News & Media

Press Release - Dec 2024

Press Release - Dec 2022

It's official.... Dalbeattie Initiative is thrilled to announce that we will be hosting the UCI World Championship Pump Track qualifier at the Rocks and Wheels track on Sunday 14th June. A detailed programme for the weekend will be shared shortly. This was an opportunity we didn't want to miss! 

The upcoming Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championship Qualifier on the 14th June 2026, will now be taking place at one of Scotland's newest pump tracks in Dalbeattie and it's a whopper at Rocks and Wheels. Be sure to get the date in the diaries!

This 280m length pump track will make for an intense day of racing, complete with a range of features including rollers, triples, quads, step ups, step downs, S turns and a split line option. The pump track is still closed to the public and will be opening summer 2026 

The Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships UK Qualifiers is officially going BIGGER!

This will also be the first year that youth riders have the chance of advancing to the Velosolutions Pump Track World Youth Challenge in Sweden! 

We’re giving youth riders the unprecedented chance to break through the national ranks and take their talent to the global stage. 

The top 4 from each youth category will qualify for the Pump Track World Youth Challenge in Sweden 

Why not sign up today for your chance to qualify!?


Link to registration is here https://pumptrackworldchampionships.com/races/uk-qualifier/

Etape Solway 2026: A New Chapter in a Proud Cycling Legacy. Dalbeattie Community Initiative is delighted to announce the launch of Etape Solway, a cycling event taking place on 

Sunday 7 June 2026. Building on the strong eight-year legacy of the Solway Sportive and its recent evolution into the Rocks & Wheels Cycle Challenge, Etape Solway marks 

the next step in a long-standing tradition of community-led cycling events in the region. 

Starting and finishing at the soon-to-open Rocks and Wheels Centre in Dalbeattie, the 

event offers riders exclusive early access to the venue’s facilities, including parking, 

changing areas, toilets, and the Muckle Hoose Café. Riders will also enjoy a first look at the centre ahead of its official opening this Summer 2026.  

Three Routes for All Levels of Riders 

Etape Solway continues the event’s inclusive spirit with three fully supported road 

routes designed to welcome cyclists of all abilities: 

• Short Route – 30km (19 miles): A gentle coastal ride ideal for newer cyclists 

taking on their first big challenge. 

• Medium Route – 61km (38 miles): A rewarding mix of coastline and rolling hills, 

perfect for returning riders or those seeking a moderate challenge. 

• Long Route – 130.5km (81 miles): A scenic, demanding route for experienced 

cyclists, featuring an optional timed hill climb for those who want to test their 

legs.  

All routes are 100% on-road and showcase the best of the Solway Coast, the Galloway 

Hills, and the surrounding countryside. 


A Community Event with Heart 

Etape Solway is more than a cycling challenge, it’s a celebration of Dalbeattie’s 

landscape, community, and commitment to outdoor adventure. Every participant will 

receive: 

• A finisher’s medal and certificate 

• A food and drink voucher for the Muckle Hoose Café 

• A warm welcome and vibrant community atmosphere at the event HQ  


By taking part, riders directly support the work of Dalbeattie Community Initiative, 

helping fund cycling events and programmes  

Event Details 

• Date: Sunday 7 June 2026 

• Registration: 7:45–8:45am 

• Start Time: From 9:00am for all routes 

• Venue: Rocks and Wheels, Southwick Road, Dalbeattie, DG5 4HR 

• Entry Fees: £15–£35 depending on age and date of entry 

• Bikes Welcome: Road bikes, tandems, and e-bikes 

• Finish Deadline: All riders must return by 4pm  


A Ride That Becomes a Tradition 

With refreshed routes, a new event identity, and the same community spirit that has 

defined the Solway Sportive since its beginning, Etape Solway is set to become a 

highlight of the region’s cycling calendar. 

Entries opened Monday 16 March 2026. To register, visit SiEntries and secure your 

place in the first-ever Etape Solway.

