Devon County Council (DCC) has unveiled plans for new pilot schemes that will take advantage of the equestrian tourism market to help attract more visitors to the region.

Recreational horse riding networks of full and half-day circular routes will be established to boost the development of associated rural businesses, including camping barns and riding schools. Ruby County, the Blackdown Hills, and the area around Tavistock and Bere Ferrers are the three locations to have been selected to trial the council schemes, which aim to link the network of bridleways, restricted byways, unsurfaced roads and rural off-road cycle routes.

Local landowners, parish councils and horse riders will be consulted to help identify routes that provide safe off-road trails, and it is hoped that a network of trails will be in place by 2012. Funding worth £250,000 for the schemes is expected to come from the sale of Exeter International Airport.

DCC's chair of the public rights of way committee, Joe Tucker, said: "Horse riding is an enjoyable, popular and sustainable leisure activity which keeps people healthy. Devon has the natural resources needed to develop a thriving recreational horse riding network. "Equestrian tourism already generates more than £30m to Devon's economy. Through these pilot schemes, we can help existing and new equine tourism businesses reach their full potential."