Significant progress was made in 2024 to ensure the South of Scotland achieves its aim of becoming one of the world’s leading cycling destinations.
The latest South of Scotland Cycling Partnership Strategy annual review highlights the various achievements and activities by businesses, community groups and public sector across the region over the last 12 months.
The 10-year strategy – launched in 2022 – aims to deliver a thriving legacy from the South’s success as a host destination for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.
Achievements in 2024 included:
- Scottish Borders hosting the Tour of Britain, bringing an economic boost of £2.5million
- Dumfries & Galloway the location for the first-ever sanctioned British Enduro Championships in Ae Forest – hosting 500 competitors over the weekend
- Nomination for the inaugural UCI Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards in the UCI Bike City Category
- Official launch of the Kirkpatrick C2C, South of Scotland’s Coast to Coast cycle route which offers 250 miles of uninterrupted joy for experienced cyclists from Stranraer to Eyemouth
- South of Scotland Cycling Infrastructure Fund which supported 30 tourism businesses, social enterprises and organisations to improve their facilities for visiting cyclists
- Variety of infrastructure projects to enhance cycling paths and safer crossings, including Penpont to Thornhill and in Dumfries, Stranraer, Lockerbie, Hawick, Peebles and Eddleston. There has also been investment in pump tracks in Jedburgh, Stow and Walkerburn.
- Hosting of the Scottish Mountain Biking Conference, attracting 200 delegates from across the world including industry leaders, as well as the Women in the Bike Industry Summit
- Hosting of various events including Raiders Gravel and The Gralloch, Tweed Love and Light Up the Trail.
- South of Scotland represented on a panel at the UCI Mobility Conference in Abu Dhabi, sharing the region’s success stories.
The South of Scotland Cycling Partnership is made up of a series of local and national organisations representing thousands of people across the region.
The annual review is available to read at southofscotlandrep.com/cyclingpartnershipstrategy
Councillor Maureen Johnstone, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Education, Skills and Wellbeing Committee said:
“This review is a welcome one and shows how strong an offer we have as an area in relation to cycling.
“I would like to say thank you to all the partners who have come together to collaborate in this work to date, and long may it continue.”
Councillor Lynne Davis, Vice Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Education, Skills and Wellbeing Committee said:
“Dumfries & Galloway has shown itself a perfect location for cycling of all disciplines over the past decade, and more.
“Whether it is gravel and forests, mountains or roads, we have something to please any cycling enthusiast, and our Council will continue to support this partnership.”
Councillor Euan Jardine, Leader of Scottish Borders Council, said:
“Over the past year much has been achieved, but what is most exciting is that the momentum is being maintained three years on from the strategy being launched.
“There is still lots more in the pipeline to be delivered, and this year’s efforts will get a fantastic kick start when the Scottish Borders hosts the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women on Saturday 7 June – the first time Scotland will have hosted a UCI WorldTour event.
“Hosting major cycling events contributes greatly to the local economy, helps inspire more people to take up or get back into cycling and highlights our region to a worldwide audience.
“This, combined with the efforts of the partners and the private sector, will continue to help drive forward cycling across the South of Scotland.”
Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, said:
“The South of Scotland Cycling Partnership Strategy annual review highlights the exceptional contribution of partners, businesses and community groups across the South who have made positive social and environmental impacts which cycling provides to our region.
“We want cycling to become the most popular choice for shorter, everyday journeys by 2032 in the South, and the review highlights the progress being made to achieving our collective goal.”
Gordon Smith, Destination Development Director at VisitScotland, said:
“Cycling tourism and events play a hugely important role in the promotion of the South of Scotland as a must visit, must return destination.
The launch of the Kirkpatrick C2C and the hosting of the Tour of Britain are just some of the fantastic achievements from the past year which have helped raise the region’s profile and brought in visitors.
“There is so much great work to come, and we are focused on working with the industry to spread the benefits of cycling tourism across our communities, in line with the South of Scotland Responsible Tourism Strategy.”
David Hope-Jones, Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, said:
“The year 2024 was nothing short of transformative for cycling in the South of Scotland.
“From hosting world-class events to launching the Kirkpatrick C2C, together we have shown the world what our region has to offer.
“These achievements are not only boosting our visitor economy, they are embedding cycling into the heart of our communities and landscape.
“The SSDA is proud to work alongside partners to ensure cycling continues to play a central role in putting the South of Scotland on the map for active and sustainable travel.”