Rocks and Wheels

First View Event

June 27th 2025 at Dalbeattie Tennis Club


Dame Barbara delivered a heart felt speech due to her strong connections to the old primary school and how its transformation into Rocks and Wheels will bring new life to the site, especially the three beautiful granite buildings.  The Chair of the Initiative and the Rocks & Wheels project, Ian Wilbur shared how fortunate the DCI have been to have the funding in place to start construction back in December 2024. The work on site is moving on as we approach the half way marker with Velo solutions soon to be on site to start work on what will be a very impressive National level pump-track. Rockworks will complete the bouldering work once the main contractor has finished in early 2026.


Photos of the event can been seen in the gallery section and below we have some exciting footage of the work being carried out inside the accommodation building and the main building by Mike Bolam.


Important milestone for Rocks & Wheels as construction starts December 2024

Dalbeattie Community Initiative is pleased to announce an important milestone in its Rocks and Wheels Project, representing a valuable step forward as one of the most innovative initiatives led by a community organisation in Scotland. The redevelopment of the former Dalbeattie Primary School is set to commence after successfully securing £7.8 million redevelopment funding. This iconic graded C-listed granite structure has remained unoccupied since October 2017, following 141 years of service to the community. The closure of the school marked the end of an era when the bell rang for the last time, and students moved to the New Learning Campus. This endeavour is poised to create community facilities, generate employment opportunities, and stimulate economic revitalisation for Dalbeattie and across Dumfries and Galloway, while enhancing Dalbeattie's visibility on a national and regional level.


In response to feedback from the community, Dalbeattie Initiative has developed a comprehensive master plan designed to boost tourism, health, and wellbeing in the region through the creation of Rocks and Wheels, Dalbeattie. This initiative is a grassroots, community-driven project aimed at improving local opportunities. A central aspect of the plan is to promote education and training, specifically designed to help unemployed individuals and young people gain the skills needed to secure paid employment. This includes a variety of options such as full-time, part-time, apprenticeships, and volunteering opportunities.

The project received an allocation of £5.2 million from the UK Government; however, due to increasing costs, additional funding became necessary. The project is now backed by a collaborative effort among various funders, including Dumfries & Galloway Council, UK Government Shared Prosperity, Scottish Government Place Base Investment Programme (PBIP), Dumfries & Galloway Economic Development Capital Programme (DGEDCP), South Of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), Sports Scotland, The Holywood Trust and National Lottery Awards for All.


Local firm Ashleigh (Scotland) started the 54-week programme on Monday 2nd December to transform the site into the Rocks and Wheels Activity Centre fit for the 21st Century, anticipated to open in 2026. This will coincide with the 150th anniversary of the original building built in 1876, one of the earliest board schools constructed in Dumfries and Galloway. The three granite buildings will once again stand proudly in our town, filled with life, laughter, and energy.


Rocks and Wheels will be operated as a subsidiary business of the Initiative. It is encouraging to note that profits generated by the Centre will be reinvested into the Initiative’s projects and events continuing to support our local community activity. The Initiative has partnered with global specialised companies Velo Solutions and Rockworks to develop a national-level pump track and indoor bouldering centre. Collective Architecture and the design team have created a multi-use site that features a flexible community space for hire, ideal for social and uniformed groups, a place you can hire for training to upskill community members and offer areas for business use to encourage new enterprises. The project includes a 52-bed accommodation building along with both indoor café and outdoor seating space. Additionally, a refectory has been designed to serve schools, families, and organised groups interested in package breaks. We can't wait for you to experience all that this vibrant space has to offer!


“Revitalising the former school is an important priority for the Initiative, reflecting its historical significance to Dalbeattie. We believe that transforming this site will serve as a valuable asset to the town, fostering growth in local tourism and contributing positively to the economic development of the community.” Initiative CEO, Michelle McRobert       


The dedicated Rocks and Wheels team is feeling positive as we move into construction as the former school played a significant role in Dalbeattie’s history, making the revival of these buildings one of the Initiative’s top priorities within the town's vision. Transforming this site will greatly benefit Dalbeattie, enhancing its appeal and boosting the local economy and tourism.


