The Challenge:
The Reiver Trails is a joint venture between five major regional organisations: Forestry England, Northumberland National Park, Northumberland County Council, Northumbrian Water, and Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust. Together, they needed to create a digital platform to present an existing but under-used network of paths and trackways through the countryside, making them available to walkers, cyclists, and horse riders initially but with the ambition to expand accessibility to wheelchair and less-abled users.
The project presented unique challenges. Coordinating five partner organisations with different priorities, approval processes, and time constraints required careful management. Many of the routes pass through working forest environments where conditions can change rapidly - fallen trees, maintenance work, or weather events like landslides mean trail closures can happen at short notice. The platform needed to communicate these changes clearly and quickly to users planning their outdoor activities.
Additionally, each trail already existed as a GPX file, but there was no way to present this technical data in a format that would help users understand what they were taking on before setting out.
Our Approach:
We took a collaborative approach from the outset, using scheduled virtual meetings via Teams and Zoom to bring all partner organisations together despite their varying time constraints and schedules. This allowed us to build consensus on the platform's requirements while respecting everyone's availability.
The technical challenge was to transform raw GPX data into something genuinely useful for trail users. Rather than simply offering file downloads, we needed to help people visualise and understand each route - its terrain, difficulty, and current status - before they committed to it.
We also recognised that building a community around the trails would be essential for long-term success. Users who felt invested in the project would become advocates, contributing reviews, reporting issues, and helping maintain trail quality through their feedback.
The Solution:
Interactive Route Mapping System
We built a custom system that takes GPX file uploads and plots routes over Google Maps using coordinate data. Crucially, we also extract and display elevation data, allowing users to cross-reference the route with its elevation profile. This gives walkers, cyclists, and riders a complete picture of what to expect - not just where the trail goes, but what the terrain looks like and how challenging the climbs will be.
Real-Time Trail Management
The bespoke CMS includes a simple route modification system that allows trail managers to update trail status immediately when issues arise. When a recent landslide forced a trail closure, the manager was notified and could close that trail on the website within minutes, preventing users from planning trips to unavailable routes.
Membership and Community Features
To encourage ongoing engagement, we implemented a membership system. Registered members can download GPX files for their devices, leave reviews on trails they've completed, and report problems directly to the Reiver Trails team. This creates a feedback loop that helps maintain trail quality and keeps the community informed.
Expandable Platform
We designed the platform to grow with the project. Since launch, we've already added a new "shorter walks" section, and the system continues to accommodate new routes as the trail network expands.
The Results:
Since its official launch, the platform has grown to over 790 registered members. Users are actively contributing reviews of trails, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The real-time update system has proved invaluable for managing trail closures and diversions, keeping users safe and informed.
The platform has already expanded beyond its original scope, with new trail categories added and the physical trail network continuing to improve. The Reiver Trails project demonstrates huge potential for further growth into multiple areas and regions, as well as expansion of trail types, including accessibility-focused routes and special interest trails.
Most importantly, the five partner organisations now have a single, unified platform that serves their shared vision of making Northumberland's countryside more accessible while maintaining the safety and quality of the trail network.
Services Provided:
- Multi-stakeholder project coordination
- Custom GPX file processing and visualisation
- Interactive mapping with elevation profiles
- Bespoke CMS with trail management tools
- Membership system development
- User review and reporting functionality
- Real-time trail status updates
- Ongoing platform development and expansion
