The Witton Park MTB trail on Billinge Hill descends approximately 50m over a distance of 700m. The trail is Red graded, and is suitable for riders with a reasonable experience of mountain biking ability on technical and difficult terrain. The trail contains exactly 60 turns along its length and provides a fun and challenging route from the highest point of the park, down to a gateway on Billinge End Road.

The track has been designed to be highly sustainable. This has been achieved by creating the trail bed using a deep layer of mineral soil and quarried 150mm to dust sandstone. This is compacted and topped with a thick layer of compacted 20mm to dust limestone for durability and to provide a wearing course. Wherever possible the trail uses existing exposed sections of gritstone and sandstone bedrock. Boulders have been inlaid into sections where high wear could be predicted. Drainage has been carefully planned and implemented to avoid any sections of standing water on or adjacent to the track.

In addition, erosional forces created by wear and tear by cyclists has been accommodated using advanced trail design techniques. The distribution and type of turns featured on the trail controls the maximum speed of the rider and therefore limits braking and erosion hot spots. This control of rider speed will also minimise risk to riders themselves and other woodland users. As riders will find it difficult to reach high speeds, the track will appeal to a wider range of user groups, including highly skilled individuals looking for a challenge.

The trail has been designed and built as part of a partnership between three specialist companies, namely Dinsdale Moorland Services (DMS), Architrail and Capita Symonds. Each company’s expertise has combined to create an exciting and challenging trail that will provide an enjoyable facility for existing users whilst certainly attracting new visitors to the park.