Funding boost for Rocks & Wheels project

Dalbeattie Community Initiative is delighted to receive the news that our Rocks and Wheels project will benefit from Dumfries and Galloway Council’s successful bid to the Levelling up fund.

 

This funding will now catapult the project from vision and design into a reality for Dalbeattie. This amount of investment in our community will create real transformational change. 

 

The development of our outdoor activity centre project, Rocks and Wheels, will see the redundant school buildings transformed into an outdoor activity centre boasting indoor bouldering, 60-bed hostel, outdoor pump track, training and community rooms, and outdoor civic space. The unique location of the site, at the entrance to Dalbeattie Town Wood, allows easy access to the 7stanes mountain bike trail and core path 20 leading to Kippford to encourage new and exciting biking and water sport activity. 

 

The centre will create sustainable employment and training programmes; and its long-term reinvestment will empower our community ensuring future generations can benefit from the project too.

This centre will create an attractive destination for visitors to explore our area and support the further development of outdoor adventure pursuits; we hope it will act as a catalyst for local businesses and stimulate new enterprises.

 

Since the project’s inception in 2017, many local people have assisted in the development of ideas and to refine the project into a feasible business model – this funding success is testament to their hard work, effort and persistence. The hard work starts now to take our vision and make it a success, but the Initiative is up for the challenge and looks forward to this exciting new chapter.

 

 

Michelle McRobert

CEO, Dalbeattie Community Initiative

Dame Barbara Kelly becomes Rocks & Wheels' Patron

Dame Barbara Kelly has accepted an invitation to become the Patron of Dalbeattie's Rocks & Wheels Project. Dame Barbara has held a number of senior public appointments and her main interests lie in consumer affairs and in rural and environmental issues.


A major part of her working life was home-based as a partner in a mixed farming enterprise. She raised four children, including a child with Cystic Fibrosis. Her early work was necessarily through the voluntary sector and it was not until the tragic death of her son in 1985 that she returned to work beyond the family business. During that time, she was much involved in SWRI and was National Vice Chair in the early 1980s.

 

Dame Barbara has long been an advocate for justice, fairness and choice, as Chairman of the Scottish Consumer Council (1985-1990), as Equal Opportunities Commissioner for Scotland (1991-95) and as Chairman of the UK Architects Registration Board.

 

She was a trustee of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and was Convenor of the Millennium Forest for Scotland Trust which won multi-million-pound funding (over £30M) from the Millennium Commission for the re-establishment of native woodland in Scotland. She was Chairman of  the Robertson Trust, Scotland’s largest Giving charity. For thirteen years, she was Convenor of the Crichton Foundation and now chairs the Crichton Campus Leadership Group set up in 2013 to coordinate activity and joint working at the Crichton. She was a Board member of D&G College for many years and was recently made an Honourable Fellow. In addition,, she helped set up the £11M project and was Chairman of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust up until its official opening.

 

Dame Barbara was also the first woman Director of the Clydesdale Bank plc, a founder Director of Scottish Enterprise and a main Board member of Scottish Natural Heritage. She was a member of the BP plc Scottish Advisory Board, of the BT Scottish Advisory Board and the Scottish Post Office Board.

 

Honoured by the Queen, she was made Dame in 2007. She was a Deputy Lieutenant of Dumfriesshire and holds Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Strathclyde 1995, Aberdeen 1997 and Glasgow 2002, Bell College 2005, Queen Margaret University 2005 and University of the West of Scotland, 2012. She was also made a Freeman of the City of London in 2002.


Ian Wilbur, Rocks and Wheels Chair, said: "We are delighted that Dame Barbara Kelly has accepted our invitation to become our first honorary patron. Dame Barbara has always been passionate about Dalbeattie and for her to support the Rocks and wheels project is wonderful, especially the fact we are utilising the old primary school where she attended as a girl." 

Dame Barbara Kelly