PLANS for an £11.3m project have been unveiled to create luxury woodland eco-cabins, new biking trails and bring 60 new jobs to a Borders forest.

The proposed investment at Glentress Forest, near Peebles hopes to boost the number of vistors to the area and generate an extra £1m into the Borders’ tourism economy each year.

The teams at Forest Enterprise Scotland and Forest Holidays have joined forces with the aim of creating 56 secluded eco-cabins, a new mountain biking skills area, plus a walking route at Glentress.

The combined attractions are part of the Glentress Masterplan project which has been consulted widely on over the past two years.

Two pre-planning applications for the cabins and the trails are to be submitted to Scottish Borders Council and will be subject to further local consultation.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing said: “This is a significant and very welcome investment which could deliver a positive step change in establishing the Glentress and the Tweed Valley as a top visitor attraction.

“The investment by Forest Holidays is a huge vote of confidence in the area. A development such as this would be a major tourism boost, bringing substantial benefits to the local economy.”

Forest Holidays also manage two high cabin locations in Strathyre and at Ardgartan Argyll. As with their seven cabin sites in England, Forest Holidays run their locations in partnership with Forest Enterprise.

Bruce McKendrick, CEO of Forest Holidays said: “The Tweed Valley is an absolutely stunning region enjoyed by many and we are incredibly excited to support the wider masterplan and all it has to offer.

“Our cabin locations are planned with great care and sensitivity, we work closely in partnership with local businesses and community groups and we very much look forward to building relationships with local people both during the next steps of consultation and in the longer term.”

Hugh McKay, Recreation and Tourism Manager with Forest Enterprise Scotland added: “We’ve worked very hard over the past two years in consulting stakeholders on these progressive plans and we’re thrilled to see it all taking another step forward.

“As part of the planning process, we’ll be working with Forest Holidays to gather more views and explain the proposals in finer detail over the coming months. It is a very exciting time for Glentress and the Tweed Valley.”

All Forest Holidays cabin developments are blended into the forest’s surroundings so that visitors feel they are very much immersed within a woodland environment.

A new mountain bike skills area will be built along with a number of new biking taster trails for all levels.

The new trails will incorporate elements of the ‘Freeride’ area, as well as a new route for walkers. All the new trails will be situated around the Glentress Peel development at Castle Hill.

These new facilities will replace the existing skills and freeride areas at Buzzard’s nest, where the cabin development is planned to be situated.

Forest Holidays will provide private sector investment of £10 million for the project with the remaining £1.3 million from Forest Enterprise Scotland.