Campaigners who have fought to retain access to a north-east wood have welcomed a compromise.
Horse riders who regularly visit Balloch Wood between Keith and Huntly had feared they would no longer be able to use the trails following a review of paths across the country.
Forest Enterprise Scotland had always insisted the proposals were always aimed at combining existing trails in the rural beauty spot without reducing them.
And now the Balloch Riders’ Access Group has backed a new five-mile circuit of the hill that provides serene views across Moray and Aberdeenshire.
Cyclists and hill walkers are also regular visitors to the area to take in the natural environment.
Different access points to the trails have made it difficult until now for volunteers who maintain the paths to monitor the amount of visitors to it.
However, now the Access Group intends to organise a count of walkers, runners, riders and cyclists in the wood over the Easter weekend.
Yesterday, chairwoman Mary Stelmach, praised Forest Enterprise for retaining waymarks on the low level path at the foot of the Meikle Balloch hill.
She said: “This is very encouraging and will be of great benefit to the local communities in Keith and Huntly.
“We are very grateful to Forest Enterprise for suggesting this amended plan as it offers opportunities for more people to enjoy less strenuous exercise.
“We are not unaware of the forestry’s need to work within its budget and to rationalise the tracks, which require maintenance, and we are grateful that this compromise has been reached.”
Moray MP Douglas Ross supported the horse riders during their talks with forestry management about the proposals.
Forest Enterprise Scotland had initially proposed to reduce the amount of trails to stretch its “limited resources” but had decided to make a revised offer.
A spokesman said: “We have listened to the concerns of the local community and have offered to modify one of the original five trails as it is, this would combine 90% of the other four trails into a second way-marked route which will be a low level easier trail.”
