Author: Sara Barton

SSDA Newsletter January 2022

It is our pleasure to announce that the SSDA will host the inaugural South of Scotland Destination conference on Tuesday 15th March at the Crichton in Dumfries. With our tourism and hospitality industry currently facing another challenging year, the 2022 Destination South of Scotland conference will inspire industry to rebuild bigger and better, with excellent…
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Galloway Glens launches Hidden Culture Events Programme

Join the Galloway Glens as it considers Galloway’s fascinating heritage and culture, from a variety of angles! With events planned both online and in person, join in for an adventure to uncover the secrets of this remarkable landscape and the stories that spark our imagination. Culture and landscape collide in an eclectic thought-provoking programme which…
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tree planting at Threave

Volunteers Grow Galloway’s Native Woodland

Volunteers from  the local community and HSBC UK employees have joined forces to progress an ambitious landscape restoration project at the National Trust for Scotland’s Threave Estate in Dumfries and Galloway. More than 200 native aspen trees were planted on the Kelton Mains site, as part of the conservation charity’s centuries-spanning Threave Landscape Restoration Project…
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Newly elected Chair will lead Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere into its second decade

Local business owner Melanie Allen has been elected as the new Chair of Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere’s Partnership Board. Melanie brings more than two decades of experience in strategy, governance and stakeholder engagement having worked in private and third sector organisations in addition to running her own business, Nithbank Country Estate at Thornhill. …
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Crafty Distillery| Newton Stewart

Ten innovative responsible tourism projects launched as part of £25million Scottish Tourism Recovery Programme

Ten innovative responsible tourism projects across the country have been made possible as part of the Scottish Government’s £25 million tourism recovery programme to support the sector’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The projects, which collectively received over £500k in funding, were revealed today by Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) and Highlands and…
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Kelton Wicker bull

Galloway Glens Scheme secures six-month extension

The Galloway Glens Scheme is five-years of activity in the Ken/Dee Valley, supporting a range of projects that ‘connect people to their heritage’ while boosting the local economy and supporting sustainable communities. The Scheme is an initiative of the Council’s Environment Team, overseen by a Partnership Board, and will oversee investment of more than £5million…
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Days Out Incentive Fund still open

VISITSCOTLAND has launched a new campaign encouraging people across Scotland to experience a Great Day Out across the country this winter. Participating businesses are benefitting from the Days Out Incentive Fund launched by the Scottish Government and administred by VisitScotland. The Great Days Out in Scotland campaign – running from now until February 18, 2022…
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Two weeks to go to Scotland’s Tourism Industry Conference

Last year, the pandemic prevented an industry conference, but Scotland’s Tourism Industry Conference is back, with promises of bigger and bolder than ever before. Featuring a stellar line-up of inspirational and thought-provoking speakers, and a packed programme of relevant and engaging content, the event is designed to support Scotland’s attractions sector and entire tourism industry…
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Eildon Melrose Log Cabin wins at European Holiday Home Awards

A luxury log cabin with hot tub in the South of Scotland has won Best Green Holiday Home from the European Holiday Home Awards. Reiver’s Hideaway, located in Melrose, is new this year to the cottage offering from Eildon Melrose Holiday Cottages and Log Cabins, and a second log cabin is already scheduled for construction…
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Engagement tour discussing the future of the South of Scotland economy

The South of Scotland Enterprise has launched its first ever engagement tour of the South of Scotland, visiting 24 villages and towns across the region. The first meeting was held today, 8 November, in Dumfries and further meetings are running until March 2022.  There are also two virtual events for those unable to attend in-person.…
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