the forest, an adventure trail of similar length deep into the historic wood and a three-mile surfaced family cycle route.

A skills loop near the visitor centre and a new bike park will offer more challenging jumps and turns for accomplished off-roaders.

Additional facilities will include secure bike lockers, picnic areas and shelters along the trails and improved interpretation and signage.

Recreation manager Chris Bray said: “We have witnessed an astonishing growth in biking in recent years which has made the forest park the pre-eminent venue of its kind.

“This project will allow us to gear up and offer truly world-class and sustainable facilities that will produce major spin-offs, such as encouraging people to stay longer in the area and provide a boost for local businesses.

“We’ll also take the pressure off existing routes shared used by walkers and horse riders, by catering separately for bikers, and we will open up new opportunities for healthy recreation as part of our Active Woods campaign.”

Work will start in early October, for a 2009 completion date.

The forest already attracts around 250,000 bikers each year.