Author: Sara Barton

SSDA Newsletter March 2022

“March is known as Scottish Tourism Month and the South of Scotland has certainly embraced the theme wholeheartedly. We had our inaugural SSDA conference to which we were delighted to welcome 200 attendees from across the region. It was so good to have an in-person event again after a two year hiatus. At the conference…
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Stranraer & Galashiels Unveiled as 2022 Tour Series Hosts

Stranraer will welcome Britain’s leading male and female cyclists when it hosts the Tour Series, the fun, free and family-friendly cycling event, in May. The Toon will host round four of the leading televised cycle race series on Thursday 12 May, adding to Dumfries & Galloway’s already strong ties to the sport. The news comes…
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Enjoying Camera Obscura at the Dumfries Museum

Camera Obscura reopens in Dumfries

In a darkened room at the top of an old tower in Dumfries, an early 19th century machine reveals a colour moving image of the life and landscape of the local area.  This is the camera obscura at Dumfries Museum, the world’s oldest working example.   After two years through the pandemic with just occasional use,…
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South of Scotland Destination Alliance conference Keynote speaker travel journalist & broadcaster Simon Calder

Travel Expert supports the South of Scotland as Perfect Escape from City Life

Leading travel writer and broadcaster Simon Calder tells South of Scotland Destination Alliance conference that the region is perfectly placed to attract city dwellers who crave escapes in rural areas. With the pandemic creating a ‘perfect storm’ of staycations, a slow tourism trend and city dwellers looking for rural areas to escape to, the South…
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Educational events programme launched by Loch Ken ranger service

Loch Ken Ranger Service launches educational events programme

In April 2020, Loch Ken Trust established the Loch Ken Ranger Service as one of the first ever community-led ranger services in Scotland.  Thanks to funding from the Scottish Government, we are now pleased to launch our first education and community events programme. The funding will enable the Loch Ken Ranger Service to hold 4…
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Threave Filmmaking project

Educational film project starts at Threave Landscape Restoration site

The Galloway Glens Scheme and The National Trust for Scotland are excited to start a new educational film project at the Threave Landscape Restoration project site at Kelton Mains near Castle Douglas, with award winning ecological filmmaker and artist John Wallace. The project was the brainchild of David Thompson (The National Trust for Scotland), Jan…
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SSDA and Traveltech for Scotland partnership announced

A collaboration between the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) and Traveltech for Scotland (TTS) has been launched to support tourism and hospitality across the region through better connected and more innovative use of digital technology. The strategic partnership between SSDA, a destination management and marketing organisation, and TTS is designed to help tourism and…
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Essex House Tapestries: Grayson Perry's work to be exhibited at Great Tapestry of Scotland

Essex House Tapestries to exhibit at Great Tapestry of Scotland

The Great Tapestry of Scotland visitor centre, where Scotland’s story begins, has today been revealed as the next home for The Essex House Tapestries: Life of Julie Cope. The exhibit by the globally renowned contemporary artist Grayson Perry will be displayed in the centre’s Gallery 1420 from 18 March to 14 August 2022, during Scotland’s…
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SSDA forms strategic partnership with Scotland Food and Drink

South of Scotland Destination Alliance and Scotland Food & Drink form strategic partnership

The South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) has formed a strategic partnership with industry leadership organisation, Scotland Food & Drink, to put food and drink producers from across the region in the spotlight to boost tourism and aid the region’s recovery from the global pandemic. The strategic partnership will launch a series of collaborative initiatives…
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Borders Book festival to take place in Harmony Garden in Melrose in June at

BORDERS BOOK FESTIVAL 2022 RETURNS TO HARMONY GARDEN WITH LIVE EVENTS IN JUNE

The days are stretching, the daffodils are out, and summer is around the corner at last. What better way to mark spring than to add Borders Book Festival 2022 to your diaries, this year back at its iconic home of Harmony Garden in Melrose and running from Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th June. The four-day…
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