TOURISM bosses are predicting a boost for Dumfries and Galloway when a new Coast to Coast cycle route launches later this year, with thousands of riders expecting to head to the area to tackle it.
The 250 mile “Kirkpatrick C2C, South of Scotland’s Coast to Coast” will start in Stranraer and finish in Eyemouth in the east.
And the rest of the route was this week revealed as Newton Stewart, Kirkcudbright, Dumfries, Newcastleton, Langholm, Selkirk, Hawick, Melrose and Coldstream. Riders can undertake it as either an eight-day explorer or a four-day challenger.
The first cyclists are expected this summer and tourism businesses locally are hoping it will bring more people to the region. Initial projections suggest the new route could attract up to 175,000 visitors, with a direct spend of £13.7m per year.
Ross Anderson of The Frothy Bike Co. bike shop and cafe in Dumfries is hopeful and said: “We’re all set to welcome riders and non-riders alike for the Kirkpatrick C2C. There are only a few weeks to go until the route is formally launched and we can’t wait!”
Meanwhile, David HopeJones OBE, South of Scotland Destination Alliance chief executive, said: “Excitement is really building now right along the route of the Kirkpatrick C2C, one of the longest and most exciting on-road routes in the UK. “We are working closely with businesses right along the route to help them harness the benefits of cycle tourism, which is growing all the time and set to be a major part of Scotland’s visitor economy.” Gordon Smith, from VisitScotland, added: “The Kirkpatrick C2C, South of Scotland’s Coast to Coast cycle route, is a fantastic addition to the region’s already strong cycling offer. “The opening of this route comes at an exciting time for cycling in Scotland. We would encourage tourism businesses in the South of Scotland to make the most of this unique opportunity.”
Named after Kirkpatrick Macmillan, the 19th century Dumfriesshire blacksmith who invented the first pedaldriven velocipede, the Kirkpatrick C2C will take riders on an unforgettable journey through breath-taking landscapes with dramatic coastlines and beaches, rolling hills, shimmering lochs, historic tweed mills, Victorian stone viaducts and romantic ruined abbeys all peppering the route. Comprehensive information about and including itineraries, route maps, key landmarks and places to stay, eat, drink and visit along the way will be published on a dedicated page on www.scotlandstartshere. com.
