James Prowse, 29, wants to rent out mountain bikes at Moss O’Balloch to families and tourists in the summer months. He is currently waiting for planning permission from the national park but said that is the 'final hurdle’ and hopes to be up and running as soon as possible. The long-term outdoor sports enthusiast is setting up the Outside Aventures business from his home in Clydebank and believes he’s spotted a gap in the market for the tourist trade and is considering expanding from bike hire to other activities in the future.

He said: “We’re looking to hire bikes out to tourists and the general public over the summer months. It’s just something quite small to start with.

“With more than 1 million tourists visiting there’s a few outdoor activities like Can You Experience but there’s not a huge amount.

“To start with it will be mountain bikes for kids and adults, with trailers for smaller kids. If this goes well I’ll maybe try and start up outdoor activies such as climbing and hillwalking.

“We want to start small and just try to build it year on year.” James plans to fit in the business around his full-time job as aoutdoor instructor for Falkirk Community Trust and his girlfriend Ellie Shields is helping out.

A former countryside ranger for the park, he hopes his knowledge of the area will help the business take off and plans to take on more staff in the future if it proves successful.