Marketing person 1: "Right, we need a photo that encapsulates the idea of someone travelling from NI to Scotland on a car ferry to go mountain biking - any ideas?"
Marketing person 2: "How about if we get someone to jump a bike over a car with NI plates? Ooh - in a ferry terminal car park!"
MP1: "It's good, but it lacks something..."
MP2: "Got it! He needs to be wearing a kilt! Scottish, see."
MP1: "Perfect!"

Journalist: "What the hell...?

Mountain bikers in Northern Ireland are a tad short-changed when it comes to places to ride. It's fair to the point of understatement to say that NI's Forest Service hasn't bought in to the idea of repurposing its woodlands as MTB destinations with quite the enthusiasm of the Forestry Commission in Scotland, Wales or even England.

We know that plenty of NI riders simply cross the Irish Sea for the weekend, and that trend is set to increase with the launch of a new partnership promotion between VisitScotland, ferry operator Stena Line, Forestry Commission Scotland and MTB holiday operator MB7.

A two-night break including bike-friendly accommodation and a return Stena Line ferry crossing with a car and three passengers from Belfast to Stranraer costs only £99 per person. Alternatively bikers can leave the car at home and take the "Bikebus break" which includes a return Stena Line ferry crossing from Belfast to Stranraer, minibus transfer to accommodation and trails, and one night's full board also at £99 per person.

Stena Line Marketing Manager Ian Baillie explains:

"Scotland is famous for its vast rugged countryside and with dedicated areas for mountain biking, the award-winning 7Stanes are the ideal place for Northern Ireland enthusiasts to take on new challenges."

"The closest 7Stanes MTB centre [Kirroughtree] is located just 30 minutes drive from Stranraer, so Ulster mountain biking fans can hop on the Stena HSS from Belfast to Stranraer and arrive at their nearest trail centre with time to get a full day's riding in."

Sounds like a more than agreeable arrangement to us - further details of the packages are available at www.mb7.com.