Enduro organisers and riders in Wales have been handed a major boost, after the ACU secured a new five-year land use agreement with Natural Resources Wales (NRW), guaranteeing enduro events can continue in Welsh forests through to the end of 2030.
Wales is a big deal for enduro, hosting about 30 events a year and drawing both national and international attention. The new deal replaces the previous agreement, which expired in 2018, leaving organisers facing uncertainty, especially after Storm Darragh in 2024 caused major forest damage and event cancellations.
Getting the new agreement over the line wasn’t simple. The ACU and NRW had to work through access, environmental, and operational concerns, but both sides have agreed on new protocols and standardised paperwork for events. Organisers have already completed training on the updated requirements.
The timing is good. Welsh forests are set to play a major role in the 2027 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), and the deal provides crucial stability for those events.
ACU President Tim Lightfoot called the deal “hugely significant,” and organisers say gaining land access is getting tougher, so long-term certainty is welcome news. There’s still work to be done on the environmental management five-year plan, but organisers will receive support and training on the new rules.
For rural communities in mid-Wales, the agreement also means another five years of economic benefits from competitors, teams, and fans flocking to the region.