SSDA Newsletter February 2022

Whilst it certainly still feels very much like winter, the shoots of spring are showing. We have the announcement from the first minister on COVID restrictions ending on 21st March. We also have over 100 attendees for our conference already confirmed. After two years of disruption, this is a great chance for the tourism and…
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Reece Wilson Ambassador Scottish Borders

World champion mountain biker promotes Borders’ ‘world class environment’

As he bids to become world champion again, mountain biker Reece Wilson is flying the flag for the South of Scotland as a must-visit destination for cycling and outdoors adventures With cycling and staycations continuing to rise in popularity in the wake of the global pandemic, one of the world’s leading mountain bikers, Reece Wilson,…
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EWS Tweed Valley

EWS Tweed Valley returns to Innerleithen

The Enduro World Series mountain bike race and festival is set to return to the Scottish Borders from the 2nd – 5th June this year. The event, which brought 15,000 visitors to Innerleithen in October 2021, will bring international elite athletes, teams, top cycling brands and spectators to the town for an even bigger weekend…
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Enduro Tweed Valley

Enduro bike race organiser seeks local partners

The Enduro World Series (EWS) mountain bike race and festival returns to the Tweed Valley in the Scottish Borders this year, bringing with it an estimated 20,000 visitors to the area, including elite international athletes, global cycling brands, amateur racers and spectators from across the UK and beyond. The festival takes place in Innerleithen from…
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Top traders invited to showcase their wares at Sir Jackie Stewart Classic this summer

Producers of premium arts, crafts, food and drink are being encouraged to apply for a spot at a major new motoring festival taking place at Thirlestane Castle in June. The inaugural ‘Sir Jackie Stewart Classic – presented by Rolex’ will be one of the largest events of its kind taking place in Scotland in 2022.…
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SOUTH OF SCOTLAND’S TOURISM INDUSTRY TO COME TOGETHER AT INAUGURAL CONFERENCE

The South of Scotland Destination Alliance’s first conference will look at how the sector can work together to recover from the pandemic and elevate the region into a leading destination The South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) is bringing together the local tourism industry for its inaugural annual conference on Tuesday the 15th of March…
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Alasdair Hutton helps tell the tale of Sir Walter Scott's first love in a new video from Visit Kelso community group.

Telling the Story of Sir Walter Scott’s First Love for Scotland’s Year of Stories

In celebration of Scotland’s Year of Stories, a specially commissioned video is being released by community group, Visit Kelso, to tell the story of Sir Walter Scott’s first love. Scott, who is best known for his connection to Abbotsford, spent time throughout his childhood with his relatives at Rosebank in Kelso. During one of these…
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South of Scotland aiming to be the next holiday destination in UK

South of Scotland: Perfectly Poised as Sustainable Holiday Destination

 Holidaymakers, from staycationers to international tourists, are missing out on a wealth of hidden gems across the South of Scotland, including its stunning beaches and coastline, high-quality local food and drink, adventurous activities and nature and wildlife, new research has revealed. A recent survey of more than 3,400 people across the UK, outside the Scottish…
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Tweed Valley Enduro contributes £13K to local charities

EWS Tweed Valley donates £13,000 to local charities

An Innerleithen-based company has revealed the positive legacy of their mountain bike event in the area last October, after contributing more than £13,000 to local causes.   The Enduro Sports Organisation (ESO) are the owners and operators of the Enduro World Series (EWS), the largest enduro mountain bike race series in the world, who last October…
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Walter Scott longlist of books for 2022 prize

Walter Scott Prize Longlist 2022

The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, which celebrates outstanding historical novels published in the UK, Ireland and the Commonwealth, has announced its 2022 longlist.  Thirteen novels are in contention for the £25,000 prize, with settings spanning from the 8th century BC up to the 1960s, and from all four nations of the United Kingdom…
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