New coast-to-coast cycle route to be named after inventor of first bike
Last updated 15th Mar 2023
A new coast-to-coast cycle route set to launch in the South of Scotland this summer is to be named after the inventor of the first pedal-driven velocipede - an early form of bike.
It's hoped The Kirkpatrick C2C will help raise awareness of the life of Kirkpatrick Macmillan - a 19th century blacksmith from Dumfriesshire.
It's anticipated the new 250-mile route, between Stranraer and Eyemouth, could attract up to 175,000 new visitors to the region every year - generating more than £13 million for the local economy.
The new name was unveiled at a major tourism conference taking place in Peebles today (Tuesday).
Among those in attendance was Paula Ward, from South of Scotland Enterprise. She said: “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.”
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For those seeking to challenge themselves, the Kirkpatrick C2C can be tackled over four days, however riders are encouraged to immerse themselves in the beauty, heritage and charm of the south of Scotland, spending eight days completing the route from Stranraer to Eyemouth.
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David Hope-Jones OBE, from the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, said: “Cycle tourism is a major growth area for the whole of Scotland’s visitor economy and we’re thrilled that our forthcoming new Kirkpatrick Coast to Coast is in the spotlight as one of the longest and most exciting on-road routes of its kind in the UK.
"In the year we’re celebrating the South of Scotland being named as one of the Lonely Planet’s top 30 ‘Best in Travel’ destinations in the world, this 250-mile route will be another fantastic boost to visitor numbers right across the south.
“All in all, it's a fantastically exciting year for cycling fans from or visiting our region – not only is our amazing new route set to launch in early summer, we’re also proud to be hosting the prestigious mountain bike cross country events at Glentress Forest and paracycling road events in Dumfries this August as part of the UCI World Cycling Championships."
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