Businesses across the South of Scotland are welcoming the official launch of the now fully signposted 250-mile Kirkpatrick Coast 2 Coast cycling route
Local cyclists and businesses celebrated the official launch of the Kirkpatrick C2C: South of Scotland’s Coast to Coast today in Langholm – a popular place for cyclists to stop along the now fully signposted route – following its successful soft launch last summer.
Named after Kirkpatrick Macmillan, the 19th-Century Dumfriesshire blacksmith who invented the first pedal-driven velocipede, the now fully signposted route stretches 250 miles from Stranraer in the west to Eyemouth in the east, making it one of the longest coast to coast cycle routes in the UK.
Pic (l-r): Julie Edwards a champion of the Breeze women’s cycling group, David Killean from Hawick Cycling Club, Christine Finlay from Trailbrakes Biking Holidays. Images by Lloyd Smith for the South of Scotland Destination Alliance
Cyclists, business owners and tourism leaders from the local region attended the launch including: Christine Finlay from Trailbrakes Biking Holidays; Angela and George Crow from Hike & Bike Hub in Galashiels; Julie Edwards a champion for the Breeze women’s cycling group; David Killean from Hawick Cycling Club; John Galloway of Eskdale Hotel and Langholm Explore And Discover; and David Hope-Jones OBE, Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance.
The news of the official launch comes after it was announced that The Scottish Borders will host the opening stage of this year’s Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, as the 20th edition of the modern race gets underway in Kelso on Tuesday 3 September.
In the year since the first cyclists started tackling the KC2C ride, the scenic route has seen businesses from across the region welcoming an influx of visitors seeking to explore the landscape of the South of Scotland on two wheels.
Kirkcudbright-based business Trailbrakes Biking Holidays, which specialises in providing bespoke cycling tour adventures across Scotland, England and Wales, has noticed an increase in enquiries and estimates that bookings for the Kirkpatrick Coast 2 Coast made up approximately 10% of its business for the 2024 season.
The business offers tours of the entire route or parts of the route, including accommodation, transport, maps, GPS and phone support, with co-founders Pete Corson and Christine Finlay describing the route as “a great ride with very little traffic and great scenery”, and reporting good reviews from customers.
Another business reporting increased cycle tourism since the first cyclists started attempting the route last summer is Ernespie Farm at Castle Douglas. David McMiken, who runs the farm, cites the launch of the Kirkpatrick C2C route, as well as the increased popularity of cycling post-covid, as reasons for the rise in visitors arriving on bike.
Last year Ernespie Farm – which includes a farmhouse kitchen, garden centre, gift shop and soft play facilities – received support from South of Scotland Enterprise’s Cycling Infrastructure Fund to create a repair station with washing facilities and lockers for the increasing number of cyclists visiting Ernespie. The family business is looking to target the cycling audience further, with plans to increase food and drink takeaway options and expand indoor and outdoor seating areas.
Other businesses who have benefitted from the launch of the Kirkpatrick C2C route include the Eskdale Hotel in Langholm, which has seen over 100 rooms booked so far this year for guests arriving on bike; Shepherd’s Rest campsite, where 30-50% of the guests are cyclists in an average week; and Newcastleton Bunkhouse, which plans to take advantage of the potential for “hundreds of bikes all over the village” at the weekend following the increase in cycling visitors to the area.
For adventurers looking to challenge themselves, the Kirkpatrick C2C can be tackled over four days, while the slower Explorer Route allows riders to immerse themselves in the beauty, heritage and charm of the South of Scotland, spending eight days completing the route from Stranraer to Eyemouth with plenty of places to stay, visit, eat and drink along the way.
Early projections prior to its July 2023 soft launch suggested the Kirkpatrick Coast 2 Coast could attract up to 175,000 new visitors to the region, with a direct spend of £13.7m per year.
The development of the route has been led by South of Scotland Enterprise alongside Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders councils, South of Scotland Destination Alliance, VisitScotland and Sustrans.
Gordon Smith, Destination Development Director at VisitScotland, said: “We know a key factor in choosing Scotland as a holiday destination is our scenery and landscape, while around a third of visitors want to take part in outdoor activities. Cycling offers the best of both worlds. Visitors to the South of Scotland can take in the beautiful scenery along the many cycle routes or, for the more adventurous, at our world class mountain biking venues.
“Cycling is popular among some of our major European markets and is an important part of our national sustainable tourism ambitions. We encourage visitors to choose active and greener travel options while planning a trip to Scotland and offer support and advice to businesses on how best to engage with this valuable market.
“The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships shone a spotlight on the South of Scotland as a leading global destination made for cycling, and new routes, such as the Kirkpatrick C2C, only serve to strengthen that position.”
According to the Scotland Visitor Survey 2023, almost one in ten respondents (7%) who visited the South of Scotland undertook some form of cycling, be it “Road cycling / touring” or “Off road cycling”.
Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, David Hope-Jones OBE, said: “It’s fantastic to hear such positive feedback, with businesses from Stranraer to Eyemouth benefitting from the increase in cycle visitors as a result of the new Kirkpatrick Coast 2 Coast route. The route, which spans 250 unforgettable miles across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders, is a celebration of the stunning scenery, colourful local history and welcoming culture of the South of Scotland.
“Last summer the South of Scotland hosted several events in the UCI World Cycling Championships and joined the list of world-leading cycling destinations after being awarded the UCI Bike Region label, while this September we are hosting the prestigious 2024 Tour of Britain, which is kicking off in Kelso which is on the KC2C route. We want to shine a spotlight on the KC2C as a must-do challenge for road cyclists and on the South of Scotland as the place to be for cyclists across the UK and beyond!”
Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, said: “The Kirkpatrick C2C has been a fantastic addition to the South of Scotland’s offering for visitors.
“Since the route opened last year, there has been some really good feedback from cyclists who have enjoyed our beautiful sea views and picturesque South of Scotland towns while tackling the Kirkpatrick C2C.
“Over 20 tourism businesses, social enterprises and community groups also benefited from support from SOSE’s Cycling Infrastructure Fund in the last financial year, allowing them to invest in cycling facilities for those using the Kirkpatrick C2C and 7Stanes trail centres.
“Cycling continues to offer significant social, economic and environmental opportunities to the South of Scotland, and our long-term aim is to make our region the leading cycling destination in Scotland by 2032.”
