A brand new coast-to-coast cycle route set to launch in Scotland this summer has been unveiled, and its name has been revealed.
The 250-mile route, which will connect Stranraer in the west with Eyemouth on the east coast, will be named after Kirkpatrick Macmillan, the 19th century Dumfriesshire blacksmith who invented the first pedal-driven velocipede.
Officially named 'Kirkpatrick C2C, South of Scotland’s Coast to Coast', the new route will be among the longest in the whole of the UK. The name was unveiled at a major tourism conference organised by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA).
The Kirkpatrick C2C is expected to be a major tourist draw when it launches early this summer, with initial projections indicating that it could attract as many as 175,000 new visitors to the south of Scotland—with a direct spend of £13.7 million per year.
The route will take cyclists on an "unforgettable" journey across the area's magnificent and historical landscapes. Along the way, there are a variety of places to stay, as well as many top restaurants and pubs.
For those seeking to challenge themselves, the Kirkpatrick C2C can be tackled over four days—though it is suggested that cyclists take the time to immerse themselves in the beauty, heritage, and charm of the south of Scotland. If you take your time, you should complete the route in around eight days.
The route’s official name was announced at the SSDA conference by Paula Ward of South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), as part of a cycling-themed keynote session on the future of the region’s visitor economy. The keynote speech was delivered by ‘bikepacking’ expert Markus Stitz, with a further presentation from local business owner Esther Tacke of Galloway Cycling Holidays.
Ward commented: "Kirkpatrick Macmillan is an iconic cycling figure which we in the South are immensely proud of, and it is fitting that his achievements are being acknowledged and our heritage celebrated with this new exciting tourism offering.
"Kirkpatrick C2C, South of Scotland’s Coast is one of a number of new cycling opportunities taking place in our region at present, alongside the arrival of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in the South this summer.
"These are opportunities we must grasp if we are to achieve our goal of the South becoming Scotland's leading cycling destination and recognised as the global home of the bike."
Stitz, who is the director of Bikepacking Scotland, added: "The south of Scotland, home of the pedal-driven bicycle invented by Kirkpatrick Macmillan, is one of the beautiful parts of the country, with endless opportunities for bike-based adventures.
"The south of Scotland inspired me to move from Germany to Scotland. I was attracted here by the huge variety of off-road tracks, quiet roads, unique scenery, amazing forests, clean air and dark skies; and as the south of Scotland is a natural destination for cyclists, it was here that I mapped my first bikepacking route, the Capital Trail.
“Cycling and active travel is a key part of the region’s tourism offer and I look forward to working with the SSDA and its members to bring new, two-wheeled visitors to the south."
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